Traditions of Jerusalem
A city holy to Jews, Christians and Muslims, where Shabbat, the Via Dolorosa and the call to prayer meet within a few streets.
Jerusalem is sacred to three faiths. Jews pray at the Western Wall, Christians walk the Via Dolorosa to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, and Muslims pray at the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Dome of the Rock. The city is also a place of daily life for many communities, with their own food, dress and calendars.
Three faiths, one city
On Friday evening Shabbat begins with candles and a procession of families to the Western Wall. On Good Friday and at Easter, Christians from many churches walk the old streets, and at Orthodox Easter the Holy Fire ceremony fills the Sepulchre. In Ramadan, Muslims gather for night prayers, tarawih, and the call to prayer sounds from many minarets.
At the table
The Old City souks sell falafel, hummus, knafeh and fresh bread with za'atar. Shabbat tables have challah, cholent and fish. The Armenian Quarter has its own food and ceramics, and the Christian Quarter serves ma'amoul at Easter. Coffee with cardamom is poured in every quarter.
Signature traditions of Jerusalem
Also part of it, and being written: Shabbat (The Jewish day of rest.), Hummus (The chickpea dish.), Tarawih (Ramadan night prayers.).
A trail idea for Jerusalem
- Western Wall Visit on Friday evening to see Shabbat begin.
- Church of the Holy Sepulchre Visit at dawn.
- Mahane Yehuda Market Buy challah before Shabbat.
Written by the EveryParampara desk with AI assistance. Opening hours, markets and festival dates change; check locally before travelling. Customs differ from place to place and family to family. If this is your tradition and we have it wrong, tell us.
๐ฎ๐ฑ Israel and 3 moreDreidelืืจืฒืื (Yiddish); ืกืืืืื (Hebrew)
A four-sided top spun for small stakes, most often by Jewish families at HanukkahGame
๐ฎ๐ฑ Tel Aviv, Israel and 1 moreAdloyadaืขืืืืืืข
A humorous Purim parade in Israel featuring giant puppets and satirical floats.Festival
๐ท๐บ Moscow, Russia and 5 moreImmortal Regimentะะตััะผะตััะฝัะน ะฟะพะปะบ (Bessmertnyy polk)
A civic procession where people carry portraits of relatives who served in the Second World War.Festival
๐ฎ๐ฑ Jerusalem, Israel and 5 moreKiddush Levanahืงืืืืฉ ืืื ื
A Jewish ritual service held after the new moon to bless God for the lunar cycle and seek protection.Spiritual
๐ฎ๐ฑ Jerusalem, IsraelTikkun HaKlaliืชืืงืื ืืืืื
A set of ten Psalms recited for repentance and spiritual healing within the Breslover Hasidic tradition.Spiritual
Photo credits on this page
The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.
- Presentation of Jesus at the Temple: Gaudenzio Ferrari, Public domain, source
- Holy Fire: William Holman Hunt, Public domain, source
- Dreidel: Adiel lo, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Adloyada: ื"ืจ ืืืืฉื ืืืืืจ, CC BY 2.5, source
- Immortal Regiment: Presidential Press and Information Office, CC BY 4.0, source
- Kiddush Levanah: Wacลaw Koniuszko, Public domain, source