Official Language:
Hebrew
Secondary Language:
Arabic, English, Russian
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Currency:
New Israeli Shekel & US Dollar
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Population:
Approximately 625,000 people call Jerusalem home.
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Weather:
Climate and current weather information for Jerusalem Israel: The weather in Jerusalem is more varied that most people think. Summers are usually hot and dry with temperatures reaching the mid 80s °F/high 20s °C most days. Winter days can be surprisingly cool and wet most of the rain falls November-April. Daytime highs are generally in the 50s °F (11-14°C) in the cooler months.
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Cruise ships visiting Jerusalem will dock at either of two Israeli docks at Haifa or Ashdod. Jerusalem is located about 30 miles inland from the Mediterranean Sea. Buses are available to transport you from any port city to Jerusalem.
There are many different bus routes around Jerusalem, and the numbers may get confusing. But most people speak English, and you are sure to find someone who will be happy to point you in the right direction. Sheruts are small passenger vans that travel along the same route as buses. They are slightly more expensive than buses, but they are more convenient. Taxis are usually pretty easy to spot. Just head over to a major hotel and you will have no problem finding a cab. Fares can be negotiated, but meters are available if you would feel more comfortable. In the Old City, foot travel is probably your best bet. There is a lot to see in a very compact area, so you'll find that walking is the easiest way to get around.
The history in Jerusalem is felt upon your arrival. This city has conjured up strong emotions and special feelings for people all over the world for thousands of years. You can feel the history in the air. Millions of people have battled historically over Jerusalem. Even today, Jerusalem’s fate is at the middle of unrest in the Middle East. But inspite of the politics and religious fighting, you will find a city unparalleled for its natural beauty, climate, history, attractions, and meaning. Jerusalem has proven to be one of the most interesting and intriguing cities in the world. It boasts a taste of many cultures, different foods, and incredible history. There is so much for you, the potential cruise passenger to see.
Some call Jerusalem a melting pot of religions. The three major religions, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. For Muslims, Jerusalem is a sacred city, the site of the Last Judgement of all souls. For Christians, it’s the place of the Apocalypse, where the righteous will be saved. For Jews, it’s where the Messiah will descend and join humanity in peace. Mix these ingredients – the Muslims, the Christians, the Jews, add in the Palestinians, the neighboring Arab nations, add oil (billions of barrels of Middle East crude) and you’ve got a city that serves the world conflicts, headaches, and headlines almost everyday.
There’s the Haram-ash Sharif Temple Mount where Mohammed rose to heaven and where God instructed Abraham to sacrifice his son. There’s the Church of the Holy Sepulcher built on the site where many believe Jesus was buried, the Western (Wailing) Wall, the Via Dolorosa, the New City of Jerusalem, the Golden Dome of the Al Aqsa Mosque. There’s Bethlehem, Nazareth, Yad Vashem, the Golan Heights, Mt. Carmel, and the Sea of Galilee.
Jerusalem is Israel's largest and most ancient city situated on a cluster of hilltops and valleys between the Mediterranean Sea and the Dead Sea. The main religious and historical sites are in the Old City, which is contained inside a wall constructed in 1538 during the reign of the Ottoman ruler Suleiman I, the Magnificent. Enter by one of the famous ancient gateways like the Damascus or Jaffa Gates. The area inside the Old City wall is roughly divided into four: the Muslim, Jewish, Christian, and Armenian quarters. The Old City is sacred to Jews as the capital of the first Jewish kingdom, to Christians as the site of Christ's crucifixion and to Muslims as the site of the ascent into Heaven of the Prophet Muhammad. The notable buildings include the Christian Church of the Holy Sepulchre, built over the 4th-century basilica, which in turn was erected over the traditional tomb of Christ; the Jewish Western Wall, also called the Wailing Wall, the remnant of the great Temple built by Herod the Great, King of Judaea; the Muslim mosque of Dome of the Rock, built upon the site where Muhammad is said to have ascended to Heaven; the Mosque of Al Aqsa, one of Islam's most sacred shrines; and the Citadel, a 14th-century structure on the site of Herod's fortress. In New Jerusalem, see the Knesset (Israel's Parliament), Yad Va'Sahem, memorial to the Holocaust victims and the Shrine of the Book. The history of Jerusalem and its rise from Stone Age settlement to Holy City of the Jews is well recorded in the Old Testament. After the Roman occupation the city came under Christian and then Muslim influences. In 1917 it came under British control as part of Palestine until the creation of Israel in 1948. From then until 1967, Jerusalem was a divided city. Israel controlled West, or New, Jerusalem, and Jordan controlled East Jerusalem, including the Old City. In 1967 Israel captured East Jerusalem in the Six-Day War. Since then, all of Jerusalem has been under Israel's control.
Aside from roaming the city on foot, stick to organized tours. You will see more, learn more, and spend less of your valuable time searching out reputable tour operators.
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Attractions |
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There is much for the cruise vacationer to see here, especially if you are interested in history. Below are just a few of the attractions offered in Jerusalem. Tours types and times may sometimes vary depending on religious holidays, and/or the current political situation on your arrival.
In essence, a visit to Jerusalem is a visit to two cities, and there is an abundance of tourist information available about both the Old City, home to all of the major religious sites in the city, and the New City. The Old City is divided into four quarters and Most attractions are located within the Old City.: the Muslim Quarter, the Christian Quarter, the Armenian Quarter and the Jewish Quarter. The Tourist Information Office (Jaffa Gate, tel. 02/628-0382) sells maps and brochures of Jerusalem, which are essential for knowing your way around the city, and for budgeting your limited time effectively. The Old City is practically bursting with attractions calling for your attention. If you aren't careful, you will find yourself spending too much time at one place at the expense of all the others. It is best to plan your route ahead of time, so you know exactly where you want to go.
A good starting place is the Jaffa Gate, the main entrance to the Old City from the West. The gate itself is made of beautiful stones that warrant a closer look. As you head into the Jewish Quarter, you will see the Western Wall, the holiest site in Judaism. Jews from around the world come to pray at the Wall, the only remnant of the Second Temple, which was destroyed almost two thousand years ago. People of all religions are welcome to pray near the Wall, but men must wear a hat or yarmulke, provided free of charge.
If you stay on the main road from Jaffa Gate, you will eventually encounter the Temple Mount. Known in Arabic as Haram es Sharif, the Temple Mount is where you will find the El Aksa Mosque and the Dome of the Rock. This is one of the holiest sites in all of Islam. Modest clothing is required to go anywhere near the sites themselves.
Finally, if you travel to the Christian Quarter, you can visit the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. The church is divided among the six oldest sects of Christianity. Inside the church is the Stone of Unction, where the body of Jesus was prepared for burial, and the marble tomb edifice that was constructed in the 1800?s to enclose the cave of the sepulcher.
The New City is full of museums and memorials. But if time permits you to take only one visit outside of the Old City, make sure that visit is to Yad VaShem Memorial and Holocaust Museum (tel. 02/675-1611). The depth of emotion experienced here cannot be adequately described in words. It is simply something that must be felt to be understood.
Mt. Scopus
Just northeast of the city, Mt. Scopus offers a terrific view of the city of Jerusalem and surrounding suburbs.
Temple Mount (Haram esh-Sharif)
At the first temple on this site, Abraham offered his son, Isaac, as a sacrifice. The temple was built by Solomon and destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar. Temple Mount is the third temple on this hill. It is here where Mohammed is said to have ascended into heaven.
Golden Dome of Al Aqsa Mosque
Located on Temple Mount on the site of the previously destroyed Jewish Temples, the 7th century mosque is considered Islam’s third most holy site after Mecca and Medina.
The Wailing Wall
Built by Herod the Great as a retaining wall to support the Second Jewish Temple that was destroyed by the Romans in 70 AD leaving just a wall as a remnant. Devout Jews visit this remnant to lament the destruction of the two earlier temples at this site and to offer prayers that are written on paper and placed in small holes within the wall.
Church of All Nations
Built in the early 20th century at the foot of Mount of the Olives.
Garden of Gethsemane
This is where Judas Iscariot is believed to have betrayed Jesus. Above the garden is the Mount of Olives, where Jesus is said to have ascended to heaven after his resurrection.
Dung Gate
The gate’s name gives nothing as to its content – it is through this gate that the city’s refuse (including that of the horses, camels, and goats that walked the streets) was transported from the city.
Via Dolorosa
The via Dolorosa approximates a portion of the route believed to be walked by Jesus as he carried his cross to his crucifixion.
Church of the Holy Sepulcher
The current church stands on the site where Jesus was believed to have been buried.
Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum
The museum contains ashes from each of the European concentration camps, as well as shoes, photos, stories, and the names of those who perished during the Holocaust.
Israel Museum
The museum’s highlights are the Dead Sea Scrolls.
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More Information |
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Web: www.goisrael.com/newsNew.asp
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