'Temple' to be built in the north
A 25-meter-tall (82 feet) replica of Solomon's temple in ancient
Jerusalem to be built in northern city of Kiryat Shemoneh. Project
will cost 8 million dollars to build, become main feature of city's
Bible World amusement park
Eitan Glickman
Not quite the Third Temple, but close: Entrepreneurs in the
northern city of Kiryat Shemoneh are making plans to build a "Holy
Temple" as part of a soon-to-be established Bible World amusement
park.
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Like the original in Jerusalem, the model structure will tower over
its surroundings, reaching a height of 25 meters (82 feet) and will
be an exact replica of Solomon's temple on Jerusalem's Temple
Mount, destroyed by the Babylonians in 586 BCE.
"Time tunnels" will offer descriptions of the different periods of
Jewish history, and will lead visitors to the main hall, which will
feature murals depicting Biblical stories.
Visitors will also have the opportunity to "meet" three heroes of
the Bible: Abraham, Moses and King David.
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Overseeing the project is Chabad rabbi of Kiryat Shemoneh, Yigal
Tsipori, who toured the site Wednesday with Mayor Chaim Barbibai
and other local rabbis.
"The 'Book of Books,' the cradle of Jewish civilization, is
increasingly disappearing from our national consciousness. Limited
study is no longer sufficient to attract young people of today to
the Bible and its values. Therefore, there is a great need for this
initiative," said Tsipori.
"The 'Temple' will use 3-D movies and other tools to show young
people just how things worked in the Holy Temple and just what the
priests (Cohanim) did," he added.
The park will also feature a Biblical textile mill and wine press,
and will host Bar and Bat Mitzvah receptions.
400,000 visitors expected
The park's founders say they hope to attract 400,000 visitors
annually to the park, including local Israeli youths and young
people from the Diaspora.
The project, to be located near the Nehemia Mall in Kiryat
Shemoneh, is expected to cost USD 8 million (NIS 38 million) and
employ several dozen workers.
Several donors have already been lined up to fund the
project.
(11.17.05, 15:05)