Jerusalem: What’s Outside the Old City Walls?

Jerusalem is much more than the Old City – although that part is very historic and wonderful.  Outside the walls is a vibrant city of education, museums, markets, and places of religious significance.  Jerusalem also serves as the capital of Israel; many businesses, government offices, restaurants, and hotels are throughout the city.

King David Hotel

Nelson Mandela has been at the King David Hotel

Stephen Hawkings has been here too; that’s his enlarged thumb print – and many other famous (and not famous) people too.

King David Hotel outdoor restaurant

The American Colony Hotel in Jerusalem – lovely

Religion and history intertwine everywhere outside the walls too.

You’ll find Hebrew University –

Founders of Hebrew University included Albert Einstein

Hebrew University

Barry and I spent three afternoons on the Hebrew University campus and in its terrific the dining hall 🙂

View from Mt Scopus in the Hebrew University botanical gardens

In Jerusalem, you will find many beautiful and peaceful places.

Jerusalem lights from the top of Notre Dame

Notre Dame Cathedral – outside the New Gate in Jerusalem

Even outside the Old City walls, Jerusalem is filled with religion. Painting in Notre Dame.

Mount of Olives.

The Jerusalem YMCA is a notable landmark.

YMCA

YMCA: “Here is a place whose atmosphere is peace/Where political and religious jealousies can be forgotten and international unity be fortified and developed.”

The Russian Orthodox Church of Saint Mary Magdalene – its seven onion domes gleam in the sunlight near the Lion’s Gate.

Our Israeli friends Danny & Ruth showing Barry and me around.

Our friends  showed us important religious sites — and the ordinary places of Israeli life.

Yes, McDonald’s is here in Israel too. But they are kosher McDonalds, so some serve meat; others serve dairy products.

Nahalat Shiv’a , the third Jewish neighborhood outside the Old City Walls was founded in 1869; it has  small houses built around inner courtyards with water cisterns at the center.

Notice, all the buildings in Jerusalem are made of Jerusalem stone.

Jerusalem stairway

Besides being able to wander around the city, we found that Jerusalem has wonderful museums.

Although not very big, the L.A. Mayer Museum for Islamic Arts is interesting — and it is open on Satuday, during Shabbat.

Islamic art reflects religious beliefs and traditions.

  As well as sharing beautiful art, the museum gives information about the Muslim religion.  Here the sign explains the difference between the Shia and the Sunni Muslims.

Music is integral to Islamic arts.

The museum also contains a section on watches and clocks.  The most significant timepieces are by Abraham Louis Breguet (1747-1823), inventor of some of the greatest technological innovations in modern watch making.  Because the watch was so complex,  the “Marie Antoinette” although commissioned for her wasn’t finished until 23 years after her execution!

The Marie Antoinette watch by Breguet

The humble donkey was the theme of one exhibit.

A museum that  you must see in Jerusalem is the Israel Museum.

Entrance to the Israel Museum in Jerusalem. TripAdvisor rates the museum as 5.5.  I agree.

Israel Museum

Ancient mosaics

Beautiful pieces by famous artists are throughout the museum.  This one is by Auguste Rodin.

Ancestor pole – by the Asmat people.

Human shaped coffins – 13th century

Large mask – Judean hills

You can see one of the oldest human portraits known. Found in the Judean Hills and Judean Desert, from the Neolithic Period, 9,000 years ago, this prehistoric mask is one of a group of masks that have been scattered around the world, but they are now exhibited in the Israel Museum – together for the first time.

Each mask has its own personality.

Our docent made what we saw even more interesting.

Menorahs from around the world are on display

A reconstructed synagogue from Cochin, India is within the Israel Museum.

A replica of within the walls of the Old City

Another fantastic museum is the informative and moving Yad Vashem Holocaust History Museum.  Go there too.   Trip Advisor rates this museum as  5/5.

A visitor looks at pictures of Holocaust victims at Yad Vashem’s Holocaust History Museum in Jerusalem.  The museum commemorates the six million Jews killed by the Nazis in the Holocaust during World War Two.

Image from – http://www.vosizneias.com/wp-content/

Janusz Korczak memorial

Image from: http://magazine.baruchhaba.com//wp-content/uploads/2012/07/janusz-korczak-memorial-8795c21818ccd53d9dcd33713453bb4b.jpg

Barry and I spent about four hours in the Israel Museum and about that much time at the Holocaust Museum.   We want to go back to both since we didn’t see everything; we found both very interesting.

Also the Bible Lands Museum is highly recommended; it explores the peoples and cultures mentioned in the Bible.  TripAdvisor rates it 4.5/5.

People of the Bible.

Image from – http://media-cache-ec0.pinimg.com/736x/0c/a9/51/0ca951d2eb12214283df0a4ef8e52899.jpg

And more museums are coming.

Future Jerusalem museum

Jerusalem has fantastic restaurants,  markets, music, history, culture, and religions.  It is a modern bustling city that you are sure to find interesting.

Sunset over the hills of  Jerusalem

I hope you too can go to Jerusalem.

Aloha & Shalom, Renée