Jerusalem Day 2025: A City of Three Faiths

Celebrating Unity, Heritage, and Spiritual Diversity

One Image- 3 Religions - Jerusalem from Mount of Olives

🗓 What is Jerusalem Day?

Jerusalem Day (Yom Yerushalayim) is a national holiday in Israel commemorating the reunification of Jerusalem in 1967 during the Six-Day War. Prior to that, the city was divided between Jordanian-controlled East Jerusalem and Israeli-controlled West Jerusalem.

This year, the celebration falls on May 26, 2025 and the city will come alive with:

• Traditional flag parades

• Cultural events and live performances

• Special prayers at the Western Wall

• A memorial for the fallen soldiers of the battle for Jerusalem
  

✨ Why This City Matters

Jerusalem is unique. It’s not just a political or historical capital—it's the spiritual center for three major religions:

• Judaism

• Christianity

• Islam

This blog will take you through the city’s religious significance, explore key holy sites, and reveal fascinating interfaith connections found nowhere else in the world.

🧭 Old City Tour Highlights

On May 20, guests from Luxembourg joined us on an immersive tour of Jerusalem’s Old City, including:

• Mount of Olives overlook

• Church of Gethsemane (Church of all Nations)

• Via Dolorosa & Church of the Holy Sepulchre

• Temple Mount & Western Wall

• All four quarters: Jewish, Muslim, Christian, and Armenian

An unforgettable experience for the senses—and the soul.

Western Wall Jerusalem

✡️ Judaism in Jerusalem

Jerusalem is the holiest city in Judaism, central to Jewish prayer, identity, and history for over 3,000 years.

Key Sites:

• Western Wall (Kotel): The holiest accessible Jewish site. Visitors place written prayers in the ancient stones.

• City of David: The original settlement of Jerusalem with the legendary Hezekiah’s Tunnel—a thrilling walk through biblical water channels.

• Hurva Synagogue: A beautiful symbol of destruction and rebirth in the Jewish Quarter.

• Broad Wall: A physical link between biblical scripture and archaeological evidence.

Did You Know?

All synagogues around the world face Jerusalem.

The Church of the Holy Sepulchre - Jerusalem

✝️ Christianity in Jerusalem

For Christians, Jerusalem is where the most important moments in Jesus’ life took place, including his crucifixion and resurrection.

Key Sites:

• Mount of Olives: Including Church of Gethsemane, Dominus Flevit, and Bethphage

• Via Dolorosa (Stations of the Cross): 14 stations tracing Jesus’ final path to crucifixion

• Church of the Holy Sepulchre: Built over the believed site of Jesus' crucifixion and tomb

Cultural Mosaic:

Jerusalem hosts dozens of churches from various denominations—Greek Orthodox, Armenian, Ethiopian, Roman Catholic, and more.

Entrance to Al-Aqsa Mosque - Jerusalem

☪️ Islam in Jerusalem

Jerusalem is the third holiest city in Islam, after Mecca and Medina. Two major Islamic landmarks sit atop Haram al-Sharif (Temple Mount).

Key Sites:

• Dome of the Rock: Built over the Foundation Stone, where Muslims believe the Prophet Muhammad began his Night Journey to Heaven.

• Al-Aqsa Mosque: The third holiest mosque in Islam and the original direction of Muslim prayer (Qibla) before it changed to Mecca.

Shared Traditions:

• Muslims believe the world began at the Foundation Stone—just like Jews.

• The story of Abraham’s sacrifice is tied to Ishmael in Islam, while Judaism and Christianity relate it to Isaac.
  

🌍 Interfaith Connections: One City, Many Layers

Jerusalem is not just a city of separate religions. It is a city of spiritual overlap and dialogue. Here are some fascinating examples:

🔁 David’s Tomb Complex

• Ground floor: David’s Tomb (Judaism)

• Middle floor: Last Supper Room (Christianity)

• Top floor: Mosque and lookout (Islam)

🏛️ Temple Mount

• Originally a Jewish Temple

• Now features Islamic monuments

• Built with Christian architecture

⛪ Church of the Holy Sepulchre

• Now a Christian holy site

• Once a Jewish cemetery

🕊️ Mount of Olives

• Significant to all three faiths in Messianic and end-of-days beliefs

• Contains:

  • Ancient Jewish cemetery

  • Muslim cemetery said to block the Jewish Messiah’s return

  • Chapel of the Ascension shared by Muslims and Christians
    

🧠 Fun Fact: What Happens to the Notes in the Wall?

When the Western Wall fills with prayer notes, they’re respectfully removed by officials and buried like sacred texts on the Mount of Olives.

🙌 Join Us in Jerusalem

Whether you're exploring the ancient ramparts, stepping into sacred sites, or enjoying the diverse street life of modern Jerusalem, there’s no place like it.

Come walk with us. Feel the city. Understand its layers.

🕊️ Our Blessing for Jerusalem

May Jerusalem and all its inhabitants know prosperity, understanding, and peace. Happy Jerusalem Day!