City of David Ancient Jerusalem

17/05/2026

“…Those who sow in tears shall reap in joy.
Though one goes along weeping, carrying the bag of seed,
they shall surely return with songs of joy, carrying their sheaves.”
(Psalms)

Rosh Chodesh Sivan.

The Festival of Harvest is almost here, bringing with it a reminder of the journey and hard work one has gone through -
and that despite the difficulty and the great effort, eventually the time of harvest arrives: the moment when everything comes together into the fruits of the work we invested in.

Wishing you a joyful Rosh Chodesh 💛

04/05/2026

He was stormy, tough, and charismatic
(and some would say also a little violent…)

Rabbi Akiva declared him to be the Messiah King who would save the Jewish people.

His figure was mysterious, and many legends were woven around his name. But several findings discovered in the Judean Desert have shed a little more light on the man whose name has become legendary to this day.

Shimon Bar Kokhba - the leader of the Bar Kokhba Revolt.

Want to know more? Watch the full video
https://bit.ly/3QPOQB0

750 likes, 463 comments. "Bar Kokhba - The Revolt that Shook an Empire"

13/04/2026

On a deserted island in the heart of the Aegean Sea stands Mordechai, an elderly Jewish man, holding a jar - the reason for his journey to the Land of Israel.

On the eve of Rosh Hashanah, 1939, Mordechai and his son Yehoshua are taken to the Sachsenhausen camp. Just a few days later, Yehoshua, only 31 years old, is murdered. For a few German marks, Mordechai manages to buy his son’s ashes in a jar.

Mordechai endures difficult months in the detention camp, but in 1939 he succeeds in securing his release with the help of an immigration certificate, and sets out on the most important journey of his life - to bring his son to burial in the Land of Israel.

Mordechai arrives in Bratislava, and from there boards an immigrant ship bound for the Land of Israel. At last, he is on the final stretch of his difficult journey.

But the joy comes too soon. The ship is blown off course and crashes against the shores of a deserted island in the middle of the sea. After days of survival, the survivors are rescued - only to be imprisoned once again in camps in Italy for years, until their liberation by the Allied forces.

At the end of five long years, Mordechai reaches the Land of Israel, the jar in his hands. He immediately ascends the Mount of Olives and completes his harrowing and determined journey for the sake of his son, bringing him to burial in the holiest place for the Jewish people - Jerusalem.

First image: Yehoshua Rabahoun, of blessed memory, courtesy of the family
Second image: Immigrant ship, Yehoshua Levy
Third image: The grave of Yehoshua, of blessed memory, on the Mount of Olives

19/03/2026

Happy Rosh Chodesh Nisan!

Did you know that this day was once considered… New Year’s Day?

Not the New Year we know from Tishrei, but the New Year for kings.

During the days of the Kingdoms of Israel and Judah, the first of Nisan was the date from which regnal years were counted.
But there is an even deeper layer here.
The month of Nisan is the month in which the people of Israel were born.
“This month shall be for you the head of months” - so it was declared just before the Exodus from Egypt. From this moment begins our story as a free nation, with our own calendar, with identity and purpose.

Each and every day at the City of David sites, we witness a living, breathing expression of the path the people of Israel paved here - and the path we continue to pave ourselves.
May we, too, open this month with renewed thought, growth, and faith in our journey 🌸
Chodesh Tov!

picture: Kobi Harati

12/03/2026

Some symbols are much more than a beautiful shape.

For thousands of years, the Jewish people have used symbols to express identity, faith, and a connection to place. The Star of David, the Lion of Judah, the menorah - symbols that appear again and again throughout our history, on seals, coins, buildings, and jewelry.

Sometimes a small symbol carries a great story within it. A story of a people, of tradition, and of a deep connection.
Perhaps that is why a piece of jewelry with a symbol is more than just a design item. It is something we carry close to the heart - a reminder of our roots, our history, and what connects us.

In the City of David jewelry collection, you will discover that behind every piece lies symbolic and historical meaning, meant to connect us, remind us of the past - and yes, also bring us joy through a beautiful, timeless piece of jewelry.

Enter the link and choose the symbol that is closest to your heart, and receive 50% off the second item. 💛

https://bit.ly/4roqDOL



08/03/2026

Even those who can’t visit us in person deserve to experience the Pilgrimage Road!
Join Naftali, a tour guide at the City of David, for a fascinating and moving virtual tour 💛

All Israel News

03/03/2026

Celebrating Purim this year? 🎭✨
Even in uncertain times,
imagination still takes us somewhere magical.
Here’s a little Purim inspiration from Jerusalem 💛

Tell us in the comments what you dressed up as 🥸👇

24/02/2026

Gravestones were uprooted from their places and turned into building materials.
They were used to construct military camps, staircases, fences, and pathways.
Roads were paved over graves, burial plots were covered with soil, and trees were planted on top of graves.
Testimonies tell of gravestones being loaded onto donkeys at night, while trucks arrived in the darkness to collect them.

This is what the Mount of Olives looked like in the years 1948-1949.
Seven hundred and fifty years of continuous Jewish burial came to a halt. For 19 years, Jewish burial on the Mount was not permitted. Not only was access denied - the cemetery was desecrated and systematically destroyed.
Approximately 38,000 graves and gravestones were damaged.
Between 70% and 80% of the cemetery grounds were destroyed.

When the Mount was liberated during the Six-Day War, the full extent of the destruction was revealed. An official committee determined: this was systematic, planned, and deliberate desecration carried out at the highest levels.

And today?
Beneath layers of earth, under roads and the weight of many years, intensive restoration work is taking place:
Gravestones are being located, graves are being re-identified, and burial plots are being restored.
Honor is being returned to the deceased.

On Yom HaZikaron for the Fallen Soldiers of Israel Whose Burial Place Is Unknown and the anniversary of the passing of Moses our Teacher, as we remember those whose burial places are unknown - we also remember those who attempted to erase and obliterate.

In recent years, the City of David has launched an extensive project to locate and map graves. You are invited to visit our grave locator search engine, search for your loved ones buried on the Mount of Olives, read the stories of those laid to rest there, and light a virtual memorial candle in their memory.

picture: Yonit Schiller

17/02/2026

At the beginning of the month of Adar, the courts would announce the start of the collection of the Half-Shekel.
The Goal: By the month of Nisan-the start of the year for Temple service-the necessary funds for public sacrifices would be collected. By the 15th of Adar, collection tables were already stationed in communities and throughout Jerusalem.
The Law:
"The rich shall not give more, and the poor shall not give less than half a shekel" (Exodus 30:15).
A uniform amount for everyone.
This is one of the most interesting social models of the ancient world: equal public funding for a national Temple service. Every adult was a partner, contributing the exact same share.
When coins from that period are discovered in the City of David excavations-including those related to the Temple tax-they remind us that this wasn't just a verse or an idea, but a real mechanism that operated right here in Jerusalem. This small coin passed from hand to hand, was collected, recorded, and became part of the public budget that funded the entire Temple service.
Chodesh Adar Sameach! (Happy Month of Adar!)

#ראשחודש #עירדוד #ירושלים

04/02/2026

Even historic places have historic moments!

Mr. Isaac Herzog, President of the State of Israel, and his wife, walk along the very path trodden by Jews two thousand years ago.

Walking alongside them was Dr. Miriam Adelson, who together with her late husband, Sheldon Adelson z”l, played a significant role in opening the Pilgrims’ Road to the public and in making Jerusalem’s past and heritage accessible to broad audiences.

During the visit, President Isaac Herzog said:

“We are standing here at the entrance to the road that once led pilgrims into Jerusalem - to the Temple Mount and to the Western Wall. It is deeply moving to see the impressive work being done here in the City of David. I wish to thank all those involved for their extraordinary efforts, and extend special thanks to Dr. Miriam Adelson for her meaningful support in bringing to life the historical story that connects us to a two-thousand-year-old heritage.”

Dr. Miriam Adelson reflected on the profound significance of the moment:

“For many years, Sheldon and I viewed the uncovering of Jerusalem’s past and making the city’s historical expanse accessible to the general public as a public and value-driven mission. The long-standing partnership with the City of David has enabled the advancement of initiatives of national importance, foremost among them the exposure of the Pilgrims’ Road and its opening to the public.”

Come and join us as well - connect together with us to our tangible and deeply moving history 💛