At the initiative of the Jerusalem Municipality and the Antiquities Authority, the 'Jerusalem Heritage near the Home' program was launched, in the framework of which young Jerusalemites will upgrade and maintain approximately 15 archaeological heritage sites in various neighborhoods in the capital of Israel.
The Jerusalem Municipality is responsible for the integration of youth movements, school and preparatory school students and volunteer organizations in the project, as well as for the removal of waste, weeding and pruning after the working days.
The Antiquities Authority is responsible for the supply of tools and equipment, the archaeological escort and the management of the project.
The program, which started recently and will be held throughout the course of the year, has set itself the goal of rehabilitating the antiquities sites in the neighborhoods of Jerusalem, making them an integral part of the urban space and making them accessible to the general public.
About 15 archaeological heritage sites will be upgraded and maintained, photo: Jerusalem Municipality Spokesperson
The participants in the program will carry out the restoration operations at the sites - garbage collection, weeding, vegetation care and other maintenance and cleaning operations.
Included in the program are about 15 sites in various neighborhoods throughout the capital, including: Rehavia, Ramat Shlomo, Ramot, Ramat Dania, Kiryat Menachem, Givat Hamatos, Niyot, Pisgat Ze'ev, Shoafat and Beit Tzatsafa.
In these neighborhoods there are sites that reflect the historical and cultural continuity of Jerusalem, from the time of the First Temple to the Middle Ages.
The program was launched in the Pisgat Ze'ev neighborhood, at a site called 'Ras Abu Maruf', known as the 'Garden of Knowledge'.
At the site there are houses of worship, goths, mikvahs and a pool, which are attributed to the end of the late Roman period until the end of the Byzantine period and the beginning of the early Arab period.
The garden is in Pisgat Ze'ev, between the corner of Meir Gershon and Eli Tabin streets.
The students of the Teddy Kolek school and other volunteers who met at the archaeological site take part in the restoration of the site.
After the maintenance and conservation work at the various sites, the residents of the neighborhoods, the youth movements and the schools, will be able to perform various actions at the archaeological sites scattered in the area.
Old Jerusalem is being restored within the neighborhoods, photo: Jerusalem Municipality Spokesperson
The Mayor of Jerusalem, Moshe Leon: "The 'Jerusalem Heritage at Home' program provides students and volunteers in the various neighborhoods with additional values and knowledge, concerning the Jewish heritage from the days of the First Temple. This is an important activity that will greatly contribute to the community for the restoration and preservation of the archaeological sites of Jerusalem, our capital."
Eli Escozido, Director of the Antiquities Authority: "The Jerusalem region and the Antiquities Authority's conservation director are working hard to preserve and nurture the archaeological sites all over Jerusalem.
We see this as one of our main tasks.
Some of the sites are right under the noses of the residents of the neighborhoods, but they are not aware of the treasures under their noses, because they are in a state of abandonment and neglect."
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