Temple Mount

The Temple Mount is one of the most contested religious sites in the world because it is so important to both Judaism and Islam.

Jewish tradition holds that the Temple Mount is the focal point of creation, the place from which God gathered dust to create Adam. In the center of the mountain lies the "Foundation Stone" of the world, on which the Ark of the Covenant once rested. It is on this site that King Solomon built the first temple about 3,000 years ago. The temple was then destroyed by King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon and was rebuilt seventy years later. The second temple was razed by Roman soldiers 1,900 years ago. Jewish tradition holds that the third, and final, temple will also be located here.

In Islam, the Temple Mount is considered the holy place where Abraham bound his son as a sacrifice to God (same story that we find in the Old Testament). It is also the site where the Prophet Mohammed ascended into heaven.

We were in Jerusalem during the Eid al-Adha, an Islamic festival, during which only Muslims are allowed to enter the Temple Mount, so we were not able to go inside.
The Temple Mount is also the site of the Western Wall. The site is honored as the only remnant of the temple and has become a pilgrimage place for Jews. It is considered the closest accessible site to the Holy of Holies, the holiest place in Jerusalem, since it is forbidden for Jews to actually step upon the Temple Mount. People come here from around the world to pray and many leave written prayers tucked within the stones on the wall. Because of the many prayers asked here, the wall is also known as the Wailing Wall.