Beneath the surface of one of the most sacred places on earth lies a story carved in stone — and in faith.
In a recent mini-documentary that aired on Daystar, Shani Kotev of the Western Wall Heritage Foundation guided viewers through the Western Wall Tunnels, uncovering the awe-inspiring history, spiritual legacy and ongoing hope that lives in the heart of Jerusalem.
“Abraham was sent to this area, to the land of Moriah, and he was asked to do the hardest thing one can be asked to do,” Kotev said, referring to the binding of Isaac. “The binding of Isaac started the connection between the Jewish people and this place — Jerusalem.”
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That connection deepened over millennia, from King David’s conquest of the city to the construction of Solomon’s Temple, and later, the massive expansion by King Herod. “He built an enormous platform… known till today as the Temple Mount,” Kotev explained. “And here is the Western Wall.”
But the story doesn’t stop at destruction. Despite the Roman Empire tearing down the Temple in A.D. 70, remnants remain as a powerful reminder of God’s promises. “When they got to this block, the Roman soldiers… literally sat on the rock and slowly, slowly started to chisel it,” Kotev shared while standing beside a 550-ton stone — one of the largest ever uncovered. “This is a great symbol for the glory of the Temple. But this is also a great symbol for the destruction of the Temple.”
Beneath the Muslim Quarter, Kotev walked viewers under Mamluk-era arches and into Crusader halls once filled with rubble. “When this place was excavated, it was all full of dirt, soil, rocks and garbage… and slowly, slowly in a very gentle, delicate, archeological excavation, this place was found. And look at it today. This is amazing.”
One of the highlights is the mikvah — a ritual bath over 2,000 years old, still holding clean, fresh water. “Until today, we don’t know to say exactly where this water are coming from,” Kotev marveled. “Maybe a local aquifer that is leading fresh water, rain water to this room… This one right here that was excavated in the Western Wall tunnels is maybe the most beautiful mikvah that was ever found, in my opinion, in the entire world.”
As the tour nears its end, the significance of the site becomes all the more profound.
“Less than 400 feet from where we are right now, you will find yourself on the place of the Binding, the place where two Temples stood,” Kotev said, pointing out their nearness to the Holy of Holies. “This is the nearest one can get without going up to the Temple Mount to the place or where the Temple used to be.”
Today, the heartbeat of ancient worship still echoes through the tunnels.
“Jewish women are praying 24/7, all year long, someone praying for the sake of Israel, for the sake of humanity,” Kotev said.
Whether you’ve walked those stones in person or only in spirit, Kotev’s invitation rings clear: “I invite you all, each and every one of you, to come here to Jerusalem and connect to your biblical heritage.”
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James Lasher is staff writer for Charisma Media.
