The unique character of Jerusalem tantalizes the senses. It is in the golden aura of the setting sun reflecting from every building, in the black-clad men and boys with sidecurls hurrying to synagogue in the mingling sound of tolling church bells and the muezzin calling the faithful to prayer, and in the bustle of people going about their normal business in the most extraordinary city in the world.
The energy of Jerusalem is in the intraction of the ancient and modern, the holy and secular, the earthly and spirittual. A visit to the Holy City is a rewarding experience where the exciting present lives up to the historic past.
Whether one is seeking the Jerusalem of the spirit or a lively enriching holiday, the many levels and apsects of the legendarycity fulfill every hope and promise.
An Exprience Apart
From the time that King David made Jerusalem his capital some 3000 years ago and his son Solomon built the first temple, the very name of the city has conjured up images of beauty and reverence, activity and excitement. And today, as in ancient times, Jerusalem is simultaneously the ultimate destination of countless pilgrims, the seat of government, and a vibrant urban center, which offers every activity from the mundane to the sublime. It is equally stimulating to simply walk through some of the city's special neighborhoods and absorb their unique character: Ymin Moshe, across the valley from the Old City, with exclusive homes and art galleries, the Turkish-era buildings of the Khan Theatre and the German and Italian Colonies... the Knesset and the magnificent Supreme Court building via the Wohl Rose Garden, with the thousands of rose bushes... along the Haas Promenade for a panoramic view of the Old City, or on top of the walls of the Old City itself. The options are endless and captivating.
The Ultimate Pilgrimage
In Biblical times Jews fulfilled the injunction to make offerings at the Temple on three feast days, and it was the Passover Pilgimage that brought Jesus to the City. According to tradition Mohammed's night ride to heaven to receive the Koran started from the Temple Mount. Thus the three monotheistic religions are interwoven in the fabric of the city, each revering and making pilgrimage to its various holy sites: Jews to the Western Wall of the Temple Mount and the age-old treasures of the Jewish Quarter; Moslems to the glorious mosques on top of Mount Moriah; and Christians of all denominations to the many churces built upon the sites where Jesus walked. |
