Christianity: Details about 'Jerusalem'

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Jerusalem (; Hebrew: יְרוּשָׁלַיִם (help·info) Yerushalayim; Arabic: القُدس (help·) al-Quds), Greek Ιεροσόλυμα, is an ancient Middle Eastern city on the watershed between the Mediterranean Sea and the Dead Sea at an elevation of 650-840 meter. It is located east of Tel Aviv, south of Ramallah, west of Jericho and north of Bethlehem.

Jerusalem was the capital of the Jewish kingdoms of Israel, Judah and Judea in the First Temple and Second Temple periods and is the capital of the modern State of Israel. It is the holiest city of Judaism and is of key importance to Christianity and Islam. The status of the eastern part of Jerusalem as part of the Israeli capital, and the control over that part of the city and its holy places, are internationally debated.

With a population of 704,900 (as of December 31 2004 ), it is a heterogeneous city, representing a wide range of national, religious, and socioeconomic groups. The section called the "Old City" is surrounded by walls and consists of four quarters: Armenian, Christian, Jewish, and Muslim.The current mayor of Jerusalem is Uri Lupolianski, the first Haredi to ever hold such position.

Name

Main article: Names of Jerusalem

The origin of the name of the city is uncertain. It is possible to understand the name (Hebrew Yerushalayim) as either "Heritage of Salem" or "Heritage of Peace" - a contraction of "heritage" (yerusha) and Salem (Shalem literally "whole" or "in harmony") or "peace" (shalom). (See the Biblical commentator the Ramban for explanation.) "Shalem" is the original name used in Genesis 14:18 for the city. Similarly the Amarna Letters call the city Urušalim in Akkadian, a cognate of the Hebrew Ir Shalem ("city of Salem"). Some consider a connection between the name and Shalim - the deity personifying dusk known from Ugaritic myths and offering lists. The ending -ayim or -im has the appearance of the Hebrew dual or plural suffix respectively. It has been argued that it is a dual form representing the fact that the city lies on two hills however the treatment of the ending as a suffix makes the rest of the name incomprehensible in Hebrew. A Midrashic interpretation comes from Genesis Rabba, which explains that Abraham came to "Shalem" after rescuing Lot. Upon arrival, he asked the king and high priest Melchizedek to bless him, and Melchizedek did so in the name of the Supreme God (indicating that he, like Abraham, was a monotheist). According to exegetes, God immortalizes this encounter between Melchizedek and Abraham by renaming the city in honor of them: the name "Yeru" (derived from "Yireh", the name Abraham gives to Mount Moriah after unbinding Isaac, and explained in Genesis as meaning that God will be revealed there) is placed in front of "Shalem". The plural ending implies the community of all believers in the One God who testify to the city's holiness.

History

Main article: History of Jerusalem

According to one Jewish mythology and tradition, Jerusalem was founded by Shem and Ever, ancestors of Abraham. It has played an important historical role at various times over the past several millennia.

Modern archeology traces the earliest written record of the city to an Assyrian monument of the 8th Century. It is thought that the city dates back to least as far back as 3000 BCE. It was first built and founded by the Canaanites, who gave it the name Urr Salem, meaning "the land of peace".

From 1600 to 1300 BCE, the city came under Egyptian suzerainty though continued to be governed by Canaanite rulers who paid tribute to the Pharaohs. During this period the city increasingly came under attacks from the Habiru, quite possibly the same Hebrews who are the ancestors of the Jews. The city was controlled by the Jebusites until its conquest by King David in approximately 1000 BCE.

David expanded the city to the south, and declared it the capital city of the united Kingdom of Israel. Later, the First Jewish Temple was built in Jerusalem by King Solomon. Near the end of the reign of King Solomon, the northern ten tribes split off to form the Kingdom of Israel with its capital at Samaria. Jerusalem then became the capital of the southern kingdom, the Kingdom of Judah.

By the

Jerusalem was the capital of the Kingdom of Judah for some 400 years. However, the city was overcome by the Babylonians in 597 BCE. The country rebelled again, prompting the city's repeated conquest and destruction by Nebuchadnezzar in 587/586 BCE. The temple was burnt, and the city's walls were ruined.

After several decades of captivity and the Persian conquest of Babylonia, Cyrus II of Persia allowed the Jews to return to Judah and rebuild the city's walls and the Temple. It continued to be the capital of Judah and center of Jewish worship under the Hasmonean Kingdom. The Temple complex was upgraded and the Temple itself rebuilt under Herod the Great, a Jewish client-king under Roman rule, around 19 BCE. That structure is known as the Second Temple, and was the most important of the many improvements Herod made to the city. After Herod's death, the province and city came under direct Roman rule in 6 CE. During the Great Jewish Revolt against Rome, the Temple was destroyed. The city served as the national capital again for almost 3 years during the Jewish Bar Kochba's revolt against Rome, after which the city was sacked by the Romans in 135 BCE. From such time on, for almost 2,000 years, Jerusalem did not serve as the national capital of an independent state, until the renewed independence of Israel in 1948.

The 1949 cease-fire line between Israel and Jordan, also known as the Green Line, cuts through the city. From 1949 until 1967, western Jerusalem was part of Israel and East Jerusalem was part of Jordan, as an integral part of the West Bank. From 1950 to 1967, the Israeli capital comprised solely of western Jerusalem. Since the 1967 Six-Day War, during which Israel occupied eastern Jerusalem and the West Bank, Israel has administered the eastern portion of the city and has asserted sovereignty over the entire city. The status of the eastern part of the city, which Israel captured during the Six-day War in 1967, is disputed. According to an Israeli law from January 1950, Jerusalem is the capital of Israel. At the time, this law referred to western Jerusalem, which was the part of the city incorporated in the state of Israel in 1948-1949. In 1967 the city was reunified and the eastern part was immediately separated administratively from the occupied West Bank and annexed to Israel. A Basic Law of Israel enacted in 1980 (the Jerusalem Law) reaffirmed Israel's contention that unified Jerusalem, including East Jerusalem, is the capital of Israel, including the center of Jerusalem District. Since 1950, the city serves as the country's seat of government and its capital.

In 1980, the Israeli Knesset passed the Basic Law: Jerusalem — Capital of Israel reaffirming the status of Jerusalem as Israel's "eternal and indivisible capital". The UN Security Council Resolution 478 condemned the Jerusalem Law as "a violation of international law" and most countries prefer to keep their embassies in Tel Aviv. According to the United States Jerusalem Embassy Act of 1995 :(1) Jerusalem should remain an undivided city in which the rights of every ethnic and religious group are protected; (2) Jerusalem should be recognized as the capital of the State of Israel; and (3) the United States Embassy in Israel should be established in Jerusalem no later than May 31 1999.

Status of Jerusalem

Religious significance

Main article: Religious significance of Jerusalem

Jerusalem plays an important role in three major religions: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, as well as in a number of smaller religious groups. A large number of places of have religious significance for these religions, among which the Western Wall, Al-Aqsa Mosque, and Church of the Holy Sepulchre.

Jerusalem as Israeli capital

See also: Positions on Jerusalem

Jerusalem is the capital of Israel. All the branches of Israeli government (Presidential, Legislative, Judicial and Administrative) are seated in Jerusalem. It is home to a number of key Israeli government buildings, including the Knesset, the Israeli Supreme Court and the houses of the President and Prime Minister. With the exception of the house of the premier (a regular apartment), these buildings can be toured.

However, the United Nations disapproved this designation and considers Tel Aviv as Israel's capital . The international community argues that Israel's capture of the eastern half of Jerusalem from Jordan during the Six Day War was in violation of international law, and that the final issue of the status of Jerusalem will be determined in future Israeli-Palestinian negotiations. Therefore, nearly all countries maintain their embassies in Tel Aviv .

The Palestinian Authority demands that the capital of a future Palestinian state should be situated in East Jerusalem. The position of the United Nations on the question of Jerusalem is contained in General Assembly resolution 181(11) and subsequent resolutions of the General Assembly and the Security Council concerning this question. According to the Oslo Agreements the discussion on Jerusalem was to be part of the permanent status negotiations.

Physical geography

Jerusalem is situated in , upon the southern spur of a plateau the eastern side of which slopes from 2,460 ft. above sea-level north of the Temple area to 2,130 ft. at the southeastern extremity. The western hill is about 2,500 ft. high and slopes southeast from the Judean plateau.

Topography

Jerusalem is surrounded upon all sides by valleys, of which those on the north are less pronounced than those on the other three sides. The principal two valleys start northwest of the present city. The first runs eastward with a slight southerly bend (the present Wadi al-Joz), then, deflecting directly south (formerly known as "Kidron Valley", the modern Wadi Sitti Maryam), divides the Mount of Olives from the city. The second runs directly south on the western side of the city, turns eastward at its southeastern extremity, then runs directly east, and joins the first valley near Bir Ayyub ("Job's Well"). It was called in olden times the "Valley of Hinnom",

A third valley, commencing in the northwest where is now the Damascus Gate, ran south-southeasterly down to the Pool of Siloam, and divided the lower part into two hills (the lower and the upper cities of Josephus). This is probably the later Tyropoeon ("Cheese-makers'") valley. A fourth valley led from the western hill (near the present Jaffa Gate) over to the Temple area: it is represented in modern Jerusalem by David Street. A fifth cut the eastern hill into a northern and a southern part. Later Jerusalem was thus built upon four spurs. Today, neighboring towns are Bethlehem and Beit Jala at the southern city border, and Abu Dis to the East.

See also: List of places in Jerusalem

Climate and Environment

Jerusalem has warm and dry summers and, because of its altitude, relatively cold winters. It can sometimes snow. Because snow is rare, the city is not well equipped and much of the urban life comes to a halt when this occurs. Precipitation is 600 mm in a multi-year average, but much lower in the far east of the city. These parts are located on the edge of the Judean Desert (to the east).

There is almost no industrial pollution in Jerusalem. Most pollutants are the product of heavy bus and person vehicle traffic, especially along the arterial roads, and a by-product from heavy building. With this exception, air pollution is low. The building code in Jerusalem prescribes that all buildings should be covered with natural stone. Although this makes building costs somewhat more expensive, it gives the city a very distinct look in comparison with other cities. Only few buildings, mostly from the 50s, were not built according to this code.

With the exception of the central plateau, many neighborhoods are divided by deep valleys, which are the natural green areas of the city. To the west of the city is the larger Jerusalem forest. Especially in open spaces near major roads, large parks were developed. To the east and the southeast of the Old City, where little grows without constant irrigation, promenades with parks were developed, which allow walkers to enjoy the view of the Old City, the Judean Desert, the irrigated vegetation, and - depending on location and weather conditions - the Dead Sea and Jordanian mountains.

People and culture

Demography

Main article: Demographics of Jerusalem

When it first appears in historical records, Jerusalem was inhabited by a Canaanite tribe. The Bible specifies them as the Jebusites, and says they ruled it until its conquest by King David. After taking control of the city from the Canaanites, Jews formed the majority of the population until Jerusalem's destruction by Rome in the second century. Subsequent demographic changes are uncertain, although the city's population probably attained a Muslim majority by the time of the Crusades. An official 16th century survey confirms that the city was largely Muslim. By 1844, Jews were the largest single ethnic group in the city and formed a majority by the late 19th century.

According to the current official census as of 2003, Jerusalem's population was 693,200, of which 464,500 (67.0%) were Jews (38% of which live in East Jerusalem) and 228,700 (33.0%) were non-Jews (note that this number is for the expanded municipality of Jerusalem as claimed by Israel, which includes outlying Arab villages and neighbourhoods in East Jerusalem which were not part of Jordanian East Jerusalem prior to 1967).

The lengthiest institutional presence in Jerusalem is, arguably, that of the Greeks, specifically the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem whose land ownership includes areas leased to Israel for many of its government and cultural buildings, including the land where the Knesset building stands.

Culture

Jerusalem houses many museums. The Israel Museum is undoubtedly the most famous. It includes a large collection of art and archaeological artifacts. In the "Shrine of the Book", it exhibits the Dead Sea Scrolls. The Rockefeller Museum is the city's specific museum for archeology. The Ticho House provides an art collections in a historical building. The Tower of David Museum is the main municipal museum, it includes models of the city and changing exhibits. Yad Vashem is the national holocaust museum and monument. The Islamic Museum in the Old City and Islamic Art Museum near the President's house both have collections of Islamic art, holy scripts and artifacts.

The city has two professional orchestras, the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra-IBA and the Israel Camerata Jerusalem. In walking distance from the old city (southwest) is a cluster of cultural institutions. The Khan Theater is Jerusalem's only repertory theater. The Jerusalem Cinematheque is the venue in Jerusalem to watch non-commercial movies. It houses annually an international film festival and a Jewish film festival. In the Sultan Pool open air concerts are held, by Israeli artists and guests from abroad. The Jerusalem Music Center in Mishkanot Sheananim hosts chamber music concerts and workshops.

The main cultural event of the year is the Israel Festival, with international and local street performances and repertory and alternative musicians and theater groups.

Economy

Heavy industry is discouraged in Jerusalem, while Tel Aviv remains Israel's financial capital, leaving Jerusalem's economy as mainly service-based. Almost half of Jerusalem's residents work in government, public service, or tourism, although there has been an increasing number of high-technology start-ups in the city, as well.

The civilian labor force of Jerusalem was 183,000 (48.1%) out of 384,000 persons ages 15+. This is low in comparison to Tel Aviv and Haifa, 58.0% and 52.4% respectively. This reflects a higher percentage of one income households, especially among the Arab and Haredi populations. The average wage for Jerusalem worker was NIS 4,200 in 1994. In Tel Aviv the income was 16.1% higher in Haifa 23% higher. Income in Jerusalem was on average lower both for wage-earners and self-employed people.

The population of Jerusalem is poor in comparison to Israeli national figures. In 1995 25% of the city population and 37% of its children lived below poverty level, as compared to 17% of all Israelis and 23% of Israeli children. Here too, the difference can be attributed to the large Arab and Haredi population segments.

Transportation

Roads

Begin Boulevard is West Jerusalem's inner city expressway. It goes North to South from Atarot to Malcha. Other major boulevards include the Talpiyot-Atarot route, which goes South to North and crosses East Jerusalem and West Jerusalem altogether. Herzl Boulevard passes west of Begin blvd, starts at the enterance of the city (North) and continues South via Mt. Herzl and Yad VaShem memorial. It then blends into additional routes that lead to the Southern quarters. The Golomb-Herzog-Ben-Zvi route is the last major route that links the southern quarters into the city center and major entrance.Jaffa Road is the main street crossing Jerusalem from the western entrance to the city all the way up to Jaffa Gate and East Jerusalem.

Buses

The Jerusalem Central Bus Station is Jerusalem's intercity bus station for services to destinations in Israel and Israeli settlements in the West Bank. It is served by Egged and Dan buses. City buses are run by Egged which runs close to a hundred bus lines throughout the city and its suburbs.

Palestinian-run buses serve some destinations in the city as well as Palestinian towns in the West Bank. This system is based out of the East Jerusalem Central Bus Station on Sultan Sulaiman Street. Palestinian buses also leave from outside the Damascus Gate.

Railway

Israel Railways operates train service to Southern Jerusalem with 2 stops: Jerusalem Malcha near the Malcha Mall and the Biblical Zoo. Very few trains stop at the latter stop. The line was out of use for seven years due to deteriorating conditions and was restored on April 9 2005. Jerusalem Malcha is the new station a new stop replacing the historical Khan Station at Remez Square near the Old City.

In 2009, plans call for a new high speed train line to run from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem which will terminate at a new underground station under construction underneath the area between the Jerusalem Central Bus Station and the ICC (Binyanei HaUmah). There are further plans to extend the line from the Jerusalem Central Bus Station to the current Jerusalem Malcha Train Station, the terminus of the current historic (now upgraded) railroad.

There are also plans for a local light rail system. The first line is at its height of construction and will begin operating from Northeastern Jerualem to Southwestern Jerusalem in about three years.

Airports

Atarot Airport is Jerusalem's airport but its use has been discontinued due to security concerns related to its location near the Palestinian city of Ramallah. Ben Gurion International Airport, 40km northwest of the city, serves as the primary international air transport hub for both Jerusalem and Tel Aviv.

Sports

The most popular sport in Jerusalem is football (soccer). The city has two major teams, the yellow Beitar Jerusalem FC and the red Hapoel Jerusalem FC. Beitar plays in the Premier League, was 4 times Israeli champion (1986, 1993, 1997 and 1998) and has won the national cup 5 times. Hapoel currently plays in the Leumit or second league and has won one national cup, in 1973. In basketball, however, Hapoel Jerusalem has the upperhand. In a league dominated by Maccabi Tel Aviv it never won a championship, yet twice won the Israeli Cup, in 1996 and 1997. In 2004 it won the ULEB Cup.

A marathon is held in the streets of Jerusalem every year and the popular Jerusalem hike starts west of the city and ends in its streets. The municipality, universities, schools, clubs and businesses operate over a thousand sport facilities throughout the city. The largest sports facility is the Kollek Stadium in Malcha, a football stadium with 12,000 seats. Major basketball games are held at the Strauss Arena.

Born in Jerusalem

• Muhammad Abu Tir (politician)
• Saint Angelus (Catholic saint)
• Fathi Arafat (physician)
• Suha Arafat (public figure)
• Mili Avital (actress)
• Yosef Avni (activist)
• Chaim Joseph David Azulai (author)
• Elisha Ben Abuyah (heretic)
• Saeb Erekat (politician)
• Yuval Gabay (drummer)
• David Grossman (author)
• Mordechai Gur (general)
• Tzahi Hanegbi (politician)
• Amira Hass (journalist)
• Abd al-Qadir al-Husayni (commander)
• Amin al-Husayni (public figure)
• Eliahu Inbal (orchestral conductor)
• Flavius Josephus (historian)
• Yousef Al-Khalidi (politician)
• George Khouri (murder victim)
• Isaac Luria (scholar)

Sister cities

• New York City, USA
• Toledo, Spain

See also

• Eurovision Song Contest 1979 and Eurovision Song Contest 1999
• Jerusalem syndrome
• List of Holy Cities
• Melchizedek

External reference and links

Official site

• Travel guide to Jerusalem from Wikitravel

Photographs

• , historical photographs of Jerusalem focusing mainly on the experience of the Jews.
• Portal of

Maps

• , features European, Arab, and Jewish maps of the city dating back over 600 years. Highlights the role of Jerusalem in the history of map-making.

Status of the city

• BBC site showing two maps with a brief commentary on the status of Jerusalem for each.
• , the Israeli law making Jerusalem the capital of Israel.
• from the Palestinian National Authority

History

• from the Jewish Virtual Library
• The Jerusalem Post, August 11 2005

News and media

• , oldest and largest Israeli daily newspaper in English, previously the Palestine Post
• , group of Palestinian reporters with daily news reports from East Jerusalem

Institutions

Books

• Cheshin, Amir S.; Bill Hutman and Avi Melamed (1999). Separate and Unequale: the Inside Story of Israeli Rule in East Jerusalem. Harvard University Press.
• Wasserstein, Bernard (2002). Divided Jerusalem: The Struggle for the Holy City. New Haven and London: Yale University Press. ISBN 0-300-09730-1.
• Jerusalem Besieged : From Ancient Canaan to Modern Israel
• Collins, Larry, and La Pierre, Dominique (1988) O Jerusalem!, Simon and Shuster, N.Y. ISBN 0-671-66241-4

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