Jerusalem, the City of the King.
“Jerusalem is the house of the one God, the capital of two peoples, the temple of three religions and she is the only city to exist twice—in heaven and on earth: the peerless grace of the terrestrial is as nothing to the glories of the celestial”
Simon Sebag Montefiore
Jerusalem is the special dwelling place of God on this earth. Psalms 76:2: His tent is in Salem, his dwelling place in Zion. Psalm 135:21: Praise be to the LORD from Zion, to him who dwells in Jerusalem. Praise the LORD. Jerusalem's ancient Old City, around 3,000 years old, is the original Jerusalem, built under King David's initiative. The City was home to the two Jewish Temples, Jesus, and his disciple’s meeting places, and in Islam, Mohammed's ascension to heaven. The Old City splits into four quarters; The Jewish Quarter, The Armenian Quarter, The Christian Quarter, and The Muslim Quarter. You can enter the walled city through one of seven entry gates, although the busiest for tourists is the Jaffa Gate next to which is the Tower of David Museum, providing the history of Jerusalem within the Old City Walls. The Christian Quarter contains the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and the Via Dolorosa. The Jewish Quarter houses the Western Wall, also known as the ‘kotel’ or wailing wall.
East of the old city you will see the Mount of Olives. It is named for the olive groves that once covered its slopes. The western slopes of the mount, those facing Jerusalem, have been used as a Jewish cemetery for over 3,000 years and hold approximately 150,000 graves.
Several key events in the life of Jesus, as related in the Gospels, took place on the Mount of Olives, and in the Acts of the Apostles, it is described as the place from which Jesus ascended to heaven. At the foot of the mount of olives is the Garden of Gethsemane.
Outside the city walls lies West Jerusalem
The modern side of the city, West Jerusalem has a more cosmopolitan feel than its eastern counterpart. Much of the action is centered around the pedestrian Downtown Triangle, made up of Jaffa Street, King George Street and Ben Yehuda Street. Here, cafés spill out onto the pavements, souvenir shops sell everything from jewelry to Jewish art, and street performers wow passing crowds.
Machane Yehuda Market, west of the Triangle, is the food highlight of Jerusalem. Come here to sample delicious Israeli cuisine and plenty of fruit, nuts and fresh juices. Alternatively, spend your shekels in the luxury retail area at Alrov Mamilla Avenue.
Museums are more spread out here than in the Old City, but venture out and you will find a couple of excellent attractions. Far west, the poignant Yad Vashem is a memorial to the millions of Jews who died during World War II. Visit the Israel Museum, in the Givat Ram neighborhood, for a good introduction to Jewish culture