Maimonides Arrives in Jerusalem

On Tuesday, the fourth day of the month of Marheshvan in the year twenty-six of the creation we left Acre to go up to Jerusalem, with the attendant danger. I entered the great holy house, and prayed in it on Thursday, the sixth day of Marheshvan.

LETTER OF MAIMONIDES, FROM THE BOOK HAREDIM MITZVOT HATLUYOT BAARETZ 3

Maimonides (Rabbi Moses Ben Maimon), the famed philosopher and scholar, visited Jerusalem when it was under Crusader rule. In one of his letters he describes the prayer he uttered in the “great holy house.” Some scholars believe he was referring to the Temple Mount, but others disagree. After his visit he continued to Egypt, where he became the sultan’s physician