Jerusalem is a city of contrast, a city in religious strife, a city looking, grinding, praying, believing. To Jews it is Ground Zero for their faith for it is where Abraham went to sacrifice his son, Isaac at God's command. It is the site of David's glory and the Temples still worshipped today. To Christians, it is the site of the Last Supper, His Crucifixion and Resurection. To Muslims it is the place where Mohammed is said to have ascended into Heaven on his horse.
It is an amazing city.
Highlights were the walk down to the Garden of Gethsemane, Mary's Tomb, the Mount of Olives, on to the Western Wall aka the Wailing Wall. It was interesting to say the least. Above the wall, the majestic golden Dome of the Rock, which contains the rock that Mohammad himself was on when swept up to heaven on his steed. For Christians, of which I am one, the Via Dolorosa and Calvary held the most interest. The Church of the Holy Sepulchre is magnificent if not intimidating. I was told that about 75 different faiths have a presence in Jerusalem and it seems they are all on top of one another. It is crowded, religious, home to maybe 30,000 people inside the city's Walls and many currents of theology floating about. I guess it is one of the most important places on earth for those who feel a need to "identify" with their beliefs on a physical location. My thinking is that religion, religous behaviour and being religous is more about doing and acting and believing in the way of the Cross to and for eternal salvation than the worship at a physical point where so much which, by tradition says, happened. But what do I know, I'm just a faithful believer.
I know you can feel the Spirit in Jerusalem. In that I am sure.
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