The importance of Jerusalem and the land of Israel for Judaism
Within Judaism, Israel is the Holy Land. It is the land where the faith began â and Jerusalem is the Holy City. For Jews, Jerusalem is at the core of their faith and their world.
According to Jewish tradition, all of creation began in Jerusalem. Other key events are believed to have happened in this important city, including:
- Widely regarded as the father of Christians, Jews and Muslims. He was the first person to teach that there is only one God. His story is told in the biblical book of Genesis and also in the Qurâan, where he is named Ibrahim. showed he was prepared to sacrifice his son, Isaac, at Mount Moriah. It was also here that Jacob (Abraham's grandson) dreamed of a ladder that went up to Heaven.
- The second king of the Israelite monarchy, usually dated to the 11th to 10th century BCE. He established Jerusalem as the capital city. captured Jerusalem around 3,000 years ago and made it the capital of the ancient Jewish people.
- The son of King David and a very wealthy and wise king of ancient Israel. built the first temple in Jerusalem. The A wooden chest containing the writings of Jewish law, representing God's presence. is believed to have been kept in the most sacred part of the temple, the Holy of Holies, the place where it was believed God Himself was present.
It used to be a duty for Jewish people to visit Jerusalem three times every year. These visits were to coincide with three major Jewish festivals:
- Pesach (Jewish festival which remembers the escape of the ancient Israelites from Egypt.)
- Shavuot (a festival giving thanks for the The books of the Law. The first five books of the Bible, often called the Books of Moses.)
- Sukkot (a festival which celebrates the harvest and the time after the Exodus, when Moses lead the Jewish people out of Egypt)
Many Jewish people still visit Jerusalem today as the focal point of their religion. Building for Jewish public prayer, study and assembly. are traditionally orientated towards Jerusalem and Jews position themselves towards the city while reciting the Amidah (one of the most important and ancient prayers in Judaism, said three times daily).
At the end of every Passover Seder celebration (a Jewish ritual meal held on the first and second day of the Passover), Jewish people raise their glasses in the hope that they will celebrate the festival ânext year in Jerusalemâ.