JERUSALEM - ISRAEL'S CAPITAL IN PICTURES - Unusual scenes from ancient Jerusalem to the present that you may have never seen before

By Noam Chen

Most of us are familiar with images of Jerusalem dominated by a golden dome and surrounded by ancient walls. Sometimes we see images of bad press, scenes of war or conflict, collisions between religious or political groups, but Jerusalem is way beyond that.

 

Living so close to this magnificent city, I have had the privilege to experience Jerusalem year-round and this experience is beyond words.  So here are 20 photos that will show you a different perspective of Jerusalem, like you have never seen before.

 

 

The first view that you see from the very entrance to the city – The Jerusalem Hills.

 

Damascus Gate decorated once a year for the Festival of Light. 

Jerusalem is an innovative city, one that fuses ancient walls with modern art. 

 

Old versus new. Ancient Jewish Jerusalem.

See more pictures

 

Fireworks over the Tower of David

 

Another view usually not associated with Jerusalem

 is this serene setting of the city’s Biblical Zoo.

 

When seasons change and winter comes, the city transforms into a European-like capital.

Jaffa Street on a wet winter evening.

 

Mamilla Shopping Center

 

Entrance to ancient Jewish Jerusalem

 

Jewish neighborhood of Yemin Moshe

 

Treasures deep in the heart of ancient Jewish Jerusalem

 

Mysterious Western Wall Tunnels

 

Kidron Valley tombs dating from the Hasmonaean period to the Jewish War.  Only the few wealthy and respected families of the time were able to afford tombs in this area.

 

Holocaust Memorial at Yad Vashem

 

The Knesset, the Israeli parliament

 

The Ten Commandments at Mount Zion

 

Photos and text by Noam Chem 

http://blogs.timesofisrael.com/twenty-photos-of-jerusalem-as-youve-never-seen-before/

 

RELATED

 

More photos by Noam Chen on Facebook (scroll down on the left of the page)

https://he-il.facebook.com/NoamCPhotographer

 

And on his website

http://noamchen.com/

 

His beautiful photo of Tel Aviv: 

 

 

More information on Jerusalem

 

Photos of Jerusalem, from the Imax film
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2429244/Explore-ancient-mysteries-Jerusalem-Stunning-images-capture-breathtaking-history-enigmatic-beauty-Holy-Land.html

Timeline for the history of Jerusalem

https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Peace/jerutime.html

 

History of Jerusalem

https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Peace/jeruhistoc.html

The ancient kingdoms of Judah and Israel http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/History/Kingdoms1.html

 

The liberation of Jerusalem from the Jordanian occupation in 1967

http://www.sixdaywar.org/content/reunificationjerusalem.asp

Myths and Facts - The 1967 War
http://www.sixdaywar.org/myths-and-facts.asp

 

Myths and Facts - Guide for the Israeli-Arab conflict
Here - http://www.mythsandfacts.org/
And here - https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/myths3/MFboundaries.html

 

The ongoing dispute over Jerusalem and Temple Mount - Historical background
http://www.camera.org/index.asp?x_context=7&x_issue=4&x_article=1404

 

Virtual tour of the Western Wall hidden tunnels (text and pictures)

http://www.aish.com/sem/wtt/

 

Virtual tour (video) of the ancient Jewish Temple of Jerusalem (destroyed by the Romans)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fymffT1M5bg

 

Does Islam have a true connection to Jerusalem?

Prophet Mohammed never set foot in that city.  Islam is the real occupier

http://ottersandsciencenews.blogspot.ca/2014/04/does-islam-have-true-connection-to.html

Even the Koran admits Jerusalem belongs to the Jews
Israel is mentioned eight times in the Koran and there is not a single mention that it belongs to Arabs or Muslims. Whenever there is a reference to the Land of Israel and to whom it belongs, the Koran points to the Jewish people.
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/177319#.U2UNhpsU-M9

 

Muslim scholar admits Israel belongs to the Jews

http://hopeofisrael.net/news/muslim-scholar-recognizes-israel-belongs-jews/

 

Recommended: 

Short and factual video about the fundamental significance of Jerusalem and Temple Mount for Jews and its very weak link to Islam - in history and doctrine  
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xU9CauJP4Pg

 

 

Temple Mount in Jerusalem, the most sacred site for Jews in the whole world

 

 

 

 

 

Not so sacred for Muslims, who pray with their backsides towards Temple Mount. 

But they still demand it.  All of it.

 

Muslims have no genuine religious respect for the sacredness of the site, which is routinely used as a soccer field and where Arab families go to picnic.

Video of Arab youngsters playing soccer and using dirty language on the Temple Mount
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YBv1ARu_8gA
- http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/141657#.U1d5D5uPKM8 

- http://www.breakingisraelnews.com/2254/travesties-temple-mount/#gmyQT5S2ZADSlRjz.97

 

It's a place of constant Arab rioting as well.  As evidenced on the following news archive.

 

Israel National News archive of Temple Mount news reports
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/Tag.aspx/493

 

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