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David Melech Yisrael Chai Vekayam!

David King of Israel Lives Eternal!

For millennia Jews have proclaimed that King David is more than a historical or biblical character. King David is an archetype for all People. He is alive forever because the lessons of his life are universal and relevant for all people.

King David was a person like us, with glorious moments of faith, courage, honesty and nobility; a leader who, struggling to unify his nation, realized the necessity of doing what it takes to establish his dynasty; and a fallible stumbling human who cried out to G-d in repentance.

The message of David's life is that we are not put into this world to succeed, but to strive in the faith that even the most broken vessels will, by G-d's healing light, be restored and redeemed.

For millennia, Jewish tradition has identified Mount Zion, Jerusalem, as being the last resting place of King David and his descendants, the Kings of Judah.

Like David himself, the reputation of Mount Zion and of King David's Tomb has come under a shadow. Many no longer regard the site as authentic. We at the Mount Zion Foundation are here to proclaim that Mount Zion is real! That King David's Tomb is real!  Mount Zion is the second most sacred spot on Earth!

This exhibition, in which you now find yourself, is designed to give you a sense of the meaning, holiness and blessings that you can find on Mount Zion.

The founder of the Mount Zion Foundation, Dr. S.Z. Kahana, collected the folktales that grew over the years as pilgrims climbed to Mount Zion and poured out their hearts in prayer at King David's Tomb.

There were certain locations and objects that were said to contain spiritual power and blessing. Pilgrims to Mount Zion sought out these objects and would meditate in their presence, asking God to bring salvation.

It was said: Holy Mount Zion is where heaven and earth overlap. It is like a king's treasure hold.

The king allows you to enter, find what you desire and take it home. Indeed, this is the deepest Kabbalistic meaning of prayer, to transport yourself into God's reality, where everything is abundance and joy -- and then for G-d to let you bring home your deepest desires.

If prayer was not like this, how would it be possible for us to imagine that we are changing G-d's mind   by praying. Does not the prophet say "G-d is not human that he might regret or a person who can change his mind!"

Unfortunately, we cannot bring the Stone Monument of King David’s Tomb to you, which is the central object on Mount Zion, but we have brought nine no less significant artifacts which were seen by pilgrims as possessing spiritual blessings.

7.5 ft. by 15 ft.

 1. The Floral Monument Cover

This is the Tapestry that covered the monument of King David's Tomb from the 1880's until the founding of the State of Israel in 1948.                                          

It has soaked up the tears of pilgrims and seekers. It has felt the touch of mystics and it is embedded with symbolism and secret meanings.

 It is believed, after extensive research, to have been donated by Baron Edmond de Rothschild (1845-1934) on one of his many visits to the Tomb of David on Holy Mount Zion.

One of the world’s wealthiest patrons, commissioned what he considered the most appropriate gift, a one of a kind treasure that would add dignity and glory to the Tomb of David.

The monument cover chosen by the Baron was a unique and specially made tapestry from the renowned weavers of the Aubusson district in France. The tapestry contains a red rose pattern highlighted in pink, bright blue, teal and verdant green. It is embellished with gold branches, woven into a cream background lined with linen.

The roses were chosen for their symbolic meaning.  In the book of Exodus, 25:31, G-d commands Moses to fashion the original candelabrum, the Menorah, which was made of pure gold and which was adorned with flowers.

The Menorah symbolizes how G-d's kingdom illuminates, embraces and encompasses the entire world. The Sacred Menorah and its branches had to be made from a single block of pure gold. Even the flowers were hammered delicately out of the same gold block. They could not be fashioned separately and then attached to the Menorah.

Our Sages of Old asked: What form were these flowers to assume? The Sages answered. "Of all the flowers that G-d created, He chose the beautiful, fragrant rose to be an integral part of His Sacred Menorah.” “The Rose” symbolizes the love that permeates the kingdom of G-d.

The Kingdom is everywhere and encompasses everything, if only we could open our eyes to perceive it. When you become a part of G-d's Kingdom, you feel this wonderful love.

Since King David is the foundation of G-d's Kingdom, it is appropriate that his Tomb be adorned with Roses. In light of this explanation, it is no wonder that a floral pattern tapestry was chosen by Baron Edmond de Rothschild as a fitting Monument Cover for the monument of King David's tomb.

Others offered the following explanation. According to the Jewish Tradition, King David was born and died on the Festival of Shavuot. Since this is the date on which Israel received the Torah by Divine revelation, this tradition is actually saying that King David is not just a political leader, but a significant link in in the chain of revelation.

The Shavuot holiday is also called the Feast of the Harvest and the Day of the First Fruits.

King David was born and died on the Jewish Holiday of Shavuot. Thus, it is both an agricultural festival and the festival of the revelation of the Torah on Mount Sinai.

This implies that the spirit worlds and the material world must be united.

The aspects of Torah and practical worldly wisdom unite in the personality of King David. On Shavuot, the usually dry slopes of Mt. Sinai were covered with green pastures, flowers and trees. Similarly, the monument cover is embroidered with living flowers.

In memory of the blossoming slopes of Mount Sinai, it is customary to decorate our synagogues, especially the Holy Ark, with fragrant branches and flowers that gladden the heart.

This custom dates back thousands of years. Once again the monument cover signifies the union of the spiritual and material dimensions of life, which is the essence of King David's message for our world today.

During the centuries of the Arab occupation of Jerusalem, only Muslims were allowed in the ground floor of the tomb. All other visitors and Jews in particular, had to climb up and down difficult steps to access a monument chamber known as the “Upper Tomb”.

There, in a room directly above the ancient monument, a second monument stood. The magnificent floral monument cover adorned the upper tomb.  

During the British mandate period, Jews were allowed into the lower tomb only on the Festival of Shavuot, the traditional anniversary of King David's passing.

After the War of Independence in 1948, Mount Zion was in the Israeli section of Jerusalem and the original ground level Tomb chamber once again became a focus of Jewish pilgrimage. The upper tomb is now no longer used.

This artifact corresponds to the Element of Water and the Blessing of Life. Pilgrims who lingered viewing the monument cover came away experiencing an outpouring of vitality and longevity.

14" high by 14" wide

 2. The Bronze Tzedaka/Charity Holder

This magnificent, bronze Tzedaka/Charity Holder once stood in the ante-chamber of King David's Tomb. Pilgrims who prayed for Perfect Healing knew the power of The Bronze Charity Holder.

Its proceeds were used to provide care for the ill and infirm. Whoever placed a contribution and a prayer note in the charity holder felt confident that their prayers would be answered.

Pilgrims often noted that The Bronze Charity Holder often glowed like sunlight and felt warm to the touch, even though it was kept in the cool recesses of the Royal Tomb.

According to the sages and mystics who guarded the tomb, the heat and glow of The Bronze Charity Holder were reminiscent of the verse in Malachi, 3:20 "And there will shine for you… a sun of kindness and healing with its rays." Sunlight and warmth are the origins of healing. For this reason, the blessing of Health corresponds to the element of Fire.

The Bronze Charity Holder stands 14" high and is 14" wide.

It is decorated with ornate lettering on the lid and it has a harp shaped handle. A raised slot for receiving contributions and prayer notes is positioned in the centre. A large clasp is attached to the lid and secured by a separate lock and key. 

This artifact corresponds to the Element of Fire and the blessing of Healing.

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8 ft. 8.5" by 4 ft.

  3-6. The Window Frames of Transforming Light from the Upper Level of the King David's Tomb Complex

It is virtually unknown today, but there are actually two sites for King David's Tomb. (We have already referred to this in our explanation of the Monument Cover.)

There is the main tomb chamber with the burial monument on the ground floor and directly above this chamber is a smaller and more intimate one containing a similar monument.

The placement of this second monument is based upon the notion that the spiritual energy of a burial monument rises upward indefinitely, towards heaven (see Mishnah Ohalot 7:1). 

As a result, someone standing near the upper monument is truly standing in the presence of King David's Tomb. The upper chamber was referred to as the "Upper Tomb" or the "Room of the Holy Spirit".

According to the traditions of Mount Zion, the Upper Tomb in olden times was reserved for unique saints and visionaries who performed deep meditations there and received holy visions of the Divine Throne and the four Living Entities who carry it, as described at the beginning of the Book of Ezekiel.

These meditations were based upon the Kabbalistic teaching that these four aspects of the Chariot are actually the transformed spiritual essences of the Patriarchs; Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

One might ask since there are only three Patriarchs, isn't the Divine Chariot missing a fourth support?

The answer is that King David joins the triad of the patriarchs, becoming the fourth pillar by giving his soul to the Divine Throne.

Consequently, the best place to receive a vision of the Divine Throne is at King David's Tomb.

There is an antechamber where in ancient times these saints and visionaries would prepare themselves before entering the Upper Tomb to behold the Throne Vision. This antechamber has three large arch shaped windows.

The ancient sages would see the light streaming in through these windows and visualize the transformation of the three patriarchs into the radiating glory of the Divine Presence.

Once filled with light and joy, the Sages would enter the Upper Tomb and receive the complete Vision, as the light streamed in through the fourth window -- the window of the tomb chamber itself.

In the merit of King David's contrition and repentance, wise mystics would behold the Throne of Glory and perceive how the Divine Light fills the entire universe.

Over time, the four windows became associated with the four characteristics of the Enlightened Mind: Wisdom, Understanding, Love of G-D and Awe of G-d. In Hebrew we say: "Choch’ma, Bi’na, Ah’ha’vah and Yirah.

All human beings search for the benefits that spiritual light can bring to life.

These Window Frames symbolize the light of spiritual transformation.

Prayer, with deep faith in the presence of these artifacts from Mount Zion, can help transform the negative influences in one's life into joyous positive energy, just as the Patriarchs and King David were transformed from mortal beings into eternal aspects of the Divine Throne.

Over the many years, these hand crafted Wooden Window Frames absorbed the spiritual energy and essence of sincere prayers from the endless stream of pilgrims who reverently ascended Holy Mount Zion to partake of its many blessings.

These large hand crafted and uniquely shaped Wooden Window Frames have been in place for hundreds of years.

Now they are presented to you for contemplation.

You can view them at the sides of this exhibition.

You can observe that we have listed the four characteristics of enlightenment: Wisdom, Understanding, Knowledge, and Love and Awe in the hope that you will find these noble ideas entering your own life to bring about a blessed transformation.

The Window Frames correspond to the Sublime Element of Light and to the blessing of Spiritual Transformation.

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24" X 18" X 29" high

 7. THE LEGENDARY TZEDAKA/CHARITY CHEST

This Tzedaka/Charity Chest stood at the gateway to King David's Tomb.

The Jewish pilgrims who ascended Mt. Zion knew it was amazing and miraculous.

Whoever placed a contribution in The Charity Chest, along with a prayer note, soon found blessing and financial success in all worthy endeavours.

The proceeds from this Charity Chest were used to feed needy sages of Jerusalem and their families.

The Charity Chest is made of heavy wood partially overlaid with metal.

The pilgrims often noted that the fragrant scents of an orchard seemed to emanate from it.

To the mystics who guarded the Royal Tomb, this fragrance was none other than the scent of Eden, where King David lives eternally and whose trees sustain all the souls of the righteous.

The presence of this Charity Chest generates a spiritual atmosphere of tranquillity, positive energy and hope.

Air, the most basic maintainer of life and the spiritual atmosphere of Eden, brings with it blessings for all manner of material wellbeing.

This artefact corresponds to the element of Air and the Blessing of Material Abundance.

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37" wide X 65" tall X 3" thick

8. THE IRON CLAD DOOR

The Iron Clad Door is the only remaining door from the Royal Tomb building complex.

It is made of heavy wood overlaid with metal.

This stalwart door once guarded the entrance to secret underground chambers.

There, in the depths of the earth, mystics would descend to pray at midnight. The legend tells that once a violent Mameluke official became convinced the mystics were plotting a revolt.

He attacked the stalwart little door along with a crack unit of his guards, but the door held fast no matter how hard they battered it.                                   

After a few minutes the guards were overtaken by feelings of terror, and even the Mameluke official began to tremble uncontrollably. He conceded that he could not continue to stand in the presence of the door.

From then on it was known that if anyone approached the Metal Clad Door with violent intent, the holiness of King David would drive the intruder away.

The subtle energy of Holiness nullifies all evil intentions and brings about Peace.

Over time, Jewish pilgrims learned that the Metal Wooden Door corresponds to the blessing of Peace.

Those who sincerely prayed for peace, be it in the family, the community or among nations, would have their prayers answered at the mystical doorway that protected the mystics from the Mameluke's wrath.  

This artifact corresponds to the Subtle Energy of Holiness and the Blessing of Peace.

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22" X 24" X 6" - Opening 10" - Weight 226 lbs.

9. THE STONE COVER to KING DAVID'S WELL OF BLESSINGS AND MIRACLES

On Mt. Zion there is a deep well, whose water is sweet and refreshing. This well and its original unique Stone Cover, greeted thirsty Jewish Pilgrims in the days of the Second Temple over 2500 years ago.

Dr. S. Z. Kahane, who served as Director General of the Ministry of Religious affairs in Israel for over a quarter of a century, dedicated his life to recording the legends and traditions of Mt. Zion.

On his tours of Holy Mt. Zion, he often pointed out King David's Well of Blessings and Miracles.

King David was not concerned about being remembered after his death by monuments.

Rather, he excavated this well, adjacent to the Royal Tomb, for the benefit of the people, so that they will thank G-d and remember King David.

At all times King David elevates the prayers of the Jewish people to heaven. "When you come to my resting place and request that I intercede on your behalf, I will pray for you," said G-d's anointed King.

King David’s Well was used by many seekers and pilgrims coming to pray at King David's Tomb.

Childless women would gather at King David’s Well in imitation of the matriarch Rachel, who was barren and who met her beloved Jacob at a well.

Legend tells that tears of supplication fell into the deep well, mingling with the cool waters. Somehow, this well water did more than simply refresh and quench thirst. People noticed their prayers were being answered.

And so, King David's Well of Blessings and Miracles became a symbol of hope and fertility.

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Of course, we cannot bring you the Well, but we have brought you the stone cover which protected it and which helped keep the water fresh and healthful.

This remarkable artifact corresponds to the element of Earth, since the earth is the origin of all growth and fertility. It corresponds to the blessing of Children.

We hope that our exhibit has helped inspire you with the ancient holiness of Mt Zion and King David's Tomb. Please be certain to visit Mt Zion of your next trip to Israel.

Rabbi Dr. Nathan Glick DHL, Biblical Researcher and Historian

 For additional reading you are welcome to click here

www.KingDavidsHeritageExhibit.com

The Mount Zion Foundation

(www.MountZionFoundation.org)

Coordinator: Rabbi Gerald Goldstein

P.O. Box 5102, Ashkelon, Israel 78150

 Israel Phone: 077-718-1836 

American Phone in Israel:

516-422-9999 

rabbigg@gmail.com