Capping off an exciting month of celebration and commemoration of Yom Ha’atzmaut and Yom HaShoah, the Young Israel of Fort Lee was proud to have noted archeologist and lecturer, Dr. Jill C. Katz, celebrate with them the upcoming Yom Yerushalayim at their monthly Lunch and Learn. Dr. Katz, a professor at Yeshiva University with degrees from Harvard and the University of Pennsylvania, leads digs in many sites throughout Israel.

Her topic, The Kotel From Herod’s Retaining Wall to Yom Yerushalayim, was wonderfully presented using PowerPoint. Dr. Katz showed the development of the city of Jerusalem and the Temple area from the time of King David in 1,000 BCE to the present time. Using archeological evidence as well as referencing the Tanach, she spoke of the rock on the Temple Mount as well as the history of the Kotel below through 3,000 years.

Katz’s fascinating journey through time served only to enhance further our understanding of the miracle that, after 3,000 years under the Babylonians, Greeks, Romans, Muslims, Ottomans and British, it has been returned to our people. This was certainly an afternoon to remember.