BIBLE HISTORY DAILY

Residents in Ein Kerem Oppose Construction Plan

Bible and archaeology news

Residents in the ancient Jerusalem neighborhood of Ein Kerem are outraged over a plan to enlarge a plaza and build public lavatories over Second Temple-era ruins. The construction is an effort by the Tourism Ministry and the municipality to accommodate the over one million tourists that visit the area every year. What draw them is the ancient spring, called “Mary’s Spring,” that bubbles into an ancient stone trough. Many believe that Mary herself once drank from this spring, and it is a popular stop for pilgrims. Residents of the area fear that the ambitious plan to construct modern infrastructure will forever alter the ancient cultural landscape that makes the village so unique.