Jerusalem. Some know it as the capital of Israel, a religious hot spot, or like William Blake does, as “The City of God on Earth.” For William Blake, Jerusalem was the holiest place on earth, a city that he wished to recreate in his own homeland of England. However, the modern day Jerusalem is not as pristine and harmonious as Blake envisioned. Along with it being the focal spot for the world’s 3 major religions, Christianity, Judaism, and Islam, Jerusalem is also a place of tension, and volatile relations. The religious importance of the city draws in millions of people for residence or vacation, which makes Israel the most literal melting pot country of the world. Just like a melting pot, multiple types of people reside there, living in a boiling …show more content…
In order to bring Jerusalem to the level of serenity William Blake and many others aspire it to have, the Old City needs to add more love and comfort evoking items. This can be done by implementing more stores and stands that offer some of the traditional cuisine of a religion to the part of Jerusalem corresponding to that faith. Adding the classic food of the Christian, Islamic, and Jewish people will give Jerusalem an increased feeling of home and belonging. Just imagine walking down the street to the Western Wall, or to the Dome of the Rock, smelling the comforting scent your favorite traditional food, seeing members of your religious sect who, even as strangers, have a strong connection with you, visit a famous landmark, and absorb the wonders of your religion and a swell of pride for your people. Doesn’t that sound ideal? That experience is something I wish for me and for others to experience every time they visit Jerusalem. Arousing a comforting sense of home and belonging will bring back the old notion of the holy
Beautiful scenery, delicious foods, and desirable accessories at your fingertips along with other enticements and wishes the mall offers as described by Carolyn Merchant as the modern Garden of Eden in her writing of “Eden Commodified.” Merchant is an award winning writer and professor at the University of California covering the subjects of environmental history and philosophy, making her an expert in the subject of human nature and our connection to the environment. She characterizes the combination of gardens, goods, and ornate architecture as heaven on earth a peaceful, clean, and orderly destination for rich and poor, old and young; however, is this really all she is saying?
The book begins with the background to the city of Jerusalem and the first thousand years after Christ. In the first thousand years Rubenstein depicts all of the events that shaped the holy city’s state of being at the beginning of the
A brief glance at Jewish history is all that is needed to reveal the eclectic nature of the religion. The constant settlement and exiling that the Jews faced throughout history led to the multi-cultural influence upon the religion. One influential area was Eastern Europe as it became the location of “the Jewish Enlightenment.” During this period of Enlightenment, Jewish scholars – such as Judah Leib Gordon – expressed many facets of attitudes and perspectives that emerged with the onset of Jewish modernity. Judah Leib Gordon was known for his Hebrew poetry, most notably “Awake my People!” which presented an embracement of the surrounding culture in contrast to “For Whom Do I Toil?” which he wrote much later, and called for a return to traditional
A paradise is an imaginary place, one where there is eternal happiness and everlasting beauty, where beings work together and for one another, and where feelings of love, unity, and respect are encouraged and celebrated. This serene and safe space tends to be associated with religious connotations, such as Heaven or Eden, for it is believed to have been created by a god or higher being. There are numerous beliefs and various religions that have their own versions of paradise and they all teach different theories about where it is located and how one can reach it. In Toni Morrison’s Paradise, entitled after this harmonious and divine place, she examines a specific group’s attempts to create and sustain a man-made version of this idyllic haven and the consequences and complications that can arise from this artificial paradise.
Main Events in the history of Jerusalem. (n.d.). Retrieved May 8, 2011, from Century One Educational Bookstore: http://www.centuryone.com/hstjrslm.html
How did the conditions for Jew and Christians change with the Muslim conquest of the Iberian Peninsula and why were the Christians there more disaffected than the Jews?
In 1095, Jerusalem was a flourishing city that was the main powerhouse for three religions; all three religions wanted complete control over the holy land. These three religions were Christianity, Judaism, and Islam, and all three religions were known to use Jerusalem as a place of religious reasons. But in turn, the best part about Jerusalem was the political power it held. Pope Urban’s demand for power and Jewish Israel’s desire to control Palestinians are the factors in the political conflict over the holy land.
"Thus saith the Lord God; This is Jerusalem: I have set it in the midst of
Given the relative lack of primary resources and archeological remains, the events of Ancient Jerusalem are often difficult to study and tend to rely on biblical accounts and what primary sources have been preserved. For this reason there has been much uncertainty and discussion over the rule of Hezekiah. Among the debate over the exact years of his reign (i.e., whether it was from 727 - 698 BC or from 715 - 686 BC), there too exists disagreements as to whether Hezekiah was in fact one of the great Davidic Kings as he is often portrayed in the Bible (Na'aman, 29). Some researchers have argued that since historians, such as Josephus, speak very little of Hezekiah's reign, wisdom, temperance, or courage, then he must not have been one of the Great Judean rulers as his predecessors: David, and Solomon (Feldman, 598-607). However, upon further analysis of the on goings in Jerusalem during the reign of Hezekiah as well as his accomplishments as king, the argument arises that Hezekiah was in fact one of the greatest kings of Judah since the time of Solomon. Furthermore, the accomplishments of Hezekiah prove to be evidence that Hezekiah is viewed as the messianic king of 8th century BC Jerusalem due to his reforms to strengthen Judean religion, his developmental changes to improve the infrastructure of Jerusalem, and through his leadership that allowed Jerusalem to withstand the destruction of the Assyrian siege.
In "Sailing to Byzantium", Yeats wrote "And therefore I have sailed the seas and come/ to the holy city of Byzantium." (lines 15 and 16). This line suggests that Yeats was on a spiritual journey to find the place that he belongs, a place that will last forever. Yeats also wrote that he wants stability and to get away from the world. Blake also wanted to find a place and rebuild a new society. In "A New Jerusalem" from "Milton", Blake wrote, "Til we have built Jerusalem,In England's green and pleasant Land" (lines 15 and 16) refer to the rebuilding of a better place. Jerusalem refers to the Holy Land, where Blake feels that he can become closer to Jesus Christ.
Nehemiah’s gift of public speaking evokes the displaced people of Jerusalem, to realize the potential of the city. Nehemiah provides decisive responses to the problems he will face, and his unselfish behavior is for the good of Jerusalem. Nehemiah’s knowledge of coordinating building projects, and at the same time, managing opposition on many fronts, shows the organizational qualities he possesses.
The temple district created by the construction of the Temple in Jerusalem led to a pilgrimage economy in the late second Temple period. King Herod inspired pilgrimage from the diaspora. Newly formulated Persian public policy drove scores of Jewish
Moses’ story is told in the Book of Exodus, but it starts in Genesis with the story of Abraham and his family with whom God makes a covenant. Many ask where the question where did Moses come from. However every incredible person has a story that starts somewhere and someplace Moses’ story started when he was born, it was the day when, according to the Egyptian astrologers, the liberator of the children of Israel was to be born. Since they did not know whether he would be of Jewish or Egyptian descent, all of the male children born that day, were ordered to get slaughtered by the King Pharaoh. On this very day Amram's wife, gave birth to her third child, a boy, Moses. From the moment he was born it was clear that he was to grow into a hero. Moses’ parents tried everything they could for the boy not to get into the hands of the pharaohs men. As her last resort she made a small, waterproof basket in which she put the child and set him down in the stream of the Nile. The pharaoh's wife saw the boy, picked him up and that is how Moses started his life as the pharaoh's son.
Last semester I had a class called Abrahamic Religions. The class consisted of study the three Abrahamic faiths Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. First we learned about Judaism and what they do differently from the Christian church. Then we learned about Christianity and how it has changed over the years from the Protestant Christian church split to the way people worship and view Jesus today. The last of the three Abrahamic faiths we studied was Islam, we learned about their different practices and what they believe God commands them to do. This class taught me not only about religion but a new way to view the world.