Who has not heard of Jerusalem?!!! This world-renowned city, conquered by King David from the Jebusites (a Canaanite tribe mentioned in the Bible) about 3000 years ago and transformed into his capital city and the basis for his rule over all the People of Israel, given an extra measure of holiness by his son King Solomon, who built the First Temple atop Mt. Moriah (the traditional site of the testing of faith of the biblical Patriarch Abraham, who was told by God in the Book of Genesis to take his son Isaac to be sacrificed). According to Jewish legend, the dust for the creation of Man came from Mt. Moriah; it was also the spot, Jewish tradition holds, where Jacob dreamt of struggling with angels.

For thousands of years Jerusalem has been surrounded by a halo of holiness in the minds and hearts of those longing to be there. At first it was Jews – exiled after the Assyrians conquered the city and destroyed the Temple. In the writings of early Christians, Jerusalem began to attract notice as a pilgrimage destination too, since it was there, tradition holds, that Jesus was crucified and resurrected. For Muslim believers as well, Jerusalem is the third holiest city of their faith (after Mecca and Medina, in Saudi Arabia), since a Muslim legend states that the Prophet Mohammed was flown to heaven on the back of his steed, from atop Mt. Moriah.

For centuries on end, the veneration in people’s heart for Jerusalem, as well as their steadfast love, has stood the test of upheavals and historical vicissitudes, and these very transformations have leant to the city to some degree, an element of its attractiveness for visitors interested in exploring it, whether or not they are religious. Today, as the modern capital of the modern State of Israel, Jerusalem is a mixture of richness, blending the findings and spirit of the past with the energy, vitality and creativity of the present. A pastiche of beliefs, traditions, cultures, and preconceptions, Jerusalem is dynamic, fascinating and at times overwhelming, a reflection of its physical topography, emotional history and the memory and reality of its human presence. It should come as no surprise that no matter what else they see, the vast majority of tourists visiting Israel include Jerusalem on their itinerary.

Currently about 9100 rooms are available in hotels in both West (Jewish) and East (Arab) Jerusalem that are affiliated with the Israel Hotel Association. Taking into account the rooms in the other small properties, in youth hostels and in hospices, adds about 4000 more.