Head back towards the stairs to the Kotel and notice a rather old looking area with a gate and no roof. This along with the adjoining park which can be visited while going down the stairs to the Kotel (where 2 "beggars" usually stand selling authentic red DMC string) is what remains of the German Hospice. There are opinions that say that the building was built on the remains of a building from Hasmonean times (as in Chanukah), and we have no reason to doubt that because everything here is built on something from Temple times ( if you don't believe me, just look across the valley at the big gold dome).
Nowadays the area is used to burn chametz before Pesach, make bonfires on Lag B'Omer and house an occasional class or concert. We don't really have too much open space in our neighborhood so we have to make good use of what we have. Aside from enjoying watching our children dancing on the ruins of the Roman Empire, we also love to turn a hang out for murderous Crusader soldiers into a playground for a thriving Jewish community!
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