E 223: The Differences and Similarities between Judaism, Christianity and Islam - Part 2

Today, we will be digging deeper into these different Faiths, the significance of Jerusalem and what each Faith deems to be their HOLY LAND and why.

Jewish theology is unitarian.  In Judaism, the one God of Israel is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, delivered Israel from slavery in Egypt, and gave them the 613 Mitzvot at Mount Sinai as described in the Torah.

Jewish tradition claims that the Twelve Tribes of Israel are descended from Abraham through his son Isaac (Isaac first appears in the Torah, in which he is the son of Abraham and Sarah, the father of Jacob and Esau, and the grandfather of the twelve tribes of Israel.)

In contrast, Islamic tradition claims that twelve Arab tribes known as the Ishmaelites are descended from Abraham through his son Ishmael in the Arabian Peninsula. (Ismael) was the first son of Abraham. His mother was Hagar, the handmaiden of Abraham's wife Sarah.) 

Jerusalem is considered Judaism's holiest city. Its origins can be dated to 1004 BCE,when according to Biblical tradition David established it as the capital of the United Kingdom of Israel, and his son, Solomon built the First Temple on Mount Moriah.   Since the Hebrew Bible relates that Isaac's sacrifice took place there, Mount Moriah's importance for Jews predates even these prominent events.

According to the New Testament, Jerusalem was the city Jesus was brought to as a child to be presented at the temple, and for the feast of the Passover.  He preached and healed in Jerusalem, drove the money changers from the temple there, held the Last Supper in an "upper room" there the night before he was crucified on the cross and was arrested in Gethsemane. 

Jerusalem became holy to Muslims,  after Mecca and Medina. The Al-Aqsa, which translates to "farthest mosque" in sura

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