My father was born in Jerusalem, and so did his father. My extended family on my father’s side still lives in Jerusalem. Over the years I went to visit Jerusalem countless times, and yet, this visit to Jerusalem was special. It was special mainly due to the following. It was unexpected. While visiting Israel on business, an opportunity for a half day trip to Jerusalem came up, and both my partner an d I grabbed it. The second difference was indeed my partner. A well-travelled person who’s visiting Israel for the first time. The third was the tour guide. The forth was the weather. So here’s the story.
We left Herzeliya around noon and arrived at the Talpiyot Boardwalk at around 1:00 PM. We were looking at a magnificent view of the entire Old City of Jerusalem from a mountaintop. It was magnificent. I could see in my partner’s eyes, and in his questions and curiosity, that he can really envision the life as it was three thousand years ago at this very place. The Temple Mount complex, Mount Olives, Mount Scopus, the mosques, the entire scenery gives a feeling of heavy duty history, peppered with tradition, religion, spirituality. Even to the non-believer. The juxtaposition of old and new is particularly amazing in Jerusalem. Layers upon layers of settlements from four thousand years ago all the way up to these days, is a really unusual combination. Walking down the streets of the market in the Muslim and Armenian quarters, visiting the synagogues in the Jewish quarter, along with some very significant milestones in Christianity, is a very interesting reminder that we all are related. Something very interesting, a breakthrough in humanity started in this part of the world, and it was carried over to the entire world. Jerusalem is the ultimate tourist attraction in the world. (Some will probably tell me, particularly my religious friends and acquaintances, that Jerusalem is not a tourist attraction, it’s the House of God. My only answer to that would be that I am confident that even God doesn’t mind some company once in a while…)
Come to Jerusalem, enjoy the sites, the amazing middle eastern food, the colorful markets, the hospitable people. Jerusalem is a must. Let me use this opportunity to recommend a tour guide. A very knowledgeable, articulate in many languages, pleasant and courteous, Ariel Atzil is the perfect companion you want to have at your side when visiting Jerusalem. A deep knowledge of the region’s history of thousands of years, understanding of the culture, good taste for food, simply a wonderful company. Ariel can be reached at +972-52-382-9912 and at aatzil@barak-online.net. You won’t regret it.
Jerusalem is truely amazing.