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Photo: פארוק, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
A fairly interesting place which has reconstructed most of the more obvious ritual tools to be used in the Temple services in the hopes of one day restoring the Temple itself. The front of the store is a bookstore/souvenir shop, while the back is a four room museum with one room set aside as a theater to show a 15 minute movie. Dress appropriately when going here - long pants and sleeves for men, and modest wear for women. The shop is a great place to find unique Jewish souvenirs and Judaica - worth browsing even if you don't plan on buying anything.
The Temple Institute, known in Hebrew as Machon HaMikdash, is an organization in Israel focusing on establishing the Third Temple. Its long-term aims are to build the third Temple in Jerusalem on the Temple Mount—the site of the Dome of the Rock—and to reinstate korbanot and the other rites described in the Hebrew Bible and Jewish legal literature. It aspires to reach this goal through the study of the previous Temples' construction and rituals and through the development of Temple ritual objects, garments, and building plans which the Institute intends for use in any future rebuilt Temple. It runs a museum in the Jewish Quarter of the Old City of Jerusalem. It was founded and is headed by Rabbi Israel Ariel. Its current director-general is Dovid Shvartz. New York billionaire Henry Swieca has supported the Institute. The Israeli government has also provided funding.
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This house was inhabited by a wealthy priestly family at the end of the Second Temple period, and burned down by the Romans in 70 CE.
The Herodian Quarter
Lying 3 to 7 m (10 to 22 ft) below street level, this museum offers a vivid excavation of daily life during the Herodian era 2,000 years ago, before the Romans rampaged and burned the wealthy Upper City in AD 70. Photography inside the museum is not allowed.
Ophel Archaeological Park
This area on the southern side of the Temple Mount had been rebuilt many times over the centuries. Remains from the Herodian (34–4 BCE), Byzantine (395–661 CE) and Omayyad (661–750 CE) periods can be found on the grounds. Guided tours are available for an additional ₪16.
The Karaite Jews, numbering 30-50,000 worldwide, are a unique sect of Judaism that has been at odds with mainstream rabbinic Judaism for centuries. The Karaites reject the Talmud (Oral Law) and only rely on the Torah, Prophets, and Writings. You must call ahead for a tour of the synagogue. Tours are only in Hebrew, but it might be possible to pre-arrange English or Russian.
Following the 1967 Israeli victory, a vast reconstruction program in the Jewish Quarter resulted in many important archaeological finds. One of the most significant was the unearthing of the foundations of a massive wall. These fortifications, measuring 7 m (22 ft) thick and 65 m (215 ft) long, are possibly part of the fortifications built by King Hezekiah in the 8th century BC. This wall can be freely viewed outdoors.
This is a tour of the underground parts of the Western Wall, including the evolution of the Temple Mount from the First Temple period to today. A wonderful tour for those interested in the archeology and history of the Temple Mount. You will see enormous stones underlying the Western Wall, an underground synagogue (the nearest spot to the Temple site, where Jews are allowed to pray), a pool and a water tunnel from Herod's time. The tour must be booked in advance but is well worth the advanced preparation. During the low season, you can also try your luck and join an excursion without the reservation.