Right after arriving in Jerusalem I received a one liner
email from my mother – “I bet you wish you’d paid more attention in Sunday
school”. Moms are always right, and in
this circumstance she was 110% correct.
My knowledge of Christianity (and any religious history for that matter)
was promptly cut short when I persuaded my parents to remove me from Sunday
school and church in general, at the young age of ten. I had no regrets about my actions… until now.
The short week we spent in Israel, especially Jerusalem, was
a crash course in religious history, politics and current events. It is amazing how one little country can be
the cornerstone for such debate and has shaped the World we live in today so
immensely. I am going to assume that the knowledge of Israel’s religious history
has decreased at the same rate as church attendance in ten year olds (no link,
just my opinion); therefore, I am going to share my thoughts on a few
interesting sites that I, no longer a rebellious kid, found so fascinating
within the old walled city of Jerusalem:
The Dome of the Rock
– this extremely religious Muslim site is located on the Temple Mount within
the Muslim Quarter. It is not only situated on top of the spot where the first
Jewish Temple was built in 900 BC and where Jews believe that God created Adam, but is also the exact place where
Muslims believe Muhammad ascended to heaven.
With the Muslims in control of the Temple Mount, and
since non-Muslims aren’t allowed to enter the Dome itself, the Temple Mount is the current
crossroads between Israeli Jews and Muslims.
The balance of peace in the middle-eastern region literally balances on heavily guarded makeshift wooden ramp, connecting the Jewish Quarter
to the Muslim Quarter. A little disconcerting if you ask me.
The Church of the
Holy Sepulchre – just 200 meters from the Wailing Wall, in the Christian
Quarter, is the most significant landmark for any Christian – the site where Jesus
was crucified and buried. Thousands of Christians
enter this church daily to pay tribute to Jesus by kissing the rock he was crucified on. Ironically, just
like the Temple Mount, the gate and entrance to the Church of the Holy
Sepulchre is actually controlled by a Muslim family who determines opening and
closing times for Christian prayers – a ‘grandfather’ ruling.
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| Old Walled City of Jerusalem |
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| Dome of the Rock |
The Wailing Wall
– since the Temple Mount is under Islamic control, the outside of its adjoining
wall is therefore the most sacred site for the Jewish faith. The wall is located at the base of the Temple
Mount, outside of the Muslim quarter of the old city, allowing Jewish followers
to pray to the ‘remains’ of their Holy Temple. This is the end/beginning for all Jewish
pilgrimages and birthrights - amazing site to see.
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| Burning one for her G-mas! |
All three significant Abrahamic religious sites are within a stones throw away from each other. Yes, because
of these tight ‘quarters’, the old city has been and still is the centre of
many religious conflicts and battles; however, despite their current
circumstances, the people have adapted and live in relative peace. There is no victim, no right, no wrong, just
a common idea and belief – Jerusalem is the heart of religion. I am not religious, nor am I Christian, Muslim or Jewish, but I now understand why Sunday School exists - to teach you history, not religion. Maybe now I will send my kids to Sunday School, or at the very least, Louisa School, as this is a history lesson that shouldn't be missed. Shalom!
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| Palestine West Gate Barrier - another topic for discussion |
