Page 66 - Resources

Lesson 13-15 News-sheet

Hills
Mediterranean Sea Plains Jordan Desert
Valley

Cross section of Israel, west to east

Climate

It has two seasons:-

• Summer is from May to October and is dry and hot.
• Winter is November to April and is wet and warm.

Jerusalem

Jerusalem is sometimes described as the ‘jewel in the crown’, the crown being Israel. The
city is holy to Jews, Muslims and Christians. For the Jews the following are important:-

• Mount Moriah where Abraham nearly sacrificed Isaac
• David establishing Jerusalem as the capital city
• Solomon’s construction of the temple

Since the destruction of the temple nineteen centuries ago, the Jews worldwide pray in the
direction of Jerusalem.

Christians connect Israel with the life of Jesus. He was arrested, crucified and rose again in

Jerusalem.

Muslims associate Jerusalem with El Aksa, the point from which Mohammed, their prophet,
ascended to the Seventh Heaven. After Mecca and Medina, Jerusalem is Islam’s third

holiest city.

The harmony of church bells, the muezzin’s call to prayer and countless costumes worn by
the inhabitants contribute to making it a multi-cultural centre. The city is divided into the

Jewish Quarter, the Armenian Quarter, the Muslim Quarter and the Christian Quarter.

Jerusalem has eight gates in the old city walls:-

• Damascus Gate – the road to Damascus used to start here

(Greek Grandeur, Hebrew Heart) 92