THE HOLIEST CITY IN THE WORLD
The three monotheistic Abrahamic religions all meet, pray, and rejoice in one common city, Old Jerusalem. I have always enjoyed history, theology, and mythology even as a child. When I received my first opportunity to visit Israel with my church about seven years ago, I jumped at the chance. It was a lovely experience; however, the trip was a bit structured and confined for my taste. In September of 2019, I repeated the trip solo, and on my terms, which allowed me more freedom to explore. I did use Compass Tour for my day tour of Jerusalem. https://compasstravelisrael.com/. I will now share the top eight things I learned about touring in Old Jerusalem.
Top Eight Touring Tips for Old Jerusalem.
1. The Holiest Site in Judaism is The Western Wall or the Wailing Wall. The Western Wall is the remnant of the second Temple which replaced the destroyed first Temple built by King Solomon. King Solomon’s first temple was built with a special chamber called “the Holy of Holies” where the Ark of the Covenant was placed. The Ark of the Covenant contained the 10 commandments that were given to Moses.
2. The Church of the Holy Sepulchre is the Holiest Site in Christianity. The Holy Sepulchre is the believed tomb of Jesus Christ and is located in the Christian Quarter of the Old City of Jerusalem. The Edicule chapel is inside the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and has two rooms. One of the rooms hold the Angel's Stone, thought to be a fragment of the large stone that sealed the tomb; the second is the tomb of Jesus. The Church of the Holy Sepulchre contains the final Stations of the Cross, the Via Dolorosa, Stations 10-14.
3. The Dome of the Rock is the oldest and third Holiest site in Islam. In Islamic tradition, the Dome covers the sacred rock where Muhammad prayed and went to paradise during his Night Journey from Mecca to Jerusalem and back to Mecca on a winged stallion.
4. If you are visiting Jerusalem for the first time, you can hire a tour guide to scope out all of the locations and receive knowledgeable background information. After you have finished your guided tour, you can return to the sights and take your time exploring.
5. Dress Modestly. Cover your shoulders, legs, and chest! Most of the landmarks that you will visit are religious sights e.g. churches, mosques, and temples. Please be mindful of this when dressing for the day of your tour. You will have to meet the dress code or admittance could be denied or you will have to buy a proper covering.
6. Look at the map for the Holy Sepulchre, well, before you arrive. Because once you walk through the door, it will not look like that map. The Holy Sepulchre is extremely busy with pilgrims and it can be a little chaotic to find your orientation once inside.
7. Start Early! The queues are always long at any significant sacred place of interest in Old Jerusalem. The earlier that you arrive the fewer people you will have in front of you. This will also allow you more time at each monument.
8. Non-Muslim visitors are not allowed to enter the Dome of the Rock but can get a close look from the Temple Mount courtyard during regular non-Muslim visiting hours.
Jerusalem is a beautiful city and I am grateful that I was able to visit it twice. This blog entry was written during the global COVID-19 Pandemic of 2020 and I am posting this vlog and blog from quarantine. Being confined at home has made me even more mindful of why I value travel so much. It is for the priceless memories and friendships. With the memories stored from traveling, I have endless smiles, giggles, and colorful scenes ingrained in my consciousness. The global friendships lend connections, even with confinement, that can bring you comfort and companionship.
Right now, the best thing to do in order to save lives and not overwhelm our healthcare systems is to stay home. But once we are free, travel. Make new memories, meet new friends, taste local cuisines, get lost, and then find yourself. Safe travels and I hope you enjoy my video. If you do, please like, subscribe, and share.
https://youtu.be/-nDrG40UrOw
