Jerusalem: Three Religions – One City

When most people consider one of the many tours to Israel, one of the first places they want to visit is Jerusalem. What many people don’t realize, however, is that this city plays an important role to three major religions of the world – Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Within this historic city, there are approximately 78 mosques, 158 churches and 1,204 synagogues. While efforts have been made to keep everyone happy, there have been moments of friction within the city due to the many differing religious views.

Judaism is the oldest religion in the world, dating back to the days of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the Bible. King David declared Jerusalem the capital in the 10^th century BC. Solomon’s Temple was built here and the Second Temple as well. Jerusalem is mentioned in the Bible 632 times and was the focal point of many familiar Bible stories. Today, the most sacred of the Jewish holy sites is the Holist of Holies. The second most holy place to the Jews is the Western Wall, which is actually a remnant of the wall surrounding the Second Temple.

All over the world, synagogues are built to face the Holy Ark towards Jerusalem. The Holy Arks within Jerusalem face towards the Holy of Holies. Jewish prayers are generally prayed while people face towards Jerusalem and the Temple Mount. Many Jewish people hang a plaque in their homes to remind them of the direction to face when praying.

When taking an Israel trip, there will be sections of the Jewish Quarter of Old Jerusalem particularly for the Jews. Because the Jordanians destroyed the area in 1948, many areas of the Jewish Quarter have been rebuilt. After the Jews gained control of the Old City in 1967, they rebuilt most of it. Anytime a tourist is visiting the Jewish Quarter, it is important they wear proper attire.

When visiting the Western Wall, everyone must have their head covered and appropriate behavior and dress is required. Many women wear a shawl when visiting the Wailing Wall, as bare shoulders or low necklines are acceptable. Underground parts of the Western Wall can be seen at the Western Wall Tunnel Tour. There are museums, parks and various institutes available here as well for visitors.

Jerusalem is of particular interest to Christians because of its importance in the Bible, particularly in the life of Jesus. Jesus was brought to Jerusalem shortly after his birth to be dedicated to God, according to custom. In later years, Jesus cleansed the Second Temple in Jerusalem, overthrowing the tables of those who were buying and selling there. The Last Supper is believed to be at the Cenacle which is located on Mount Zion near the Tomb of King David.

Christians are also very interested in Golgotha, the place where Jesus was crucified. While the Gospel of John from the Bible describes Golgotha as being outside the city walls, archaeological evidence suggests that Golgotha was only a short distance from the walls of the Old City. This would qualify as part of the city of Jerusalem today.

Christians often take Christian Holyland Tours, which always means a trip to Jerusalem. Generally speaking, these tours are guided, with various attractions to be viewed on certain days. Christian sites that are in Jerusalem would include the Citadel which is now occupied by the Tower of David Museum of the History of Jerusalem. Christians will be particularly interested in the many churches in the area. King David’s Tomb, the Rockefeller Archaeological Museum, and the Garden Tomb are examples of other places that Christians would particularly enjoy visiting.

Islam considers Jerusalem to be their third holiest city. They once considered it the holy place of prayer, but that was changed to the Kabaa in Mecca. Muslims believe that Muhammad was transported through a miracle from Mecca to the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. He then ascended into heaven where he met Islamic prophets from former days.

In the Old City of Jerusalem, the Muslim Quarter is the most densely populated and the largest quarter of the Old City. From the twelfth to the fifteen centuries, the quarter changed hands many times, and thus experienced much decay. The main attraction of the Muslim Quarter is the Noble Sanctuary. Once the site of Solomon’s Temple, it was enlarged by Herod the Great and destroyed by the Romans in 70 AD. There are other Islamic attractions, such as the Dome of the Rock and the al-Aqsa Mosque, but they are not open to the public most of the time.

A visit to the Holy Land is one that one never forgets. Realizing that all three of these religions deem the city such an important part of their religion only proves the fact that Jerusalem is truly a city of great worth, respect, culture and legacy. Regardless of one’s religious interests or affiliations, a trip to Jerusalem will only serve to broaden one’s horizons and show various cultures that have withstood the test of time.