JERUSALEM

By: Jason Rubinton

Jerusalem is the capital of Israel. Jerusalem is the largest city in Israel in both land size and population. Jerusalem is the holiest city for the Jewish people in Israel and also in the Diaspora.

The holiest place in Jerusalem for the Jewish people is the Kotel. Jews pray, gather and connect with their heritage here. It is a very sacred place for us. It is the last part of the temple that was destroyed. Hopefully someday we can come and pray here.

Jerusalem contains the most amounts of synagogues in Israel. It is also the most religious city in Israel. The most religious Jews in Israel such the Chassidic live in Jerusalem.

Jerusalem is the most sacred city for the Jewish people. Jerusalem has many other religions represented. The Temple Mount contains the dome of the Rock, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and the Al-Aksa Mosque. These are very sacred to other religions such as Islam and Christians. The old city is divided into four quarters: Armenian, Christian, Muslim and Jewish.

Since the establishment of the State of Israel in 1949, the three branches of government: legislative, judicial and executive are in Jerusalem. The Knesset is the most important governmental institution. It is the home of the legislative branch which makes all the laws in Israel.

This is a beautiful view of Jerusalem. There are many great places in Jerusalem to see. I can only hope that one day we can go and be able to walk the streets in peace with our neighbors. Next year in Jerusalem…

YERUSHALAYIM SHEL ZAHAVIs a beautiful song that speaks of the beauty of Jerusalem and the impact that it has on those who see it. It also says that it is impossible to forget Jerusalem after seeing it.