Rare Footage Reveals Hidden Ancient Structures Beneath Jerusalem's Temple Mount
A special broadcast marking the fast of the 17th of Tammuz unveiled rare insights into the hidden ancient structures beneath Jerusalem's Temple Mount. Journalist Yossi Abdo and Rabbi Tzvi Greenishfen explored underground vaults, ancient columns from the Temple era, and a vast subterranean mosque built secretly beneath the site. These discoveries include floor tiles discarded into the Kidron Valley and massive walls, half of which are buried underground, revealing a lost dimension of the sacred area.
Rabbi Greenishfen explained that the original mountain of the Temple Mount is no longer visible, having been transformed by King Herod's massive construction project. Herod built enormous retaining walls and filled the space with multiple layers of arches and vaults to create the expansive platform seen today. This engineering feat effectively buried the natural hill beneath a vast plaza, with only the walls and the golden dome visible above ground.
The broadcast also highlighted the spiritual significance of these findings, referencing the Zohar's teaching that looking upon the Temple's floor invites a reciprocal gaze from the Divine Presence. The detailed knowledge of these underground spaces comes from ancient texts and the 19th-century surveys of British archaeologist Charles Warren, who mapped the subterranean vaults and columns.
Recent events were also discussed, including the removal of original Temple-era arches by Muslim authorities to expand the upper plaza and the construction of the world's largest underground mosque beneath the Temple Mount. During Ramadan, hundreds of thousands of worshippers gather on the plaza, but Rabbi Greenishfen noted that many are actually inside the vast underground mosque.
Additionally, volunteers have been recovering rare First and Second Temple period artifacts from soil removed from the site and dumped into the Kidron Valley. These include beautifully patterned floor tiles, symbolizing layers of destruction and hope for the restoration of the Divine Presence. The broadcast concluded with a poignant quote from the Ramban, emphasizing Jerusalem's profound holiness and the depth of its destruction, expressing hope for the Shechinah's swift return.
This special program offers viewers a unique opportunity to witness the hidden layers of Jerusalem's most sacred site and reflect on its enduring spiritual legacy.
