Trifter

Although not the capital of Israel, Jerusalem is arguably popular than the capital city of Tel Aviv.  The ancient biblical and modern heritages intermix in this remarkable and worth-visiting place in the Middle East. Any person who considers himself a traveler will die incomplete without having traveled Jerusalem. Among the ancient and modern heritages of this glorious city are the following.

The Church of the Resurrection

The Church of the Resurrection, also known as the Church of the Holy Sepulcher is venerated by many Christians as the Golgotha or the Hill of Calvary where the New Testament says, Jesus was buried and crucified. On that account, thousands of pilgrims troop to this holy site throughout the year. Since the 4^th century, the church has been an important pilgrimage destination.

 The Wailing Wall

The Wailing Wall, also known as Western Wall or Kotel is one of the most important Jewish religious sites. It is also important to the Muslims, calling it as Al- Buraq Wall. Jewish tradition, teaches that the Wailing Wall was built by David and they further believe that when water trickles through the stones of the Wall, it is a signal of the advent of the Messiah. Muslims on the other hand, according to some sources, identify the Wall as the place where Muhammad tethered his winged steed. In recent decades however, some Muslims deny any association of the wall with Islam (Wikipedia).

 Dome of the Rock

According to historians, the Dome of the Rock was built in the hope that it would “house the Muslims from cold and heat, intending to serve as a shrine for pilgrims and not as a mosque. Today, it is one of the major landmarks in Jerusalem. And being completed in 691, it has become the oldest extant Islamic building in the world. 

Shrine of the Book

The Shrine of the Book, a part of the Israel Museum in Western Jerusalem, is famous for being the house of the Dead Sea Scrolls. The shrine is built as a white doom, covering a structure placed a little below the ground while its colors and shapes are patterned after the images of the scrolls.  The museum also holds some other rare ancient manuscripts such as the Aleppo Codex. Due to the museum’s unusual and seemingly alien architecture, it has appeared in many science fiction movies.

 Al-Aqsa Mosque

Al-Aqsa Mosque, which means “the Farthest Mosque” in reference to Mecca, is one of the holiest Islamic places in the world. This ancient site in the Old City of Jerusalem is widely believed by Muslims that Prophet Muhammad was transported from the sacred mosque in Mecca to Al-Aqsa during the Night Journey and led prayers in this site until the seventeenth month after the emigration.

 Temple Mount

The Temple Mount is one of the most contested religious sites in the world due to its being important to both Islam and Judaism. Jewish teachings hold that it is from this very site that the world expanded into its present form and also from here that God gathered the dust, from which Adam and Eve were made. Islam on the other hand, revered this site as the location of Muhammad’s journey to Jerusalem and ascent to heaven.

Tower of David

The Tower of David is an ancient fort located near the entrance of the Old City of Jerusalem. It was constructed during the second century BCE and has undergone destruction and rebuilding during the long eons of time in Jerusalem rich history. Today, it contains many important archaeological finds dating as far as 2,700 years back. It is also a common venue for concerts, craft and cultural shows, benefit events, and sound-and-light performances.

Safra Square

Safra Square is the city hall complex of Jerusalem named in honor of a Jewish philanthropist who contributed much to the renovation of modern Jerusalem.  One of the prominent features of the complex is the Daniel public garden named after Daniel Auster, one of Jerusalem’s most popular mayors. The garden contains kinds of works of art, among which are the working Archimede’s screw that draws water coming from a small pool, ‘”Modern Head”, a sculpture in memory of the assassinated prime minister Yitzhak Rabin and several statues of lion heads, the symbol of the city, also embellish the complex, 

International Convention Center

The International Convention Center is the largest convention center in the Middle East.  Its design is meant to express to the world the might and capability of Israel as an independent nation after hundreds of years of wandering by its people. As a symbol of an independent Jewish state, the building is encased in pure Jerusalem stone. This structure that resembles the Royal festival Hall of London is now a popular venue of several international and local events, conferences and shows.

Hebrew University of Jerusalem

The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, founded in 1925, is the oldest university in  Israel. It is home to the world’s largest Jewish studies library and many of its faculty members are Nobel laureates for different fields, particularly in economics. Einstein’s volumes of major scientific papers are also hosted by this university. Einstein, in his will, bequeathed his works in this prime academic institution of the country where he traced his roots and would have been its first prime minister had he accepted the offer.

Supreme Court Building of Israel

The Supreme Court Building, standing quiet mute but is one of the most magnificent public structures in modern Jerusalem.  The Supreme Court is the head of the court system of Israel.

Jerusalem is a melting pot of the ancient and the modern. A once-in-a lifetime real tour of this magnificent place in the Middle East will certainly change one’s life forever. It’s like having listened to a very melodious music whose influence leaves us an undying memory.