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Jerusalem’s History
inisrael.com travel guide

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Enjoy Israel

Jerusalem’s History

Jerusalem travel guide

Jerusalem’s history stretches back about 5,000 years. About 2500 BC, the Canaanites inhabited the city. Later, Jerusalem became a Jebusite citadel. When DAVID captured the city (c.1000 BC), the Jebusites were absorbed into the Jewish people. David made Jerusalem the capital of his kingdom, and SOLOMON built the first Temple to house the Ark of the Covenant. In 586 BC, the Babylonian NEBUCHADNEZZAR II destroyed Jerusalem and the Temple and exiled the Jews to Babylonia.

Fifty years later (537 BC), CYRUS THE GREAT of Persia conquered Babylonia and permitted the Jews to return to Jerusalem and rebuild their Temple. Persia held the city until 333 BC, when ALEXANDER THE GREAT added Palestine to his empire. In 323 BC, PTOLEMY I of Egypt took Palestine into his kingdom.

About 198 BC, the Seleucid king ANTIOCHUS III conquered Judaea (of which Jerusalem was a part), making it tributary to Syria. The Jews later revolted under the leadership of Maccabees and defeated the Syrians. The Temple was reconsecrated in 165 BC, and the Maccabean, or Hasmonean, dynasty ruled until Rome took the city in 63 BC.

The Romans set up a local dynasty, the house of Herod, to rule most of Palestine; Herod the Great (r. 40-4 BC) rebuilt much of Jerusalem, including the Temple. Roman governors, however, retained ultimate control; one of them, Pontius Pilate, authorized the execution of Jesus Christ. While suppressing a major Jewish revolt, the Romans destroyed the Second Temple in AD 70. In 135, after the failure of the BAR KOCHBA revolt, Jews were banished from Jerusalem. From the early 4th century, when Christianity became legal in the Roman Empire, Jerusalem developed as a center of Christian pilgrimage.

The Church of the Holy Sepulcher and many other Christian shrines were erected. Except for a brief period of Persian rule (614-28) the city remained under Roman (later, Byzantine) control until 638, when the Muslim Arabs took Jerusalem. The Arabs built (688-91) the Dome of the Rock mosque on the site of the Temple.

In the 11th century, Muslim toleration of both Jews and Christians gave way to persecution under the FATIMID caliph al-Hakim (r. 996-1021) and under the SELJUKS, who seized Jerusalem in 1071. European Christendom responded by launching the CRUSADES. The Crusaders conquered Jerusalem in 1099 and established a Crusader state. SALADIN recaptured the city for the Muslims in 1187, and the Ayyubid and Mameluke dynasties ruled until 1517, when the Ottoman Empire took control.

In 1917 the British occupied Jerusalem, and it became the capital of mandated PALESTINE from 1923 until 1948. During this period the city saw Arab rioting against the Jews. The 1948 United Nations partition plan for Palestine called for internationalization of the city. The Arabs rejected this resolution, and, from 1949, Jerusalem was divided into an Israeli and a Jordanian sector. The city remained divided until 1967, when Israel took the entire city following the Six Day War. The city is reunited today under Israeli government, which guarantees religious freedom and protection of all holy places.

Mount Herzl, Herzl Museum

Mount Herzl, Herzl Museum

The National Cemetery of the State of Israel is located on Mount Herzl in western Jerusalem. Among the graves on this hill are the country's main military cemetery and the plot of the greats of the nation, where the nation's leaders and Zionists are buried. Herzl Museum is located at the top of the mountain, where the National Memorial Hall commemorates all those who have fallen in defense of the country since 2017. The main ceremonies on Remembrance Day for the Fallen of Israel are held on Mount Herzl in memory of those who have fallen in the IDF, the Israel Police, and during hostilities. The president, prime minister and head of state all participate in these ceremonies. This ceremony opens Independence Day. In the Jerusalem Forest between Ein Kerem, Kiryat Yuval, Beit HaKerem, Beit Vagan, Yaffe Nof and Har Nof, the mountain rises to an elevation of 834 meters above sea level. Located next to Mount Herzl, Yad Vashem built the Mount of Remembrance on the shoulder next to it. Located on Mount Herzl's main entrance plaza, the Herzl Museum in Jerusalem showcases the practice and vision of Benjamin Ze'ev Herzl. In honor of Herzl's 100th birthday, the museum was renovated, upgraded, and reopened. In the new museum are four audiovisual presentations: one on Herzl's path to Zionism, one on his Zionist activities, one on Herzl's room, and a fourth on the comparison between Herzl's vision in Altneuland and the achievements of the State of Israel. As part of the museum, Herzl's original study will also be featured. There are four four-dimensional films at the new museum, which describe Herzl's life and contributions to Zionism, his involvement in Zionist politics, and his vision outlined in Altneuland. The museum complex includes two educational centers related to Zionism, managed by the World Zionist Organization.

The Armenian Quarter - Jerusalem Old City

The Armenian Quarter - Jerusalem Old City

Situated to the right of the vibrant Christian Quarter is the secret Armenian Quarter, the most isolate of all of the quarters in the old city. The quarter goes back to the time when Armenian Christianity began and has a long history of Armenian pilgrims setting foot at its gate. The discovery of holy sites for Christians in the city caused many of the pilgrims to become fixed residents in the Armenian Quarter. Dating back to the turn of the fourth century, when Armenia was declared as the first Christian state in the world, the Armenian Quarter developed into one of the main substances in the Christian entity of Jerusalem. Due to wars and peregrination the Armenian populace in the old city has shrunk these days to a little under 1000. Still, this tight community lives its life in the surroundings of St. James Church, which envelopes the Armenian faith in Jerusalem and is also the residual place of the Armenian patriarchate. Unfortunately, the Armenian Quarter is far from living up to its full tourism potential. With the church and its surrounding areas closed to the public, in the quarter you can visit teh museum of the Armenian history and artwork, which is quite interesting but not easily found.

Experience Luxury and Serenity at Gordonia Hotel in the Jerusalem Mountains

Experience Luxury and Serenity at Gordonia Hotel in the Jerusalem Mountains

Gordonia Hotel is an oasis of tranquility and luxury nestled in the Jerusalem Mountains. The hotel boasts a wide area with picturesque views and well-designed suites that are perfect for adults over 18 looking for a peaceful getaway. The hotel also features well-kept gardens and magical paths that surround the hotel, an infinity pool complex, a huge hot tub, and a sauna overlooking breathtaking views. The hotel's chef provides fine cuisine based on local crops and produce to complete the atmosphere. And for those looking for a more relaxed atmosphere, the hotel's cocktail bar in the infinity pool complex will soon be open. The Gordonia Spa offers a rare combination of spectacular views of the Jerusalem mountains and the intoxicating smell of the mountains, providing a perfect environment for those seeking intimacy and pampering. The spa offers quality treatments performed by experienced professionals in two modern treatment rooms, complete with a private shower for your comfort. The spa complex also features a dry sauna and a jacuzzi overlooking a magical view. For those seeking a more exclusive and private experience, My Private Place at Gordonia Hotel offers luxurious living rooms available 24/7, rotating dairy menus of the best local produce, a private chef, a personal swimming pool, a hot private hot tub, personal spa treatments, and selected music in the background. The hotel's fitness club equipped with 2 treadmills, stepper, exercise bike, multi trainer, and free weights is perfect for keeping fit during your stay. And for those seeking adventure, the hotel now offers bicycle rentals at special prices for guests. The surrounding area is ideal for a bicycle trip, allowing guests to enjoy the magical views of the Jerusalem mountains, mountain air, and some fitness on the way. Located west of Jerusalem at the top of one of the highest peaks in the Jerusalem Mountains, Kibbutz Maale HaHahime is adjacent to Gordonia Hotel from the north. On a clear day, the coastal plain from Ashkelon to Carmel stretches before the observer. The kibbutz is also near Kibbutz Kiryat Inavim, the village of Abu Gush, and the settlement of Har Adar. Gordonia Hotel is the perfect getaway for those seeking luxury, relaxation, and adventure. Experience the beauty and serenity of the Jerusalem mountains, indulge in fine cuisine, and rejuvenate at the hotel's spa and fitness club. Book your stay at Gordonia Hotel today and make unforgettable memories.

Jerusalem - one of a kind
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