Judy's Jerusalem Guide
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Mount of Olives
Contact:
Location:
- Mount of Olives Road
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Map
Description:
This panorama is best viewed in the morning, as later in the day the sun is in the wrong direction. From the Seven Arches Hotel (a popular snapshot stop-off for coach parties) the gleaming gold roof of the Dome of the Rock lies below in the Temple Mount complex and beyond it, the silver dome of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. As well as the Old City in the foreground, from this raised point it is also possible to see the City of David, the Kidron Valley and the new suburbs of West Jerusalem.
Author note:
Since you only have one day in Jerusalem, this is the best place to get an overview and a feel for both the beauty and complexity of this ancient city that is holy to Christians, Muslims and Jews. <br/>Grab a cab to get there as early as you can to try to beat the busloads of tour groups. From this mountain top that separates Jerusalem from the desert and the Dead Sea to the east, you'll get a magnificent view of the 35 acres of the Temple Mount and the Dome of the Rock. <br/>Directly behind the Muslim holy site are the gray domes of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, while the modern buildings of the Jewish Quarter are visible to the south inside the walls of the Old City. <br/>Take in the view on the horizon to the north, where you'll be able to spot the distinctive outlines of the churches on Mt Zion, and then look to your left, where the southern modern neighborhoods of Jerusalem touch the biblical Hinnom Valley. <br/>Now you understand why King David wrote in the Psalms: "Jerusalem, hills surround her."
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Mount of Olives Jewish Cemetery
Contact:
Location:
- Mount of Olives
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Map
Description:
A paved road leads from the top of the Mount of Olives to the back of the Basilica of the Agony at the bottom. Along this route, you may enter various sections of the oldest continuously used Jewish cemetery in the world. An ancient tradition holds that those buried here will be resurrected first when the messiah arrives. Here you will find the grave of the modern mystic, Rabbi Abraham Isaac Kook, and other important Jewish religious figures. Here too is buried Menahem Begin, who as Prime Minister initiated peace talks with Egyptian President Anwar Sadat. A guide to the cemetery is essential. The local custom is to place a stone on the cenotaph to indicate a visit.
Author note:
Walk a couple of hundred yards north on the road from the viewpoint to the pathway that descends down the Mt of Olives through the largest and oldest Jewish cemetery in the world. Look across at the walls of the Old City to the double closed Golden Gate. This is where many believe the Messiah will reveal himself and the resurrection of the dead will take place. <br/>On the path down the mountain, visit the Dominus Flevit Church that commemorates Jesus crying over the fate of Jerusalem. Peek into the Second Temple burial caves discovered there and see a few of the beautifully decorated ossuaries.<br/>A few hundred yards further on is the Russian style Church of Mary Magdalene with its seven gold onion domes. In the garden, look for the remains of an ancient flight of steps described in 9th century Latin documents. Inside the church don't miss the 19th century paintings by famous Russian artists.<br/>Below the Russian church is the Garden of Gethsemane and the Church of All Nations. Don't be out off by the crowds or the aggressive vendors but bear in mind that the site closes daily between noon-2:30 p.m.<br/>You should be able to hail a cab on the main road in front of the church to take you to your next stop--probably lunch!<br/>For a complete change of pace from the historic and religious sites of your Jerusalem morning, ask the driver to drop you at the Agrippas Street entrance to Machane Yehuda--western Jerusalem's food market.<br/>You won't have to look far for some of the best in casual MIddle East fare. Whether it's a fast felafel, or a sit-down meal of grilled meats and salads or a casual cafe sandwich, you'll find the freshest ingredients and the friendliest service. For dessert, walk through the market alleys for a choice piece of seasonal fruit or a tasty pastry from any one of the small bakeries along the way.<br/>Take in some of the best people-watching in town--Jerusalemites of every kind shop in Machane Yehuda, so you'll be sure to hear any number of languages being spoken.<br/>Once you're refreshed, its time to head back to antiquity. Either walk through to the Jaffa Road side of the market where the #13 or 18 bus will take you within a 10 minute walk to Jaffa Gate, or get a cab from the same spot and ask to be dropped at Dung Gate.<br/>If you've opted for the bus, take your map and walk down David Street inside the Old City and follow the signs down to the Western Wall.<br/>If your taxi has dropped you at Dung Gate, walk in through the security machines and you'll find yourself at the Western Wall plaza.<br/>You'll be standing in front of the holiest place in the world for Jews--the only remnant of the Temple built by King Herod. Tradition has it that the Divine Presence has never left this place, so people of all faiths come here to soak that in.<br/>After your contemplation at the Wall, retrace your steps out of Dung Gate, turn left and walk down the short hill following the brown signs to the City of David.<br/>At the Visitor Center,(*6033 from any phone inside Israel for detailed info) make your choice between a number of tour options depending on your stamina.<br/>This is the heart of Biblical Jerusalem, Israel's largest archeological park where you'll be able to see and imagine life in King David's time. This is where Jerusalem sprang to life, before the construction of the Temples. <br/>There are many sites to explore here, either with an English guide or with a self-guided tour--both available from the Visitors Center. Be aware that there's a lot of walking, much of it on uneven surfaces and steps.
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Jerusalem Centre for the Performing Arts
Contact:
- +972 2 560 5757
- visit website
Location:
- 20 David Marcus Street
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Map
Description:
Located near the corner of Chopin (in the Rechavia District near the president's house), this modern complex opened its doors in 1975 and houses the Jerusalem Theater (Sherover Theater), Henry Crown Auditorium, and the smaller, more intimate Rebecca Crown Hall. Original Israeli plays and Hebrew translations of foreign classics and modern works are performed in the theater's main hall; visiting troupes also use the main hall for performances in foreign languages. The theater also hosts performances of the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra and the Israel Chamber Ensemble; the Israel Philharmonic also performs here. From October through early June, the Henry Crown Auditorium hosts the Etnacha Concert Series, produced by Israel Radio's classics station. The Etnacha performances are free.
Author note:
After all that walking through ancient Jerusalem, you'll want to relax and take in some modern Israeli culture.<br/>With your limited time on a one-day itinerary, the best place is the Jerusalem Theater complex. Located in the leafy up-scale residential neighborhood of Talbieh, the theater hosts a pleasant cafe where you can find a varied menu of fish, pasta and salads and live background music. After dinner, browse the gallery space where you'll find art or sculpture by local artists. At the box office, choose from any number of live music, theater or dance performances at one of the three auditoriums--or maybe you'll just want to round out your Jerusalem day by taking in an Israeli movie (most have English subtitles) at the intimate cinema in the building.
