FINAL WARNING: The Shining Star
period. They would not break through the Wall, because according to
the Law, only a Jew from the tribe of Levi, and the family of Aaron, can
enter the Holy of Holies.In July, 1981, Rabbi Meir Yehuda Getz, chief rabbi of the Western Wall,
while building a new synagogue behind the Western Wall, investigated
water emanating from the Wall, and discovered a great hall (26’ wide X
98’ high x 82’ long) behind a former cistern which contained an arch,
believed to be one of the entrances to the Temple. It turned out to be
the gate discovered by Warren, which led to the Temple court, and was
the closest gate to the Holy of Holies. A group of ten men, some from
the Ateret Cohanim Yeshiva, began clearing the hall, working their way
toward the Holy of Holies. If the Rock was the foundation stone of the
Holy of Holies, then tradition holds that beneath this stone there is a
chamber created by Solomon which was later used to hide the Ark.
Getz believes that this secret chamber contains the Ark, the table, and
the menorah. After breaking down another wall, the Muslim authorities
were made aware of what was going on, and the Arabs instigated a riot
which led to the excavation site being shut down. A wall was placed
over the entrance to the tunnel, and was later reinforced with another
wall of steel and plaster, which in 1992 was redone to give it an
appearance of natural rock. Rabbi Schlomo Goren believes that they
came within 300 feet of this room, and rumors have circulated that
Getz saw the Ark, which he denied, saying that the area is under water.
Getz said: “The treasures of the First Temple are under the Mount, and
we know exactly where they are...”There was an unsubstantiated report that there is a lower cave,
blocked by a slab, which was discovered in 1911. It had been alleged
that the Crown of David, the Sword of Solomon, the Ark of the
Covenant, the Tables of the Law, and a large amount of gold was
discovered there, having been hidden by the priests when the Temple
was destroyed. It is believed that these articles were removed, and
their whereabouts are unknown.The Israelis have been kept from rebuilding, or even doing much
archaeological excavation because of their strained relationship with
the Arabs, and because the Moslems fear that such excavations would
weaken the structure of the Mosque. Others would argue that it’s
because any significant archaeological discoveries on the site would