Jerusalem is the holiest city to the Jewish people. It is the capital of Israel and home to important religious sites for Jews, Muslims, and Christians. Jerusalem is the largest city in Israel, with a population of 732,000.
Historically, Jerusalem is one of the most fought over cities in the world. The city was founded around 4,000 BCE. It has been razed twice, besieged 23 times, attacked 52 times, and captured 44 times. 
The city had its first Jewish presence around 3000 years ago, when the Israelites, led by King David, took the city from the Jebusites. It remained a Jewish city for 300 years until it was conquered by the Assyrians.
The Jewish people took the city back. However, the reign didn’t last that long, as it was captured again by the Babyloneans, who destroyed the first Temple, in 586 BCE. Persian King Cyrus allowed the Jews to return when his empire conquered Jerusalem. At this point, the second Temple was built.
The Greeks captured Jerusalem next. This was followed by the Maccabean revolt, and the Jewish hold on Jerusalem (and Judea) remained until the Roman wars (and destruction of the Second Temple). Next the Persians battled for the city, and it became a Muslim city for the first time in 638 CE, over 2000 years after the first Jewish presence.
In 1099, the Crusaders made their way into Jerusalem and took control. From there, the city was under several flags until the Ottoman Empire took over in 1517. In 1917 the British Mandate of Palestine began, and control was handed back to the Jewish people in 1948. The city was divided, however, and the Old City fell under Jordanian control until 1967 when Jerusalem became a united Jewish city again!Modern Jerusalem allows for the ancient world and the modern world to meet. In a short walk you can be immersed in 3000 year Jewish history in the Old City, where you can look on walls built thousands of years ago. From there, you can walk to the modern downtown, home to bars, nightclubs, and businesses.
Within the .9 square miles of the Old City, you can view the Western Wall and Temple Mount, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, and the Dome of the Rock and Al-Aqsa Mosque. Three of the major religions in the world claim history in the Old City of Jerusalem.
Only in Jerusalem can you see Me’ah Sharim, the mo
st religious Jewish neighborhood in the world, walk through a nightclub district, see the Knesset, look over the West Bank from Hebrew University’s amphitheater, see the Arab Shuk in the Old City, look through thousands of years of history under the Cardo, see Rabbi Ovida Yosef walk down the street, walk into the Great Jerusalem Synagogue, cry at Yad Vashem, and feel pride on Har Herzel just a minute away.
st religious Jewish neighborhood in the world, walk through a nightclub district, see the Knesset, look over the West Bank from Hebrew University’s amphitheater, see the Arab Shuk in the Old City, look through thousands of years of history under the Cardo, see Rabbi Ovida Yosef walk down the street, walk into the Great Jerusalem Synagogue, cry at Yad Vashem, and feel pride on Har Herzel just a minute away.
I spent five months in the holiest city in the world, and I loved every moment of it. I experienced the feel of the Machanei Yehudah Shuk, the power of the Kotel, the joy of Yom Ha’atzmaut, and the sorrow of Yom Ha’Zikaron. I saw the city freeze for Yom HaShoa, and I saw people dance in Kikar Tzion (Zion Square) for Yom Yerushalayim.
I can think of no place more important to fight for. B’ezrat HaShem, we may all travel to the holy city when the Third Temple is built. May it be rebuilt speedily in our days.
If there is one place to make sure you see in your lifetime, it is Jerusalem. It is my favorite city in the world.
This post if the capstone to a series, City Focus Israel, that features over twenty articles on the cities of Israel.
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