We are currently in Turkey and will have some more posts about our travels here very soon.
However, we wanted to share some final thoughts and a video compilation from our stay in Jerusalem. Ask the 'average' American news follower about Jerusalem and I suspect they would say something along the lines of "Israel right? The Jewish place." That is not too far from where I was prior to our visit.
Jerusalem is a very complex place on a cultural, historical, political, and religious basis. It is the birthplace of three of the world's most followed religions: Islam, Judaism, and Christianity. All three of the Abrahamic religions. It has recorded human habitation going back around 5000 years. It has been conquered a multitude of times.
It is far from just "a Jewish place". It is wildly diverse in its religion, dress, and general makeup. It was only in 1967 that the border between Israel and Jordan ran through Jerusalem itself. The Western Wall and Dome of the Rock are within 100m of each other and those are some of the most sacred sites to Jews and Muslims, respectively, and neither group of followers ventures on the others real estate. It's pretty crazy.
The Old City is fascinating. A lot of the video clip below is from that portion of Jerusalem. It starts at the Damascus Gate, which is in the Muslim Quarter of the Old City, and finishes at the Jaffa Gate in the Christian Quarter.
Lastly, I included a clip from one of the 5x daily 'calls to prayer' you hear ubiquitously anytime you are in a Muslim area. Enjoy.
However, we wanted to share some final thoughts and a video compilation from our stay in Jerusalem. Ask the 'average' American news follower about Jerusalem and I suspect they would say something along the lines of "Israel right? The Jewish place." That is not too far from where I was prior to our visit.
Jerusalem is a very complex place on a cultural, historical, political, and religious basis. It is the birthplace of three of the world's most followed religions: Islam, Judaism, and Christianity. All three of the Abrahamic religions. It has recorded human habitation going back around 5000 years. It has been conquered a multitude of times.
It is far from just "a Jewish place". It is wildly diverse in its religion, dress, and general makeup. It was only in 1967 that the border between Israel and Jordan ran through Jerusalem itself. The Western Wall and Dome of the Rock are within 100m of each other and those are some of the most sacred sites to Jews and Muslims, respectively, and neither group of followers ventures on the others real estate. It's pretty crazy.
The Old City is fascinating. A lot of the video clip below is from that portion of Jerusalem. It starts at the Damascus Gate, which is in the Muslim Quarter of the Old City, and finishes at the Jaffa Gate in the Christian Quarter.
Lastly, I included a clip from one of the 5x daily 'calls to prayer' you hear ubiquitously anytime you are in a Muslim area. Enjoy.
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