What Makes Jerusalem Controversial and Special?
What Makes Jerusalem Controversial and Special?
Jerusalem is a gateway to God for three major religions: Christianity, Judaism, and Islam. For this reason, it is the most fought over piece of land in history and is home to a mosaic of cultures and beliefs. Jerusalem sits between Europe, Asia, and Africa and was believed to be the center of the world. The first empires were built here 5000 years ago. As other great powers emerged in the country of Israel, land surrounding Jerusalem became a constant battle ground and has been conquered over 40 times. In Jerusalem, Jews, Christians, and Muslims live side by side but in separate quarters. Even though they live right next to each other, these religions do not communicate often with one another and know very little about each other.
Jerusalem is a special city because of its rich history and it is the home to many of the stories in the Bible. Jerusalem is where archeologists have found some of their most important finds such as the Dead Sea Scrolls. The Dead Sea Scrolls are the oldest version of the Hebrew Bible that archeologists have found. Jerusalem is home to the Foundation Stone. Jebusites worshipped the God of the setting sun on the Foundation Stone which is believed to be where the world was created and where some of the most important stories in the Bible took place. At the Foundation Stone, Abraham was prepared to sacrifice his son in order to prove his faith to God, where King David brought the Ark of the Covenant, and where King Solomon built the first temple, the house of God. Even after the temple was destroyed, the belief that Jerusalem was the closest place on Earth to God survived. Jerusalem also holds the Western Wall which is one of the four walls that support the stone platform where King Herod the Great rebuilt the temple. The Western Wall is believed to be where all prayers pass through on the way to God. People also stick prayer notes in the wall.
According to the Gospel, Jesus began his ministry in the village of of Capernaum. It is here where Christians believe he made some of his most important sermons while teaching in the synagogue and found disciples among the fisherman. In Capernaum lies the Garden of Gethsemane, located in the Mount of Olives, where the New Testament says Jesus was arrested before being sentenced to death. On Good Friday, pilgrims walk along the Via Dolorosa, also known as the Way of Sorrows, which is believed to be the path Jesus walked on his was to crucifixion. The procession of this pilgrimage ends in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. This church holds the Rock of Golgotha where Jesus died on the cross, and his tomb where he was buried and then three days later resurrected from the dead.
Jerusalem is a gateway to God for Muslims because it is home to The Dome of the Rock, which is among the oldest Islamic monuments. Prophet Muhammed was take on a journey from Mecca to Jerusalem where he ascended into heaven on a ladder of light. Muslims link the Prophet Muhammad's miraculous journey to heaven with the stone platform that holds The Dome of the Rock. When the Muslims arrived in Jerusalem they asked to be taken to the top of the stone platform to build their own place of worship. When they cleaned the Dome they found the bedrock, the Foundation Stone, that is the center of Jerusalem's scared stories.
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