Christian Pilgrim John Poloner Writes of the Synagogue in Jerusalem
Christian Pilgrim John Pooler gives one of the clearest 15th-century descriptions of a Jewish quarter in Jerusalem, attesting to a functioning synagogue and communal structure. In his book “Description of the Holy Land”, he writes:
"The gate of the street of the Jews, which looks out of the city toward the south… From the aforesaid gate, the street of the synagogue of the Jews extends for seventy-six paces; and from there for two hundred and thirty-seven paces to the entrance of the covered streets. From this entrance it is ninety-three paces to the Castle of David (i.e. the Tower of David)...”
He also mentions Jews' deep reverence for the Cave of the Patriarchs in Hebron.
Overview
“The Gate of the Street of Jews, which gate looks out of the city to the southward… Seventy-six paces from the aforesaid gate the street of the synagogue of the Jews extends for two hundred and thirty-seven paces up to the entrance to the covered streets. From this entrance it is ninety-three paces to the Castle of David’ (i.e. the Citadel)...”
John Poloner, Description of the Holy Land, Palestine Pilgrims’ Text Society, London 1894, pp. 1-17.
In the Bible
Life lessons
Humor
Advocacy
Fun fact
Antisimetism
