VOA标准英语2010年-Site of Ancient Jewish Temple is Epice

The Dome¹ of the Rock sits on the spot where the ancient Hebrews built the Second Temple before it was destroyed by the Romans nearly 2,000 years ago

Israel's continued settlement of East Jerusalem is a source of tension with the Palestinians.  But perhaps even more contentious² was the re-dedication this month of a synagogue in East Jerusalem that sparked clashes between Palestinians and Israelis.  The synagogue, destroyed by Jordan in 1948, is not far from the compound known to Muslims as the Noble Sanctuary³ and to Jews as the Temple Mount. It was the site of the Second Temple built by King Herod during Roman times. Palestinian leaders claim the rebuilding of the synagogue signals the start of an attack on the al-Aqsa Mosque⁴, in the compound, to make way for construction of the Third Temple.

To many, this spot in East Jerusalem - holy to Muslims and Jews - is the heart of the conflict.

The Dome of the Rock and the al-Aqsa Mosque sit on the spot where the ancient Hebrews built the Second Temple before it was destroyed by the Romans nearly 2,000 years ago.  The recent reconstruction⁵ of the Hurva synagogue, nearby, has sparked new tensions.

General view of the Hurva synagogue in Jerusalem's Old City, 15 Mar⁶, 2010

"This synagogue is just the beginning in the process to destroy the al-Aqsa mosque and to replace it with the Third Temple.  Because of this, we think the synagogue is a bad omen," said Sheikh Taysir Tamimi, a prominent Muslim leader. 

Fueling that belief are remarks by hard-line Jewish groups that want to rebuild the temple, including one small faction⁷ headed by Gershon Salomon.

"They are absolutely not mistaken.  Yes, we want to build the temple of God. This is our task," said Salomon.

In the seventh century, Muslim armies conquered Jerusalem. The al-Aqsa Mosque, as well as the Dome of the Rock, were built on the Temple site.  Although Israel captured the hilltop in 1967, it left the Islamic structures intact. 

Today, the battle continues between modern day Jews and Muslims who fear Islam's third holiest site might fall into non-Muslim hands. 

Israel denies any intention to destroy the mosques⁸ and rebuild the temple.  Still, that has not stopped the rumors⁹, and the violent clashes between Palestinian demonstrators and Israeli police.

Jews traditionally pray that the temple will be restored when the Messiah comes.  They pray at Judaism's holiest site, the remaining foundation wall of the temple, called the Western or Wailing¹⁰ Wall.  Some also pray inside tunnels dug along the perimeter¹¹ of the compound. According to Jewish teaching, it's as close as they may approach the area for now.

Mainstream¹² Jewish leaders reject views like Salomon's, which represent a tiny minority.  The movement's rallies - police say - draw only a handful of supporters. 

"The synagogue in the Old City has not any connection between this case and the dream that we have that God will send the Holy Temple from heaven. We will not build it ourselves," said Yona Metzger, a Chief Rabbi of Israel.

In an effort to avoid provocation¹³, Israeli authorities have banned Salomon from the Temple Mount. 

Palestinian security forces in the West Bank are on alert to contain the violence over the synagogue, a sign that some Palestinian officials also want to prevent the clashes from precipitating¹⁴ a religious war.
 

1 dome   

n.圆屋顶，拱顶

参考例句：

• The dome was supported by white marble columns.圆顶由白色大理石柱支撑着。
• They formed the dome with the tree's branches.他们用树枝搭成圆屋顶。

2 contentious   

adj.好辩的，善争吵的

参考例句：

• She was really not of the contentious fighting sort.她委实不是好吵好闹的人。
• Since then they have tended to steer clear of contentious issues.从那时起，他们总想方设法避开有争议的问题。

3 sanctuary   

n.圣所，圣堂，寺庙；禁猎区，保护区

参考例句：

• There was a sanctuary of political refugees behind the hospital.医院后面有一个政治难民的避难所。
• Most countries refuse to give sanctuary to people who hijack aeroplanes.大多数国家拒绝对劫机者提供庇护。

4 mosque   

n.清真寺

参考例句：

• The mosque is a activity site and culture center of Muslim religion.清真寺为穆斯林宗教活动场所和文化中心。
• Some years ago the clock in the tower of the mosque got out of order.几年前，清真寺钟楼里的大钟失灵了。

5 reconstruction   

n.重建，再现，复原

参考例句：

• The country faces a huge task of national reconstruction following the war.战后，该国面临着重建家园的艰巨任务。
• In the period of reconstruction,technique decides everything.在重建时期，技术决定一切。

6 mar   

vt.破坏，毁坏，弄糟

参考例句：

• It was not the custom for elderly people to mar the picnics with their presence.大人们照例不参加这样的野餐以免扫兴。
• Such a marriage might mar your career.这样的婚姻说不定会毁了你的一生。

7 faction   

n.宗派，小集团；派别；派系斗争

参考例句：

• Faction and self-interest appear to be the norm.派系之争和自私自利看来非常普遍。
• I now understood clearly that I was caught between the king and the Bunam's faction.我现在完全明白自己已陷入困境，在国王与布纳姆集团之间左右为难。

8 mosques   

清真寺； 伊斯兰教寺院，清真寺； 清真寺，伊斯兰教寺院( mosque的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Why make us believe that this tunnel runs underneath the mosques? 为什么要让我们相信这条隧洞是在清真寺下？
• The city's three biggest mosques, long fallen into disrepair, have been renovated. 城里最大的三座清真寺，过去年久失修，现在已经修复。

9 rumors   

n.传闻( rumor的名词复数 )；[古]名誉；咕哝；[古]喧嚷v.传闻( rumor的第三人称单数 )；[古]名誉；咕哝；[古]喧嚷

参考例句：

• Rumors have it that the school was burned down. 有谣言说学校给烧掉了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Rumors of a revolt were afloat. 叛变的谣言四起。 来自《简明英汉词典》

10 wailing   

v.哭叫，哀号( wail的现在分词 )；沱

参考例句：

• A police car raced past with its siren wailing. 一辆警车鸣着警报器飞驰而过。
• The little girl was wailing miserably. 那小女孩难过得号啕大哭。

11 perimeter   

n.周边，周长，周界

参考例句：

• The river marks the eastern perimeter of our land.这条河标示我们的土地东面的边界。
• Drinks in hands,they wandered around the perimeter of the ball field.他们手里拿着饮料在球场周围漫不经心地遛跶。

12 mainstream   

n.（思想或行为的）主流；adj.主流的

参考例句：

• Their views lie outside the mainstream of current medical opinion.他们的观点不属于当今医学界观点的主流。
• Polls are still largely reflects the mainstream sentiment.民调还在很大程度上反映了社会主流情绪。

13 provocation   

n.激怒，刺激，挑拨，挑衅的事物，激怒的原因

参考例句：

• He's got a fiery temper and flares up at the slightest provocation.他是火爆性子，一点就着。
• They did not react to this provocation.他们对这一挑衅未作反应。

14 precipitating   

adj.急落的，猛冲的v.（突如其来地）使发生( precipitate的现在分词 )；促成；猛然摔下；使沉淀

参考例句：

• Precipitating electrode plate is a key part in electrostatic precipitation equipment. 静电收尘板是静电收尘设备中的关键部件。 来自互联网
• The precipitation bond adopts a sloped tube to enhance the precipitating efficiency. 沉淀池采用斜管，提高了沉降效率。 来自互联网