Archive

Archive for June 3rd, 2009

Jerusalem - Once a City of Peace?

June 3rd, 2009

Jerusalem is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities on earth. The Canaanite Phoenician “city of peace”, Urushalim, evolved into Jerusalem after it was invaded by King David around the year 1000 BCE.

Living in Jerusalem has always been a bit of a gamble. The ancient Babylonians, Egyptians and Persians all cast greedy eyes on Jerusalem’s riches. In the seventh century, Moslems invaded the “Holy Land” along with its city sacred to three faiths.

During the Crusades, Jerusalem changed masters often. After the knights of the First Crusade succeeded in breaching Jerusalem’s walls, they killed nearly everyone within them, regardless of religion, killing as many as 40,000.

Today, the Israeli and Palestinian states covet to parts of the city and Jerusalem’s bloody, violent history continues.

Since 1980, Jerusalem has been the home of the Israeli government, although all foreign diplomatic missions are based in Tel Aviv in accordance with a United Nations resolution.

Three major religions coexist in Jerusalem, which naturally leads to a multiplicity of opinions. Each religious group is split and subdivided into factions and sects. There are as many as a dozen different Christian splinter groups, the largest of which is the Greek Orthodox community. This diversity of belief should contribute to Jerusalem’s attraction, but, in reality, it too often leads to conflict and bloddshed. The incredible concentration of sacred sites draw visitors, religious or not, from all over the world.

For Jews and Christians, Jerusalem is the Holy City and the home of their faiths. For Moslems, Jerusalem is the third holiest city after Mecca and Medina. It was the destination of Mohammed’s miraculous trip to and from Mecca in a single night. Its Temple Mount is the place from which Mohammed ascended to, and returned from, heaven.

Three architectural styles
The Old City of Jerusalem was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1981. It is separated into four districts. The Armenian Quarter occupies the south-west, the Christian Quarter, the north-west, the Jewish Quarter, the south-east and the Moslem Quarter, the north-east.

The wall around the Old City was built on the order of the Ottoman sultan Suleyman the Magnificent in the sixteenth century.

Jerusalem’s treasures are so numerous that only a few can be mentioned here. The most visited site is probably the Wailing Wall, a 400-metre-long section of the retaining wall of the terrace on top of the Temple Mount where Herod the Great built his great Jewish temple.

This temple was destroyed by the Romans in the year 70 CE. Important pilgrimage sites for Christians include the Via Dolorosa, the name of the path Christ walked on his way to the crucifixion, and the fourth-century Church of the Holy Sepulchre.

One of the most grand Islamic monuments is the Dome of the Rock. Erected on the Temple Mount over the place from which the Prophet Mohammed ascended to heaven, the Dome of the Rock is not a mosque. The remarkable Al-Aqsa Congregational Mosque, one of the largest and oldest in the world, is located nearby, also on top of the terrace of the destroyed Jewish temple.

More than a lookout
The Mount of Olives (Hebrew: Har Ha-Zetim) is a historical hill on the eastern outskirts of Jerusalem. The ridge of hills is within sight of the Old City. The Temple Mount is actually higher than the Mount of Olives, which is just 809 metres above sea level. The Mount of Olives has great significance for all three major religions.

According to the Jewish faith, the Messiah will cross the Mount of Olives to Jerusalem before the Last Judgment takes place in the Kidron Valley. Moslems also believe the Final Judgment will take place there. For Christians, the Mount of Olives is inextricably tied to the life and death of Jesus. Today it plays a more practical role for many tourists, because its observation deck affords a stunning view of Old Jerusalem.

For unbeatable deals on Jetstar, Virgin Blue and Singapore Airlines contact Flight Centre today.

Sphere: Related Content

Uncategorized

Wooden Memorial Benches Built to Last

June 3rd, 2009

There are good choices in reference to selecting the correct wooden memorial benches including the York Memorial Bench that is a relatively new design, dating back to the year 1987 when this design was one of WoodcraftUK’s first memorial benches. In fact, the design of this wooden memorial bench is actually meant to ensure longer lasting qualities as well as heavier weight and is one of Woodcraft UK’s most popular benches. These wooden memorial benches are made from thickest timber though it still retains its stylish lines and the final result is certainly very eye-catching and it’s in fact one of the better wooden memorial benches available. To make your bench more personal why not also consider adding a plaque or inscription which can be done by the maker for a nominal cost.

Another option in regard to wooden memorial benches are the Beverley Memorial Benches with their sweeping curves, again, manufactured from hardwood and constructed to last with ample room for an memorial inscription or plaque.

It’s important to remember that when you are purchasing any type of bench is that you’re careful to make certain that it is well built and made to last. Check that the joints are proper mortise and tenon joints and that they just have not been screwed or bolted together. Also, hardwood benches are alot more hard-wearing than softwood and don’t even need to be treated.

Sphere: Related Content

Uncategorized

Uncertain Ages Call for Powerful Measures

June 3rd, 2009

Only the smart and strong can survive the years to come as we enter a global depression the likes of which the world has never seen before, be smart and make wise choices. More and more people are loosing their jobs and heading to the internet to research how to earn cash make money online. Wise people are willing to explore and are not content in believing what they see and hear on CNN and the New York Times.

If you want to get a step ahead of the game, it’s a good idea to not spend all day reading a project payday review and actually do something! A lot of people are turning to Gold and Silver as a way to protect their money from the rampant inflation that is soon to come. Take some time to think about what types of things people will stop buying and what things they will buy more of as their bank account gets lighter.

Think about it, if you have government bailouts happening left and right and banks aren’t loaning out the money, wouldn’t make sense to think that we are in more trouble than they are letting on? I read an interesting article recently about the large number of US citizens moving outside the country in order to find work as TEFL teachers. Probably not a bad idea while the economy is in shambles… Why would you be concerned with trivial things like deit loss in a world where people are losing their lives to poverty and hunger anyways?

Patience, discipline and dedication are excellent traits in a world full of uncertainty and doubt.

It seems to be smart in these times to be grateful for the things we have and not focus on all the negativity that surrounds our world. Cross your fingers and hope for the best, that is really all you can do other than prepare yourselves as best you can for the upcoming years ahead.

Sphere: Related Content

Uncategorized