In a historic moment on Sunday, construction finally began on the excavation of a tunnel which will house the upcoming Kosel elevator, a project which will bring major accessibility improvements to the holy site.
Harzel Ben-Ari, the CEO of the Company for the Development and Renovation of the Jewish Quarter, said: “This is a pivotal moment for the Jewish people, after 2,000 years of yearning, we can finally allow every Jew, regardless of age or physical condition, to connect with their roots and touch the heart of our history.”
The elevator will bridge the 26 meter height difference between the Jewish quater of the old city, and the Kosel plaza.
“Every meter of excavation has been a journey through time,” said Ben-Ari. “We have discovered entire worlds: ancient mikvahs, the remains of houses and streets that have not seen the light of day for thousands of years. Every stone, every shard of a vessel, tells us a story about our ancestors who walked here.”
Ben-Ari added that some of the findings discovered during construction will be displayed in the elevator lobby, giving visitors a glimpse into the Yerushalayim under their feet.
However, the old city of Yerushalayim is a challenging construction environment, and the project is expected to take 2 years, due to the complexity of the project.
{Matzav.com}