NARRATOR: In ancient times, Jerusalem was surrounded by a wall, which was destroyed and rebuilt many times over the centuries. The first wall surrounded the city of David, and as the city expanded, new areas were included within the barriers, including the Temple Mount. The Romans destroyed most of Jerusalem's walls when they conquered the city in 70 C.E., but in the 16th century, Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent rebuilt the walls on the foundations of earlier ones. Each of Jerusalem's gates surrounding the wall reflects the history and development of the city. Join us as we journey to Jerusalem's Old City and allow the gates to introduce themselves.

ZION GATE: I am Sha'ar Tziyon, the Zion Gate, and I am the gateway to the Jewish Quarter. When Suleiman built me in 1540, he couldn't have known the history to which I would bear witness. Back then, the Jewish community in the Old City held my key, residents peeked out my distinctive windows, and a Jewish watchman was in charge of opening and closing me to travelers. As the years passed, I grew accustomed to looking south, in the direction of the city of Hebron, where our Matriarchs and Patriarchs were buried, and guarding Mount Zion where, according to tradition, King David rests. That is how I received my name.

My scars of battle testify to the history I witnessed: I became riddled with bullet holes in 1948 during the War of Independence, when heavy fighting erupted nearby. That was when the last Jewish survivors of the Old City fled through me before I was taken into Jordanian hands. But all that changed in 1967, when the Jewish Quarter reopened, and I became its main gateway. Now I stand proudly, nearly five centuries old, and greet passersby as they enter Jerusalem.

DAMASCUS GATE: I am Sha'ar Shekhem, the Damascus Gate, and I am the gateway to the Muslim Quarter. From me, the road leads to Shekhem (Nablus), and ultimately to Damascus, which is how I received my name. By far, I am the largest and most magnificent of the gates, because I was the main entrance to the Old City since ancient times. Yet I was also the site of major battles, and I was therefore constructed to defend Jerusalem: Narrow slits in my thick doors allowed guards to shoot at assailants, and an opening above provided a way to pour boiling oil on attackers. Even in modern times, it wasn't easy to cross my path: In 1967, Israeli forces attempted to penetrate the city through me, but heavy fire power made entrance impossible.

For centuries, I have guarded the cave of Zedekiah, who, according to tradition, fled there from the Caldeans, who were attacking the city. I also stand watch at a cave where the prophet Jeremiah was imprisoned in the royal court. Today, I am the portal to Jerusalem's many markets, and on Shabbat, thousands of Jews stream through me, on their way to pray at the Western Wall.

FLOWER GATE: I am Sha'ar Haprahim, the Flower Gate, and you can recognize me by the floral designs engraved on my facade. Like the Damascus Gate, I stand guard in the north, and I lead directly into the Muslim Quarter. Some people call me Herod's Gate, but that's because of a mistake: Christian pilgrims in the 16th century erroneously believed that I led to King Herod's palace. Their information was wrong, but the name stuck.

I have born witness to countless battles. I remember when the Crusaders used my entrance to break into Jerusalem in 1099 and slaughtered Arabs and Jews. But when Israeli forces attempted to enter the city through me in 1967, they were unsuccessful.

NEW GATE: I am Sha'ar Hahadash, the New Gate. As my name indicates, I am the youngest of the gates, built in 1887, and I provide an easy access into the Christian Quarter.

Years ago, the border between Jordan ran right alongside me, and in 1948, Israeli forces attempted to break through me to liberate the Jewish Quarter, but they were forced to fall back. That was when the Jordanians sealed me off. In 1967, when the Israelis liberated the Old City during the Six-Day War, I was reopened once more, and thus I stand proudly today.

DUNG GATE: I am Sha'ar Ha'ashpot, the Dung Gate, and I am the nearest gateway to the Western Wall. When the Temple stood long ago, rubbish was forbidden to accumulate nearby, and so it was removed through me, which is how I received my name. During Byzantine times, Jerusalem's Christian inhabitants used to dump their garbage near me, and for generations I sat humiliated, buried in refuse. I've been called by my name since the time of the prophet Nehemiah, who mentions me in Tanakh. Indeed, I am the smallest of gates, with the lowest archway.

But don't be deceived by my name, because I play an important role today. Since the Old City was liberated in 1967, I am now the most direct passageway to the Kotel. What was once a place for refuse is now a major gathering place for motorists and pedestrians, all eager to catch a glimpse of the last remaining wall that surrounded the Temple plaza. It's strange, but I give people hope, because I demonstrate how the lowliest of creatures can be miraculously uplifted.

JAFFA GATE: I am Sha'ar Yafo, the Jaffa Gate, and I received my name because in ancient times a road led from me directly to the port city of Jaffa. I remember being built in 1538 on the ruins of an earlier Crusader gate, and the British General Allenby leading his troops into the city through me towards the end of World War I, almost five centuries later. You might notice two graves to the left of my entrance: Legend has it that when Suleiman discovered that his engineers had mistakenly left the City of David and Mount Zion outside the city walls, he ordered them executed and buried near me. In 1948, I was sealed to prevent entrance to the city, but I was reopened in 1967 after the Israeli forces liberated the Old City.

I am located on the west and am one of the busiest entrances to the Old City, because I am one of the few places where you can enter with a vehicle. That debt is owed to Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany, who wished to enter Jerusalem in his carriage in 1898. To accommodate him, a large part of my wall was torn down, and today my broad entrance is utilized by cars and taxis.

GOLDEN GATE: I am Sha'ar Harahamim, the Golden Gate, and I am the gateway to redemption. I am the oldest of the gates, built in the 5th century C.E.-although according to tradition, I was originally erected by King Solomon himself. If you could peek inside my doorway, you'd see two massive pillars-a gift from the Queen of Sheba. Long ago, when the Jewish people lived united in this land, I served as the main entrance to the Temple Mount. I recall the glorious days of Sukkot, Pesach, and Shavuot, when thousands of pilgrims streamed through my passageway to celebrate the holidays.

But all that has changed. According to tradition, the Messiah will enter the Old City through me, and that is why Muslim conquerors, fearing the prophecy to be true, sealed me centuries ago. Knowing that Elijah the Prophet, a kohen, is supposed to herald the Messianic Age, the Muslims buried their dead before me to prevent his arrival, since kohanim are forbidden to enter cemeteries. Jerusalem is now ruled by Jewish people, but I am to remain sealed until the Messiah opens my door. So I spend my days and nights guarding the dead buried on the Mount of Olives, who face me, and together we eagerly await our day of redemption.

LIONS' GATE: I am Sha'ar Ha'arayot, the Lions' Gate, and I am the gateway to liberation. Legend has it that when Suleiman rebuilt the walls around Jerusalem, he dreamed that his father ordered him to complete building immediately, or else lions would devour him. To commemorate his victory over the dream, Suleiman placed two pairs of carved lions above me, and that is how I received my name.

Little did he realize that the lion is also the sign of Judah, and that one day the sons of lions would enter through this very portal. That's what happened on June 7, 1967, when Israeli paratroopers broke through me and liberated the Old City, Temple Mount, and Western Wall. Today I stand proudly to the east of Jerusalem, where I face the Mount of Olives. The nearby sealed Golden Gate still awaits redemption, but as for me, I have already experienced it.

WESTERN WALL: I am the Kotel Hama'aravi, the Western Wall. I am not a gate to the Old City of Jerusalem, but I am a gateway to prayers, hopes, and the future. As the last remaining wall that surrounded the courtyard of the Holy Temple, I am the most important Jewish site in the world. The entire Jewish nation faces in my direction when beseeching God for mercy, and I channel their prayers heavenward. For 19 years, Jews were forbidden from seeing me, but I heard them even then, praying outside the city walls and beyond until I was liberated in 1967.

I have witnessed many nations conquering Jerusalem, including the Romans, Byzantines, Persians, Arabs, Crusaders, Mamluks, and Ottoman Turks. But today, I am restored to the Jewish people, who are the descendants of King David, and my rightful heirs. Today, on Yom Yerushalayim, I look into my courtyard and I see the future as I had always hoped it would be: Thousands crowd before me, singing praises to God, while children wave flags with the star of David. And inwardly I smile, recalling the words of the Amidah which have finally come to pass: "And to Jerusalem, Your city, may You return in compassion, and may You rest within it, as You have spoken."