Five Glorious Places From Which To Look Out Over Jerusalem

‘And [God] . . . said to [Abraham], ‘Take your son. . .and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about. . . . Abraham got up and saddled his donkey. . . [and]. . . set out for the place God had told him about. On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance. ” [Genesis 22:1-4].

The mountain range from which Abraham may have first glimpsed Mount Moriah is, today, covered by a spectacular promenade with wonderful overlooks and breath-taking panoramic views.

Financed largely by the generous Sherover and Haas families in the 1980′s, it is only one of several sites that offer strikingly different vantage points for gazing at Jerusalem.

Most are wheelchair/stroller accessible (see note at the end of the article) and, best of all, they are free.

1. Haas-Sherover Promenade

Full of beautiful walkways that include landscaped gardens and creative balconies, the Haas-Sherover Promenade is located in East Talpiot. From its main observation points near the United Nations Headquarters it is easy to make out Mount Moriah, which in earliest biblical times was only a barren hill. Today Mount Moriah is topped by the golden Dome of the Rock, built in 691 over the site on which the First and Second Temples (and their Holy of Holies) once stood.

A narrow ridge covered with buildings is delineated by the steep Kidron Valley to the right and a distinct asphalt road running parallel on the left. These are the boundaries of the ancient Jebusite city conquered by King David and fashioned into the political and spiritual capital of Israel over 3,000 years ago.

Read the full article over at The Times of Israel