Jerusalem as a place

of pilgrimage.

Where is Jerusalem?Where is Jerusalem?United Kingdom

Mecca

JERUSALEMJERUSALEM

Who goes to Jerusalem?Who goes to Jerusalem?

Jerusalem is a very special place for Jerusalem is a very special place for Christians, Muslims and Jews. Christians, Muslims and Jews.

Why is it important to Why is it important to ChristiansChristians?? It is where they believe Jesus lived and died.It is where they believe Jesus lived and died.

Jesus died on Golgotha, whichis in Jerusalem.

Jesus was born inBethlehem but was

brought to the templein Jerusalem a few days

after he was born.

Why is it important to Why is it important to MuslimsMuslims? ? Muslims believe it is where Mohammed ascended into heaven.Muslims believe it is where Mohammed ascended into heaven.

Muslims believe that Mohammed was

carried on a winged horse from

Mecca to Jerusalem.Then he was taken

up to heaven byangels.

It is where they believe that Abraham sacrificed It is where they believe that Abraham sacrificed his son.his son.

Why is it important to Why is it important to JewsJews??

Can you remember where Muslims believe Abraham sacrificed his son?

It is also where King David brought the Ark of the It is also where King David brought the Ark of the Covenant in 1000 BC.Covenant in 1000 BC.

On Mount Arafat… in Mecca!

Can you guess what is meant by the ‘Ark of the Covenant’?

It is the ten commandments that were written on stone by Moses.

Jews believe that King David’s son, Solomon, Jews believe that King David’s son, Solomon, built a temple to keep the Ark of Covenant safe.built a temple to keep the Ark of Covenant safe.

They say that They say that Solomon prayed to Solomon prayed to God and asked God and asked Him to accept the Him to accept the temple and to live temple and to live inside its walls.inside its walls.

Jews believe that God agreed, and so this is Jews believe that God agreed, and so this is where they came to be close to Him.where they came to be close to Him.

……until….until….

The temple was destroyed by a group of people The temple was destroyed by a group of people called the Babylonians!called the Babylonians!

The Jewish people started to rebuild the temple… The Jewish people started to rebuild the temple… but it wasn’t finished until 75 years later!but it wasn’t finished until 75 years later!

……But….But….

The temple was destroyed again …The temple was destroyed again …

……this time by the Romans! this time by the Romans!

Jews pray every day that God will allow a third temple to be Jews pray every day that God will allow a third temple to be built.built.

Now, all that remains of the temple is one wall, the western Now, all that remains of the temple is one wall, the western wall.wall.

Jews believe that one day God will send his only son, and Jews believe that one day God will send his only son, and some people think that when this happens they will be some people think that when this happens they will be allowed to build the temple.allowed to build the temple.

Today, Jews come from all over the world to visit the Today, Jews come from all over the world to visit the western wall.western wall.

They believe that God is still there, and that coming to They believe that God is still there, and that coming to the wall is the closest way of reaching Him.the wall is the closest way of reaching Him.

If they pray at the wall, then God is sure to hear them!If they pray at the wall, then God is sure to hear them!

Sometimes the wall is called ‘The Wailing Wall’ Sometimes the wall is called ‘The Wailing Wall’ because people pray loudly and are sometimes because people pray loudly and are sometimes moved to tears.moved to tears.

A lot of pilgrims write their prayers on a piece of paper and A lot of pilgrims write their prayers on a piece of paper and push the paper into the cracks in the wall.push the paper into the cracks in the wall.

Some Jews can’t come themselves and so put their

prayers in the postaddressed to:

‘God, Jerusalem’

Twice a yearthe Rabbi and his helpers

collect up all of theprayers to leave room

for others.

They bury the paperson Mount Olive, a

holy place in Jerusalem.

It isn’t just Jews that do this. People from all faiths will

come and post theirPrayers.