Jerusalem has undergone thousands of years of permutations. Holy to the world's three major monotheistic religions, Jerusalem's growing population comprises a diverse mix of faiths and nationalities, religious and secular, young and old, sabras and new olim, who have all found a home in the heart of the country.
What makes Jerusalem so special and unique is her combination of old and new; a city of contrasts and contradictions. Her rich and complex history underpins 21st century Israel and is fertile ground for creative tension. Jerusalem's historical sites and landscapes serve as evocative stages for an exciting cultural life.
While strolling through the trendy Mamilla Mall you can see the Tower of David, an ancient venue with contemporary exhibits, where local and international happenings take place. After experiencing the sites, tastes, smells and traditional culinary of the Mahane Yehuda Shuk, one can hop on the light rail to Mount Herzl, where you can engage in the uneasy past of the Jewish people and the country's history. Back down near the city's center, you can take in the historic Ottoman Train Station, transformed into an exhibition space and performance venue, buzzing with live music, dance and other activities for all, almost daily.
Old and new complement each other everywhere you look, including the city's modern architecture, which is faced with Jerusalem stone. Jerusalem's many faces includes those of young people from all over Israel and abroad who attend the ancient city's world renowned institutions of higher learning. Students are enriched by and in turn enrich the city with their cultural, academic and social action activities. Not only students, people of any age can find places to visit and interesting things to do and experience in Jerusalem, from museums to hiking trails; synagogues and cathedrals to mosques; weekend fairs to holidays and festivals; and activities for children to those tailored to senior citizens. The interrelation of the past with the present momentum of rejuvenation makes for a vibrant Jerusalem with never a dull moment.