Tag
Jerusalem
25 articles
Jerusalem: 3,000 Years of Faith, Conflict, and Hope
For three millennia, Jerusalem has been the spiritual heart of the Jewish people — and a city sacred to three faiths. Its story is one of devotion, destruction, and enduring hope.
King David and King Solomon: Israel's Golden Age
The story of David the shepherd who became king, established Jerusalem as the capital, and his son Solomon who built the First Temple — the golden age of ancient Israel.
The 10th of Tevet: When the Siege Began
The Fast of the 10th of Tevet marks the day Nebuchadnezzar's armies surrounded Jerusalem — the beginning of the end for the First Temple. It has also become a day to remember Holocaust victims whose date of death is unknown.
The 17th of Tammuz: When the Walls Were Breached
The Fast of the 17th of Tammuz marks the day the walls of Jerusalem were breached — the beginning of the end for the Second Temple. It opens the Three Weeks, a period of intensifying mourning that culminates on Tisha B'Av.
Yom Yerushalayim: Jerusalem Day and the Reunification of a City
Yom Yerushalayim — Jerusalem Day — marks the reunification of Jerusalem during the 1967 Six-Day War. Celebrated with marches, prayers, and Hallel, it is also one of the most debated holidays on the Jewish calendar.
The Western Wall (Kotel): Judaism's Holiest Place of Prayer
The Western Wall — the last remnant of the ancient Temple Mount — is where Jews have prayed, wept, and celebrated for centuries. It is a place of profound spiritual power.
The Six-Day War: Six Days That Changed Everything
In June 1967, Israel fought a war that lasted six days and reshaped the Middle East forever — capturing the Sinai, Golan Heights, and West Bank, reunifying Jerusalem, and creating a reality that defines the Israeli-Palestinian conflict to this day.
Why Do Jews Break a Glass at Weddings? The Beautiful Tradition Explained
The glass breaks, everyone shouts 'Mazel Tov!' — but behind the joyful moment lies a profound tradition connecting personal happiness to communal memory and historical sorrow.
The Temple Mount Explained
The Temple Mount is the holiest site in Judaism and one of the most contested places on earth — home to the First and Second Temples, the Dome of the Rock, and centuries of conflict and devotion.
Lamentations (Eikhah): Mourning the Destruction of Jerusalem
Lamentations — five poems mourning the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple — is read on Tisha B'Av by candlelight, on the floor, in the voice of a city that has lost everything.
City of David: The Birthplace of Jerusalem
The City of David — the original core of ancient Jerusalem — is where King David established his capital 3,000 years ago, and where archaeology brings biblical narrative to life.
The Eichmann Trial: When Justice Came to Jerusalem
In 1961, Adolf Eichmann stood trial in Jerusalem for orchestrating the murder of six million Jews. The trial transformed how the world understood the Holocaust — and how survivors found their voice.
Visiting Israel: A Jewish Traveler's Guide
A comprehensive guide to visiting Israel as a Jewish traveler — the must-see sites, Shabbat travel tips, kosher food, safety, etiquette, what to pack, and itinerary ideas for every kind of trip.
The First Temple Period: From Solomon's Glory to Babylon's Flames
From Solomon's magnificent Temple to its destruction by Babylon in 586 BCE — the pivotal era that shaped Judaism's prophetic tradition, theological identity, and longing for restoration.
The Second Temple Period: From Exile's End to Rome's Destruction
From the return from Babylon to the Roman destruction in 70 CE — how six centuries of foreign rule, theological innovation, and political turmoil created the Judaism we know today.
Visiting Israel for the First Time: Everything You Need to Know
Your first trip to Israel will be overwhelming, beautiful, confusing, and unforgettable — often all in the same hour. This practical guide covers everything from airport security to Shabbat logistics to bargaining in the shuk.
Yad Vashem: The World Holocaust Remembrance Center
On 180 acres of a Jerusalem hillside, Yad Vashem holds 4.8 million names, millions of documents, and one mission: to ensure that the Holocaust is never forgotten and never repeated.
Sacred Space in Judaism: From Temple to Home
When the Temple fell, Judaism didn't lose its sacred space — it multiplied it. From the Holy of Holies to the eruv, from mizrach walls to the Shabbat table, discover how Judaism made holiness portable.
Vizhnitz and Belz: Two Great Hasidic Courts
Two of Hasidism's most influential dynasties: Vizhnitz, known for its joyful music and spiritual warmth, and Belz, which rebuilt from near-extinction after the Holocaust to construct Jerusalem's largest synagogue. Explore their distinct paths and shared resilience.
Nehemiah: The Cupbearer Who Rebuilt Jerusalem's Walls
Nehemiah left a prestigious position in the Persian court to rebuild Jerusalem's walls in just 52 days, demonstrating practical leadership that transformed a demoralized community.
Jerusalem's Old City: A Guide to the Four Quarters
Jerusalem's Old City — less than one square kilometer — contains the Jewish, Muslim, Christian, and Armenian quarters, a concentration of sacred history unmatched anywhere on earth.
The Western Wall Tunnels: Underground Jerusalem
Beneath the streets of Jerusalem lie the Western Wall Tunnels — underground passages that reveal the full length of the ancient Temple retaining wall and bring visitors within meters of the Holy of Holies.
Mount of Olives: The World's Oldest Active Cemetery
The Mount of Olives has been a Jewish burial site for 3,000 years, holding 150,000 graves. Jews have sought burial here because tradition says the resurrection will begin on this mountain.
The Great Synagogue of Jerusalem: A Monument to Modern Jewish Worship
The Great Synagogue of Jerusalem, inaugurated in 1982, stands as one of the most magnificent houses of worship in the Jewish world. Its architecture, choir tradition, and role in Israeli civic life make it a landmark of modern Judaism.
The Hurva Synagogue: Destroyed and Rebuilt Through Centuries
The Hurva Synagogue in Jerusalem's Jewish Quarter has been built, destroyed, and rebuilt multiple times — a symbol of Jewish resilience in the Holy City.