The Temple Mount (Haram Al-Sharif)
Arguably the most holy place in the city. It has major significance to all 3 religions (Islam – The rock under the dome is where the Prophet Muhammad left Earth to visit heaven on a winged horse during his night journey in the 7th Century; Judaism – the Temple Mount was the location of the the First Temple built by King Solomon in 957 BC to house the Ark of the Covenant (which held the Ten Commandments) in a special room called “The Holy of Holies”; and Christianity – where Jesus prayed daily & later preached with his disciples).
Today on the Temple Mount complex, 2 important Islamic structures, the most dazzling building in Jerusalem Dome of the Rock and the Al-Aqsa Mosque. Although Israel took control of the Old City in 1967, but Muslims continue to manage the site. And that makes the site is a controversial & culturally significant place.
Maybe it was in the morning, so called Airport level security check above the Wailing wall access wasn’t so scary however I have been asked to put on the cotton wrap to enter the site.
Surprisingly we saw a group of Jews guarded by armed Israeli soldiers visiting the site. Later on we knew the Jews can visit the site with permission but can’t pray there. Well, with the group of Jews and armed soldiers, there is definitely tension in the air, but it didn’t feel overly dangerous. I was thinking can religious conflicts be avoided. I remembered my bible study teacher said we live in this world but not of the world. We can and have to live in this world, enjoy/suffer God’s creation, but we are not to immerse ourselves in what the world values, nor are we to chase after worldly pleasures. If our goal is to worship God and shed lights in someway to others, then the religious conflict should be avoided at least to Christians. Or it can’t be avoided because we are unique in our ways and we have our own convictions based on our upbringing that becomes a factor in the foundation of our development. In every belief even within the same religion, there is a either large or small contradiction (胡思亂想中）
Mount of Olives
【耶路撒冷景點懶人包】橄欖山半日遊：升天教堂、主禱文教堂、橄欖山觀景台、先知墓、主泣教堂、猶太墓、客西馬尼園、萬國教堂、童女馬利亞墓、抹大拉的瑪利亞教堂
The most expensive Jewish Cemetery is there they all wish when the judgement day comes they will come out of their resting places then into the holy town. With religious beliefs and traditions we all can easily find a purpose to live in this world of contentment and not afraid of physical death.
Mount Zion
Church Saint-Peter in Gallicantu: luckily we were in a small sermon service in Sacred Pit (dungeon) / caves (prison), where Jesus was kept. The pastor asked people what do you feel when you are in the cave without any lights, complete darkness. Do you still believe in Jesus our God will lead us to the righteousness, to the light. Sometime we said we will and we fully understand in fact we are not. Like Peter denied three times that he knew Jesus before the rooster crows. I am thinking only with the gratification and appreciation, we can be less self centred then we can slowly understand what is true love!
LucyMay 