Jerusalem: Three Faiths, One City, Endless Devotion

The City of God

Jerusalem occupies barely 1 square kilometer of sacred ground — yet for over 3,000 years, it has been the spiritual epicenter for three of the world's great monotheistic religions. No other city on Earth carries such concentrated holiness.

Judaism: The First Temple

King Solomon built the First Temple here around 957 BCE, establishing Jerusalem as the dwelling place of God on Earth. When the Babylonians destroyed it in 586 BCE, the Jewish people's connection to the city only deepened. The Second Temple, built on the same site, stood until the Romans destroyed it in 70 CE. The Western Wall — the last remnant — remains the holiest accessible site in Judaism.

Christianity: Death and Resurrection

For Christians, Jerusalem is where Jesus taught, was tried, crucified, buried, and — they believe — rose from the dead. The Via Dolorosa traces his path to crucifixion. The Church of the Holy Sepulchre marks the sites of both crucifixion and resurrection. The Mount of Olives overlooks the city where he ascended to heaven.

Islam: The Night Journey

Muslims believe the Prophet Muhammad was miraculously transported from Mecca to Jerusalem in one night (the Isra), and from the rock on the Temple Mount ascended through the seven heavens (the Mi'raj). The Dome of the Rock and Al-Aqsa Mosque mark this spot, making it Islam's third holiest site.

Living Together

Today, an intricate web of agreements, traditions, and tensions governs access to Jerusalem's holy sites. A Muslim family has held the key to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre since the 12th century. The Status Quo, a set of rules from 1757, still governs who can worship where and when.

Jerusalem's holiness is both its glory and its burden. It is a city that inspires the highest human aspirations — and sometimes the lowest human conflicts.