It was on this day in 1948 that Arabs blew up the famous Hurvah synagogue in the Jewish quarter of the Old City in Jerusalem. Thereafter, for 60 years, this synagogue lay in ruins with only an arch remaining to serve as a memorial of the synagogue’s existence. A different synagogue had been built on this site in the early 1700s, only to be destroyed by the Muslims a few years after its construction. After the destruction of this building, the site lay in ruins for over a century, thus the name, hurvah, or “the ruin.” It was eventually rebuilt in the 1860s and that was the structure destroyed by the Arabs in 1948.

Just in the last few years, the Hurvah Synagogue has been rebuilt yet again. The construction of this new synagogue was said to be, according to Hamas, a declaration of war against the Muslim world. It is fascinating that this particular synagogue factors so prominently in the mindset of both Muslim and Jews. This might be due to the fact that a prediction was made by an 18th century rabbi, the Vilna Gaon, about this particular synagogue. He predicted that when the Hurvah Synagogue would be rebuilt that, very soon after, the Third Temple would also be rebuilt. Perhaps this is why Hamas was so disturbed by the construction of a building.

Are we about to see a rebuilt Temple? Some feel that we are and, though it’s possible, I don’t believe that the Father is as concerned about a building as He is about restoring and rebuilding a nation. In other words, if we’re at the end of the age, one thing that we can be certain of is that the Father is preparing to raise up the fallen Tabernacle of David, as recorded for us in Amos 9: 

“In that day will I raise up the tabernacle of David that is fallen, and close up the breaches thereof; and I will raise up his ruins, and I will build it as in the days of old: that they may possess the remnant of Edom, and of all the heathen, which are called by my name, says the Lord that does this thing.” (Amos 9:11-12)

This prophecy is about more than raising up a tent; it is referring to restoring the Kingdom to Israel with the Son of David, the Messiah, as its King. In other words, Hamas may be bothered by the fact that Jews have rebuilt a synagogue but the greater threat to them is that the Creator is restoring a people and a nation with Messiah at the head. Even so, come Lord Yeshua.

Shalom.