What Did The Temple Look Like In Jesus Time

What Did the Temple Look Like in Jesus’ Time?

You’ve probably pondered what it might have been like to go through the doors of Herod’s Temple in Jerusalem. It may come as a surprise to find that Jesus himself never had this experience since he was never allowed to access the Temple grounds. Only a small number of priests were permitted to enter the Temple sanctuary. Only the High Priest was permitted to enter the Holy of Holies, which was located at the rear of the Temple, once a year on the Day of Atonement. In fact, there is just one incident in the whole New Testament that takes place within the walls of the Temple itself.

Imagine the scene: a dark, frigid chamber with a 60-foot-high ceiling; an elderly man shivering as he begins to burn incense, possibly for the first time in his life; and you, standing in front of the thick, massive curtain that divided this room from the Holy of Holies.

Using information from theESV Study Bible andtheCrossway ESV Atlas, the following is the best current academic idea of what the Temple would have looked like: In the photo, if you look closely, you might be able to make out a priest inside the Temple, dressed in the same type of robes that Zechariah would have worn.

During our reading and reenactment of the tale, we are seeing an announcement about the Announcer – a declaration about John the Baptist, who would announce the advent of the Messiah, Jesus of Nazareth.

Almost seven weeks have passed since Jesus is introduced to us in the Temple, and Mary and Joseph have brought him to the Temple courts to “present him to the Lord” (present him to the Father) (Luke 2:22).
There were four colossal lampstands within, each standing 86 feet tall.
When the 84-year-old prophetess Anna saw Mary and Joseph with the infant Jesus at his dedication (Luke 2:36–38), she was moved to tears and became a thankful evangelist.
There were 13 wooden boxes for collecting money tucked away among the colonnades that surrounded the court.
As Jesus pointed out, the affluent donated “out of their plenty,” and the poor widow gave more—contributing just a fraction of a penny—”all she had to survive on”—while the rich gave more (Luke 21:4).
27:6).
In the presence of the True Temple “After Jesus draws a comparison between the sacrifice of a poor widow and that of the religiously wealthy,” people began “to talk about the temple, how it was decorated with fine stones and offerings” (Luke 21:5).

Take a look at the graphic below, which depicts the whole Temple Mount, to get a sense of just how vast this event was.

Probably around this location—in front of the Royal Stoa—that Jesus cleaned the Temple of moneychangers who were converting the place of worship into a den of thieves, as recorded in the Gospel of Matthew.

The perspective has been rotated in the image below so that you can see the back of it (viewed from the northwest).

It is possible to view the white rear of the Temple in the center of the Mount—as we saw above—from here.

I suppose it’s no surprise that the disciples and the rest of the crowd were enthralled by the beauty and majesty of this structure.

Look at the bottom of the image with your eyes closed.

Not far away were tombs dug into the rock, which contained the veiled but rotting corpses of individuals who had passed away over thousands of years.

As a result of his actions here, our Savior—the Creator of the universe and the hope of the world—has been ridiculed, tormented, and slain for all of mankind.

The sparkling temple, which the disciples had gazed at in awe, would have been seen behind the thief in the distance.

They weren’t completely aware that they were actually standing next to the True Temple—God Incarnate, in whom “all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell” (Col.

Within the Temple’s rear wall, there was a chamber known as the Holy of Holies.

However, when Jesus died, the “curtain of the temple was ripped in two, from top to bottom,” as the Bible describes it (Matt.

It served as a visual representation of what Jesus had just achieved.

10:20). God is to be praised. Jesus was thought to be dead, yet he has risen from the grave. In the past, he had dropped to the ground, but today he has risen to the Father. He had been ridiculed and tortured, but now he is in charge and reigning supreme.

Death, where have you taken your victory? The sting of death is nowhere to be seen.

“Destroy this temple, and in three days I will rebuild it back to its former glory” (John 2:19). They demolished it, but he rebuilt it. Christ, the True Temple of God, has risen from the dead. He has definitely risen from the dead. * All of the photos in this article are trademarked Crossway Bibles, and they should not be used or distributed anywhere without the express consent of Crossway. An earlier version of this story was published on Boundless.org on October 7, 2008, and was reprinted with permission.

What was the Temple like in Jesus’s Time?

3D Model of the Temple during the Time of Jesus In the New Testament, the Temple in Jerusalem is given a significant amount of importance. It served as the focal point of the Jewish faith, and as a result, it served as the focal point of many of Jesus’ teachings. Not only were many of Jesus’ teachings delivered at the temple, but his lectures were also replete with allusions to, imagery from, and symbolism from the temple.

1) It was called the “Second Temple” and “Herod’s Temple

In fact, it was known as the “second temple” because the original temple, which had been constructed by Solomon, had been entirely destroyed by the Babylonians in 586 BC when they toppled the kingdom of Judah and brought the remaining Jews into captivity in Babylon (this story is told in the books of 2 Kings, Jeremiah, and Lamentations in the Old Testament). After nearly 60 years in captivity, the Jews were allowed to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the temple by the Persian Emperor Cyrus (this story is told in the books2nd Chronicles, Ezra and Nehemiah in the Old Testament).

As a result, the second temple was frequently referred to as ” Zerubbabel’s Temple,” because it was he who was responsible for initiating the construction process.

Herod the Great was the Roman monarch of Judea from 37 BC to AD 4.

He was referred to as “the great” not because he was a wonderful king, but rather because of the enormous and “great”building projects that he commissioned in Judea during his reign that were considered monumental and “great.” He was responsible for the development of a water supply system for Jerusalem, as well as the construction of spectacular fortifications and palaces in Masada and Herodium.

By Herod’s time, the second temple had been in use for about 500 years and was in poor condition, having been pillaged by a variety of invaders throughout the decades.
Herod became an unpopular king as a result of this, and it is likely that his emphasis on restoring and extending the Jewish temple was an attempt to soothe and mollify the Jewish community.
He commissioned the design from architects from Greece, Rome, and Egypt, while the actual building was carried out by Jewish priests as part of their priestly responsibilities.
In order to encompass the entire mountain, Herod extended the temple to the point where it was a gigantic rectangular platform the length of 10 football fields, with massive retaining walls around it on all sides.
In addition to the original temple with its holy of hollies in the middle, this temple hill comprised outlying courtyards, multiple gates with sweeping stairs, vast walls, and even a Roman fortress known as the Antonia Fortress, among other things.

No one knows how long it took to construct, although it is possible that sections of it were still in the process of being built during the lifetime of Jesus.

2) It was Missing Some Important Parts

They made every effort to re-create the first temple, Solomon’s Temple, as closely as possible when they built the second one. However, there were a few items that were destroyed or lost after the demolition of the first temple that could not be recreated. These items included: This is what the Latter-Day Saint Bible Dictionary has to say about it: The Jews considered the temple of Zerubbabel to be inferior to the temple of Solomon in five ways: (1) the absence of the Ark of the Covenant (which was either lost or destroyed during the destruction of Jerusalem and never replaced); (2) the Shechinah, or manifestation of the glory of the Lord; (3) the Urim and the Thummim (Ezra 2:63); (4) the presence of the holy fire on the altar; and (5) the presence of the spirit of prophecy.

The Ark of the Covenant, together with the Mercy Seat, served as the focal point of the Jewish temple.
It was during the time when the Ark was in the temple that the Shechinah, which is a Hebrew term that meaning “dwelling place,” was present in the temple.
The Ark, the Shechinah, the dwelling place of God, and the demonstrations of His might were no longer available because of the destruction of the Ark.
Within the Dome of the Rock, the foundation stone was laid.
The High Priest regarded this stone as if it were the Ark of the Covenant, sprinkling it with the blood of atonement on Yom Kippur, in the absence of the ark.
The rock is considered sacred by Muslims because it is the location where Muhammad began his “Night Journey,” during which he saw God.
It is all that is left of the original temple of Solomon, which once housed the ark of the covenant and served as the location where God used to reside on the earth.

3) It was was run by a Priestly Aristocracy

In Jesus’ day, the temple was administered by a priestly class known as the Sadducees. Being members of the tribe of Levi, they were tasked with the obligation of overseeing and offering sacrifices at the Temple of Jerusalem. Because the temple was so important to Jewish religion and living, they occupied a prominent place in Jerusalem, which offered them both status and financial gain. In addition to overseeing the temple, the Sadducees maintained close ties with the Roman government, collecting taxes from Jews on behalf of the Romans, equipping and leading the army, representing Jews both domestically and internationally, and participating in the Sanhedrin– a type of Jewish Supreme Court– among other activities.

Matthew 21:12-17 explains that when Jesus cleansed the temple by overturning the tables of the money changers, he was effectively targeting the Sadducees, who had derived their income from the temple.

4) Not Everyone Could Go Inside

The temple in Jerusalem was split into several distinct courts, or divisions, with each court becoming more limited in terms of who was allowed to enter and leave. The “Court of the Gentiles” was the name given to the first section of the temple, which consisted of a massive outside court with big open gates. It was referred to as the Court of the Gentiles because it was available to everyone, including non-Jews, and was hence known as such (Gentiles). Only menstruation women, who were deemed “unclean” under Jewish law, were denied entry into the Court of the Gentiles, according to Josephus.

For Latter-day Saints, it may be compared to the grounds of Temple Square in Salt Lake City, which, while being surrounded by four walls and gates on each side, is open to anybody who wishes to enter.

In order to guarantee that only ritually pure Jewish men and women were allowed to access this section of the temple, this gate was guarded.

As Josephus described it, “The middle of the construction was the highest, and the front wall was made with beams that rested on pillars that interlocked with one another.” This wall was constructed of highly glossed stones that were so perfectly polished that individuals who saw it for the first time were taken aback by how beautiful it was.

A stone wall around the second building, which was inscribed with an inscription that stated that outsiders were not permitted to enter under pain of death, was located within it and close by.

(from the book Antiquities of the Jews) We can also see evidence of this wall of separation between Jews and Gentiles in the words of the apostle Paul, who wrote to the Ephesians, “Wherefore remember, that ye, being in time past Gentiles in the flesh.Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise.,” By the blood of Christ, those who have been separated from Christ have been brought closer to one another.

For he is our peace, who has joined us together and torn down the middle wall of division that separated us.” (Ephesians 2:11-14; see.
The Court of the Women also had vast balconies around it, where Rabbis would frequently teach their students.
The inner court of the temple was the next section to be completed, and it was here that the priests offered their sacrifices.
Males and women were both permitted to ascend these stairs and offer their offerings, but only Jewish men were permitted to proceed any farther than this point in the ceremony.
They were also in charge of the flames used for the burnt offerings.
This was a massive rectangular structure inside which only priests were allowed to enter.
They entered the Holy Place every day to burn incense, light the menorah, and replace the bread that had been set out on the table of shewbread on Saturdays and Sundays respectively.
When the High Priest entered into the Holy of Holies, it was separated from the rest of the sanctuary by a veil, and he only did so once a year on the day of atonement.

When Jesus died, it was this curtain that was “torn in twain from the top to the bottom” (Mark 15:38), a magnificent symbol indicating that the route to God had been opened as a result of the tremendous and final sacrifice of the son of God.

5) It was Destroyed by the Romans but Jews Believe it will be Rebuilt

When the Romans conquered Jerusalem 40 years after Jesus’ death, they demolished the temple. In 66 BC, during the 12th year of Nero’s reign, the Jews mounted a great uprising against the Romans, seizing possession of Jerusalem and forcing the Roman commanders of Judea, Agrippa and his sister Bernice, to flee. Agrippa and Bernice were eventually captured and executed. For several years, Jewish insurgents held control of the city, winning battles against the Romans, until the Romans laid siege to Jerusalem in 70 BC.

A violent fight between Jews and Romans brought the siege to a close after four months of bloodshed between the two sides.
During the Battle of Jerusalem, massive flames engulfed areas of the city, notably the Temple Mount, causing significant damage.
Following the end of the siege, Roman troops began tearing the temple apart stone by stone in an attempt to get access to the melting gold and silver within.
Jews believe that the temple–the third temple–will be constructed in Jerusalem at some point in the future.

It was Central to Jesus Christ’s Ministry

When it comes to comprehending the life and ministry of Jesus Christ, knowing the temple in Jerusalem is essential. He was twelve years old when his parents discovered him (possibly in the Court of the Women) teaching and learning with the Rabbis. From that day through his death, when the temple curtain was torn in two, the temple served as the focal point around which his ministry was centered. It was His house, and everything about it–from its building to its ceremonies and symbols–was intended to serve as a testament to Him and his divine purpose.

The Temple at the Time of Jesus – Window into the Bible

At the time of Jesus, the Temple was still standing. At the time of Jesus, the Temple was still standing. The temple and its inner courts, as depicted in this cast resin model on exhibit at Bibleworld, are thought to have looked like during the time of Jesus. This and other modern renderings of the temple were inspired by the Jewish writer Flavius Josephus’ extensive descriptions of the structure. He had been to Jerusalem and seen the temple, and he had been present during the Jewish uprising.

This view of the Temple from above shows the three inner courts. The court to the right shaped like a + was known as thecourt of the women. This was as close as Israelite women could get to the temple. The smaller court at the centre contained the altar of burnt offerings and equipment used for making sacrifices. This was known as the court of the priests. Squeezed in between these two courts was a small covered area known as the court of the men. From here the Israelite men could observe the priests going about their daily duties.Surrounding these inner courts was a low fence that marked the boundary between the much larger court of the Gentiles (not depicted) and the Jewish only areas. At the gates along this fence were signs warning Gentiles not to enter(see images of two of these signs discovered in excavations below).

With its lampstands, table of shewbread, and incense altar, the main sanctuary comprised the Holy Place as well as the Most Holy Place. By the time of the New Testament, the Ark of the Covenant had been removed from the Most Holy Place. According to Josephus, the Roman commander Pompey inspected the temple’s Most Holy place in 63 BC and was disappointed to see that it was completely empty. The court of the women served as the setting for a handful of significant occurrences in Jesus’ life. It is probable that he was committed here when he was a youngster (Luke 2:21ff).

The Psalms of Ascent are thought to have been chanted on the semicircular stairway going up to the Nicanor gate by the Levite singers and musicians (Psalms 120-134).
Inscription on the Temple’s Walls of Warning – Replicas are available.
At the Israel Museum in Jerusalem, there is a replica of the original.
And whomever is apprehended will only have themselves to blame for the death that happens as a result.
The ‘Gentile warning inscriptions’, which include this and the second one below, are referred described as such.
Jerusalem is the location.
There have been two more Gentile warning inscriptions found, making a total of four.

This inscription, in contrast to the fragment above, is full.

When the Apostle Paul is wrongly accused of introducing Gentiles beyond these signs and into Jewish courts, it is recorded in Acts 21:27-ff.

During one of his trials, he lodges an appeal with Caesar, and he is ultimately transported to Rome to argue his case.

The location is the Ophel Archaeological Park in Jerusalem.

This is what the inscription says: ‘.

It’s possible that this masonry was formerly where the priest stood.

Location: The original was unearthed at Jerusalem’s Ophel Archaeological Park.

For further information, please see the preceding image.

Date: about 18 BC – 70 ADP The lace is from the Ophel Archaeological Park in Jerusalem.

The bottom half of the wall’s blocks are still made of the original blocks that were put by Herod (the upper blocks are later repairs).

Robinson’s arch is the name given to this structure today in honor of Edwin Robinson, who found it in 1838.

The location is the Ophel Archaeological Park in Jerusalem.

It crossed beneath the massive staircase, which was supported by Robinson’s arch (see pevious image) Many of the structures from the temple mount that were ‘thrown down’ by the Romans may be seen in the background, including the blocks you see in the foreground.

The size of the stones is incredible. What a beautiful collection of structures!” “Can you see all of these magnificent structures?” To which Jesus said, “Not one stone will be left on another; every one of them will be thrown down.” (Matthew 13:1-2)

A Portrait Of Jesus’ World – Temple Culture

With its lampstands, table of shewbread, and incense altar, the main sanctuary housed the Holy Place as well as the Most Holy of all places. By the time of the New Testament, the Ark of the Covenant was no longer present in the Most Holy Place of the Temple. According to Josephus, in 63 BC, the Roman commander Pompey inspected the temple’s Most Holy place and was saddened to see that it was completely devoid of worshippers. In Jesus’ life, the court of the women served as the setting for a handful of pivotal events.

The poor widow, who had brought her two lepta to the temple treasury, was also observed by Jesus and his followers here (Luke 21:1-4).

Inscription on the Temple’s Walls Warning – Replicas are also available.

Inscription on the Temple’s Walls Warning Inscription on the Temple’s Walls Warning Trumpeting Inscription on the Proprietary Site Trumpeting Inscription on the Proprietary Site Annotation on Gentiles’ Cautionary Note This is a reproduction of a remnant of one of the signs that marked the boundary between the Jewish and Gentile parts of the temple courts in ancient Jerusalem.

Outsiders are not permitted to enter the protective enclosure that surrounds the shrine, according to a notice printed in Greek.
Originally unearthed in 1935, the original of this sculpture is currently housed at the Israel Museum in Jerusalem.
Annotation on Gentiles’ Cautionary Note Date: the first century AD, perhaps in the first half of the century.
The discovery occurred in 1871.
However, thus far, just these two Greek signs have been discovered, along with other signs written in Latin.
An uprising breaks out following this occurrence, and Paul is ultimately jailed.
Trumpeting Inscription at the Proper Place (Inscription Section is Replica) Date: the first century AD, perhaps in the first half of the century.

the words ‘to the location of trumpeting’ are written on the stone: A priest would blast a trumpet from the southwest corner of the Temple every Sabbath, according to the Jewish historian Flavius Josephus, to signal the beginning and conclusion of the Sabbath day and night (Jewish War, IV, ix, 12).

A Close-Up of the Inscription on the Trumpeting Placement A Close-Up of the Inscription on the Trumpeting Placement Time period: early 1st century AD, location of Trumpeting Inscription (replica).
Jerusalem is home to the Israel Museum, where the original of this inscription may be found.
The Temple Mount’s southwest corner.
Structural remains of a street dating back to Jesus’ time Street Ruins from the Time of Jesus Located near the Southwest Corner of Temple Mount.
Around 18 BC – 70 ADP Stitching: Ophel Archaeological Park in Jerusalem, Palestine The southwest corner of the temple platform, which was constructed by Herod the Great, is seen in this shot.
It is possible that the line of blocks protruding from the wall in the center of the photograph is part of a massive archway that originally provided entrance to the temple’s outer court (court of the Gentiles).
Street of the Romans and Stone Buildings 1st century AD is the year of publication.
Through Robinson’s arch, it went beneath the massive stairwell (see pevious image) Many of the structures from the temple mount that were ‘thrown down’ by the Romans may be seen in the background, as can be seen in the photo above.

The size of those stones is unbelievable. Those are really spectacular structures!” The question is, “Do you see all of these magnificent structures?” “Not one stone here will be left upon another; every one of them will be thrown down,” Jesus said. (Matthew 13:1-2; Luke 13:2-3)

The Second Temple at the Time of Jesus

What brought the raging Roman army to a halt? Which edifice, constructed of stones weighing up to 400 tons and capable of housing up to one million people, can be found in the city of Jerusalem? It is the Temple of Jerusalem that provides answers to these issues. Awe-inspiring not just because of its theological importance, but also because of its physical proportions, majesty, and beauty, the Second Temple was an architectural marvel. As a result, when the Roman generals were surveying Jerusalem and contemplating the destiny of the Temple, they were hesitant to order its demolition.

Today, tourists and religious pilgrims alike flock to the spot where it once stood to take in the sights.
Since the Temple’s destruction by the Romans in 70 CE, the only extant sources of knowledge about it have had a religious or political slant to their reporting.
These, in conjunction with archeological data found on the site, all point to the construction of a structure so magnificent that its design and construction remain a mystery to this day.
Despite the fact that Jerusalem was under Roman administration during the time period in question, it continued to serve as the capital of Judaea and the international center of Judaism.
These large gatherings of people necessitated temporary expansions in food supply, lodging, ceremonial bathing facilities, and all other facets of business in this little ancient city, which had to deal with not only the throngs of people but also their sacrifice animals and offerings.
Herod constructed a large courtyard around the Temple in order to accommodate the significant increase in capacity required by the Temple for these festivals while still adhering to the restrictions imposed on its proportions by Jewish law.
This platform was made by Herod by constructing a box around Mount Moria and filling it with dirt.

The plaza is around 480 by 300 meters (about the size of sixfootball fields).

Walls that are 5m thick and composed of gigantic stones weighing between 2 and 100 tons (there is even one that weighs 400 tons), with an average stone weighing around 10 tons, form the fortifications.

Such fine-tuning of the stones is inconceivable when you consider that even today’s latest gear is incapable of moving such massive boulders.

Standing at the foot of a twenty-story structure normally results in an illusion in which the building appears to be collapsing on top of the spectator; however, standing at the base of the Temple’s retaining walls did not result in this illusion being formed.

Aside from that, each level was staggered, with subsequent courses of stones being indented by 3 cm in relation to the course below them.

Furthermore, these stones were simply a precursor to the much more astounding sight of the Temple itself, since they were only a section of the retaining walls that supported the plaza on which the Temple stood.

The building of the Temple started with a workforce of more than 10,000 men, including a contingent of 1,500 priests who had received special training and were the only ones authorized to work on the Temple’s most sacred and inaccessible areas.

If you were a pilgrim traveling to Jerusalem, you would most likely start by going to the bank to exchange money since the coins of the realm, which were imprinted with the head of Caesar, were not permitted to be used in the Temple.

It was necessary to ascend the stairwell to an overpass that provided access to this building (which did not have direct access to the remainder of the plaza) from the main road and the markets that ran along the western wall of the plaza.

In order to create this flyover, the workmen had to physically build a hill on which to build the overpass, then demolish the hill, leaving the overpass in place.

He also recalls the one hundred and sixty-two columns that stood in the stoa as being so big that three men standing in a circle could just about clasp hands around one of their bases, according to his account.

However, despite the dry climate and limited natural water resources, there were several such baths in the city, which were fed by an extensive network of aqueducts and pipelines that ran for more than 50 miles (80 kilometers).

These gates led to tunnels that were constructed beneath the plaza and eventually exited onto the plaza itself.

Despite the majesty of all that has already been described, there is little doubt that the Temple itself was the focal point of this magnificent complex.

The attention to detail in its construction is illustrated by the placement of gold spikes on the roof line of the structure to prevent birds from perching on the Temple and contaminating its interior space.

It was customary for travelers to round the Temples seven times and then sit under the porticos that ringed the plaza and listen to or speak with the rabbis while they observed the different rites.

These sections were further subdivided according to a social order for gentiles (including women), Israelites (including Levites), and priests (including Levites).

Only the High Priest was permitted to enter this inner sanctuary, and even then, only once a year, on the Day of Atonement, as part of his ceremonial duties.

Nothing was overlooked during the construction of the Temple of the Sun.

This meticulous attention to detail, as well as the incredible feats of engineering, were reflected in the layout of the remainder of the city and its surrounding area, which is unique in the world.

Located beneath these pavements was a complicated sewage and water system that allowed for the collecting of runoff water and the conservation of a valuable resource whose rarity and worth were heightened by the fact that it was needed for ceremonial washing and the performance of sacrifices.

Despite the fact that it is impossible to recreate their experience in its entirety, the chance to see the place in modern-day Jerusalem should not be overlooked.

The Romans built their platforms in twenty-one days, despite the fact that it was a difficult task to collect the lumber.

A dismal sight, much like the City, was the countryside.

The sight of the city’s desolation was unbearable for anyone who had seen it before, even a foreigner, for every trace of its former beauty had been wiped out by war, and no one who had known it in the past and came upon it suddenly would have recognized the place: even if he had arrived, he would have been looking for it.

303, he writes: These Romans drove the Jews from their homes and marched all the way to the Holy of Holies itself.

In response to the rising flames and in order to prevent it from spreading further, the Jews raised an uproar of such magnitude that nothing could stand in their way.

as a result, the holy house was completely consumed by fire.

the people, who were in great consternation, let out sad moans in response to the calamity they were experiencing.

According to Josephus, Antiquities xi.1.2) To give a thorough description of their atrocious behavior would be difficult; but, we can summarize it by noting that no other city has ever had to face such tragedies, and no other generation in history has been responsible for such evil.

Even if many Romans were moved to tears, it is likely that they did not turn a hair as they witnessed the Temple being destroyed from above the city walls.

292) describes the situation as follows: They ran to the rescue with no idea of preserving their lives or conserving their strength, because everything they had previously defended with such zeal was gone before their own eyes as the flames leapt into the air and engulfed the building.

323. Shelley Cohney is an Arts graduate from Melbourne University with a Masters degree in LibraryScience and is a qualified Tour Guide for Israel. She is married and has two children. Relationships between Jews and Christians Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the State of Israel