Jerusalem of Gold

In the 80s, I had the privilege of seeing the Old City from the Mount of Olives at sunrise. That's when I really understood what is meant by the famous phrase "Jerusalem of Gold". There are several minutes when the sun shines on the ancient stone walls on the East side and they appear to be pure gold reflecting the sunlight. If you're not right there at the moment,waiting in anticipation, you will miss what seems to be an instantanious reflection of the awakening Glory of Hashem, one of His unique exquisite gifts of nature to man. Yet, it's as though as quickly as the site appears before you, He blinks His eye and that intimate mysterious moment with Him disappears.
During Chol Hamoed Pesach 2009, I made an attempt to recapture such a moment, but failed since I was just minutes too late. With so much focus on the sun and its Creator at Pesach, I thought this would be an appropriate time to seize the opportunity once again. But, I guess my moment in the 80s was one of those times in my life that will remain an indelible impression on my heart not to be repeated again.
Yet, it's almost worth the hassle to camp out on the Mount of Olives just to wait for the sunrise, especially for photographers who desire to capture their elusive dreams of that one great, exceptional photo of a lifetime.

From 2009 Mt of Olives at Pesach

It's a magnificent view of the Old City from the Mount of Olives, so a photographer can get good shots at any time. When standing there, I always always recall an historical account of Suleiman when he conquered Jerusalem. He had heard that the Jewish Messiah would come and make his entrance through the East Gate of the city when he delivered the Jewish people from their captivity. So, he had the Gate sealed from anyone entering the Temple Mount from that direction. Then, he buried the dead along the Eastern Wall of the Old City, having been advised that a rabbi was not allowed to defile himself by walking through a cemetery of the dead. He thereby, produced another obstacle for the Rabbi & King Messiah to enter the city.
All I could think when I heard the story was that if Suleiman was so well-advised, why didn't he also know that Hashem will eventually raise the dead allowing Messiah to enter Jerusalem as the conquering hero of the Jews? Isn't that the reason so many Jews want to be buried on the Mount of Olives? To be center stage of the 'happening', Messiah's grand entrance to the Temple Mount!