Jerusalem

City of faiths, the Holy City, the center of the world, whatever you want to call it, its definitely something you have to make a right judgment for yourself if you come here.

This is where the stomping grounds where King David took the throne after stomping the Jebusites (a Biblical peoples). This was the city in which many prophesies were made. Then after the expulsion of the Jews and the destruction of the temple, the Jewish people were spread worldwide to create the Jewish Diaspora. It would be a long time before the Jews would come back and establish their own state, the State of Israel, in 1948.

Until then, wars, occupations, Crusader vs. Muslim antics, the Roman Empire, Mamluk and Ottoman control, and a certain ambiguity about true control over the Holy Land was a theme throughout the history of Jerusalem. All people laid claim based on political and especially religious grounds.

The Roman "Cardo:" an old street during Roman Times

For myself, coming to the City of David was a huge culture shock and exciting at the same time. There is the Old City and the New City. Obviously, the Old City is where all the historical and Biblical action is at. The Old City is the city of antiquity, containing walls and architecture of different eras and the streets looking like the past. The New City is where all the commercial and shopping districts are.

It would take days to truly check out the place. There are so many sites that its best to choose what fits your needs and stick to them.

A view of Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives

I stayed at the Mount of Olives Hotel, so every night I could get a fantastic view of the city. Amazing. A survey of the Old City, you can see sites such as the Dome of the Rock, which is the 3rd most holy site for Muslims, from a far distance, as well as a number of other churches and buildings.

Yet what struck me during my time in Jerusalem is the diversity of the people and the sections of the city. The Old City is split into four quarters: the Armenian Quarter, the Christian Quarter, the Muslim Quarter, and finally the Jewish Quarter. Throughout the years and after much tussle and bussle, this is how the city got laid out and to each his own made their own style and set-up.

The Armenians, from the nation of Armenia, are supposedly one of the first Christianized nations in Christendom. They came to Jerusalem to set up shop and have stayed ever since. One of the coolest aspects about the Armenians was that they were very adaptable and versatile in living among the Jews, Christians, and Muslims. Many could speak Arabic, Hebrew, and whatever language that prevailed at the time. Though insular, they could be unique among the communities.

The Old City

The Christian Quarter contains most of the Christian holy sites such as the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, which is the place Jesus died and was buried. It is a more quiet area with nice shops. Well, Christians can be anyone, so what specific ethnic groups live here? Mainly pilgrims or priests from other countries who take care of the Holy Sites, and many Arab Christians.

The Jewish Quarter is where a majority of Jews live. It is a newer part of town with newer buildings. To me, the Jewish people, very religious and conservative, are very quiet, endearing to one another, and reserved. Life in Synagogue and study of the Torah are prevalent in this quarter. Many of the Jews are Haredim, or ultra-orthodox Jews with old pig-tails and dress. They are old school of the old school in Jewish thought.

A Haredi Jew getting ready for Shabbat, or Sabbath

The Muslim Quarter is the most boisterous and most tough to get through as a tourist. Very energetic and filled with shops, you are zeroed like a plane target as you walk through, getting manhandled and harassed by shopkeepers left and right ("come and buy"), or from Palestinian youths who come up to you asking where you are from. The Arabs, who live in East Jerusalem, tend to be a loud, fun, and family caring community. Greetings include kisses on the cheek from man to man and a strong, firm handshake. They are a very touchy and close-knit. One Bedouin I met in Jordan reminded me that Arab communities are like "one hand:" we are just extensions of one hand and we get each others back.

The Muslim Quarter

At first, I was like, "why do they keep asking me for money or want to always talk to me?" I was hoping to not be noticed because I was a darker-skinned foo, but the Arabs can easily tell who is not part of their community, it was hilarious. I remember one cat ("cat" in hip-hop English means "a dude") just coming up to me on the street, putting his arm around me and just randomly asking my name and country. I guess I was really that unique to him? Or I was cute? I hope not. It threw me off, but later I started to really be cool back and got to me a few Arabs just through random encounter. They are a really interesting, outgoing people.

With all the diversity and various sections making up one city...I was asking myself, what is Jerusalem? Is it truly the Holy City? Is it a place where many peoples can live in "peace?" What then is the definition of peace? By peace, is it just co-existence and tolerance? Or is it a city in which there is a unity of truth? I choose to answer the latter question, a city in which God has chosen, through the Jews, to bring salvation to the world through the One who walked through its streets and died there, and later came back to life through God's power...Jesus Christ. In him there is peace.

The Garden of Gethsemane

As historical and beautiful, unique are the buildings, the city of Jerusalem represents many ideas, faiths, and within those faiths, denominations and sects, and of course, ethnic groups. Who claims this Holy City? Battles and blood have been spilt for this piece of land for thousands of years, one of the more recent being in 1967 when Jewish paratroopers stormed the Old City and reclaimed it from the Jordanians. Saladin, the Muslim warrior, took back the city of Jerusalem during Crusader times. The British had occupation of Jerusalem for a while.

In the end, I think about the book of Revelations where in Chapter 21 will come the New Jerusalem. A new city that descending from Heaven (verse 2), from God Himself. It is through Christ and from God that the New Jerusalem will come. It will be a new city of hope for those who trust in His son, and we can finally be in the presence of God with no more sin in the city. That is the New Jerusalem I want to see and I can't wait to visit in the future.

The Church of the Holy Sepulcher

Until then, Old Jerusalem was pretty cool too!