How Did Jerusalem Become Israel’s Eternal Capital?
Somehow, it feels as though Jerusalem has always been there. From the creation of the world at the Foundation Stone, through the Binding of Isaac on Mount Moriah, to Solomon’s Temple and Herod’s Temple, Jerusalem has long been the sacred heart of the Jewish people. Across generations, its holiness inspired longing and devotion, so much so that the Jewish national movement took its name from it, Zionism. Today, Jerusalem is also a focal point of political tension and conflict.
But was Jerusalem truly the sole sacred site of the Jewish people from the very beginning of history?
Recent excavations at Tel Motza, located just five kilometers from Jerusalem, have uncovered a magnificent ancient temple, revealing that the Jerusalem Temple was not alone. This remarkable discovery sends us on a journey through the earliest Jewish sites of worship, in search of an answer to a profound question: how did Jerusalem become the eternal capital of the Jewish people?
Up Next in Season 1
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Israel Unearthed - Episode 3 - Memori...
What Does Destruction Look Like in Archaeology?
Ruined towns, charred houses, layers of ash and fragments of personal belongings. Scenes of destruction from the distant past suddenly feel closer and more tangible than ever before. The events of October 7 have awakened historical echoes and invit... -
Israel Unearthed - Episode 4 - Our St...
In times of social polarization and political tension, voices are increasingly heard calling for separation, even suggesting a split into two states, the State of Jerusalem and the State of Tel Aviv. These ideas draw on an ancient past, when the people of Israel divided into the Kingdom of Israel...
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Israel Unearthed - Episode 5 - On the...
Even after 77 years, there is still no agreement on the borders of this land. On the one hand, the State of Israel withdrew from Sinai, carried out the disengagement from Gaza, and divided Judea and Samaria into Areas A, B and C. On the other hand, it liberated Jerusalem, settled Judea and Samari...
