What is the importance and significance of jerusalem to the jewish people ?
Jerusalem has been sacred to the Jews since King David proclaimed it his capital in the 10th century BCE. Jerusalem was the site of Solomon’s Temple and the Second Temple. It is mentioned in the Bible 632 times. Today, the Western Wall, a remnant of the wall surrounding the Second Temple, is a Jewish holy site second only to the Holy of Holies on the Temple Mount itself. Synagogues around the world are traditionally built with the Holy Ark facing Jerusalem, and Arks within Jerusalem face the “Holy of Holies”. As prescribed in the Mishna and codified in the Shulchan Aruch (the code of Jewish Law), daily prayers are recited while facing towards Jerusalem and the Temple Mount. Many Jews have “Mizrach” (East) plaques hung on a wall of their homes to indicate the direction of prayer.
