Jerusalem, Israel Jerusalem is one of humanity’s most sacred and contested cities, revered by Judaism, Christianity, and Islam for millennia. Its Old City—just one square kilometer—contains the Western Wall (Judaism’s holiest site), the Church of the Holy Sepulchre (believed to be Christ’s burial place), and the Dome of the Rock (where Muslims say Muhammad ascended to heaven). Walls built by Herod, Crusaders, and Ottomans encircle quarters reflecting each faith’s legacy. Beyond religion, Jerusalem is a living archive: archaeological digs uncover Canaanite tunnels, Roman roads, and Umayyad palaces. The Israel Museum houses the Dead Sea Scrolls; Yad Vashem memorializes the Holocaust with profound dignity. Modern Jerusalem blends university campuses, tech startups, and bustling markets like Mahane Yehuda. Yet tensions simmer beneath its stone surfaces—conflicts over sovereignty and identity persist. Despite this, daily life continues: students debate in cafés, monks chant in monasteries, and families gather for Shabbat. Jerusalem demands reverence, not just as a destination, but as a mirror of humanity’s deepest hopes, divisions, and enduring search for meaning.
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