Why is Israel so important to Jews?

Answer 1

Israel was important because it was the holy land to christian, Jews and Muslims. It was holy because the phrophet of the religions were around israel in the religious storys.

It is important to Christianity and Judaism because it is where they were founded, Islam originates from Arabia.

Answer 2

Jerusalem is the center of Judaism. It is important to Jews because it was chosen by God (Zechariah 3:2). It was the site of the Akeidah (Binding of Isaac, in Genesis ch.22) and was later the seat of the Davidic Kings, when King David, Israel's greatest king, founded the dynasty that ruled Judah for much of its history, making Jerusalem the capital of the United Kingdom of Israel during his reign and that of his son, King Solomon.

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Most importantly, it was the location of the First and Second Temples, where offerings were made to God and where His presence dwelt in the Holy of Holies (1 Kings ch.8) and was manifested in a number of miracles (Mishna, Avot ch.5).
Jerusalem is called the holy city by the prophets (Isaiah 52:1). It was where Jews would go three times a year to celebrate the holiest festivals (Deuteronomy ch.16). Even after the destruction of the Temple, the Temple Mount and adjacent Western ("Wailing") Wall, which still stands, is the holiest site in Judaism. It is hoped and prophesied (Ezekiel ch.40-44) that one day a third temple will be rebuilt in Jerusalem and that the Messiah will come to it.

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Jerusalem has become representative of the connection with the Divine. Jerusalem is also seen as the source of Divine Law, as demonstrated in many Jewish prayers: "Ki miTziyon tetze Torah udvar Hashem miYerushalayim - From Zion comes the Torah and the Word of God from Jerusalem" (Isaiah 2:3). Jerusalem is also representative of the Redemption of the Jewish people from their physical and spiritual exile, because this exile causes the melancholy that the Jewish people experience by being apart from God's presence. The Redemption, which Jews believe will be brought by the Messiah, will result in the Jewish people returning to Jerusalem.

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According to ancient Hebrew tradition, Jerusalem is the site where God took the very earth from which Adam, the first man, was formed (midrash Rabbah 14:8). Read Genesis carefully; Adam was not created in the garden of Eden; he was taken there. Jerusalem, because it is the first place on Earth where the spirit of God dwelt, is considered a direct link to God.

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Judaism is the oldest monotheistic religion and Jerusalem has been its only holy site for over 3000 years. King Solomon's Temple in Jerusalem was destroyed by invading Babylonians, and rebuilt at the same site (known as the Temple Mount) about 2500 years ago. It was then destroyed again when the Romans conquered Judea about 2000 years ago, killing a million Jews. All Jews who value their heritage feel ties to Jerusalem and the holy land, where so many of their people struggled for the freedom to practice Judaism. At the same time, Jews believe that all people should be welcome there, regardless of faith.

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Jerusalem is the eternal Jewish city, and a symbol of a future time of peace. Jerusalem is also the focal point of prayer of the Jews. When they pray, wherever they are, they face towards Jerusalem (Talmud, Berakhot 30a), with love and longing. The sentiment is aptly expressed in Psalm 137: "By the waters of Babylon, there we sat and wept as we remembered Zion....If I forget you, Jerusalem, let my right hand forget its wisdom." For thousands of years we remembered our exile and prayed for its end. Now at least we can do so from "up close."

Answer 2

Israel is not only important to us, we also have a very great love for it. Israel is the PROMISED LAND of the Jews. This means that this land will always belong to the Jews. Israel is so important to us because our Torah, nation, ancestors, and our Temple (worship sanctuary of G-d) was born there.

When the messiah comes, the JEws will be brought back to their land and rebuild their temple, and there will tranquility and peace for all eternity.

Answer 3

Israel is cherished by Jews for several reasons: Firstly, it is our historical homeland, and the religious centre of Judaism. All of the holy Jewish sites are there. Secondly, history has shown, over and over, that it is just not safe for Jews to be without a national homeland, and to just be minorities in other nations. And as if any more proof of this was needed, the Holocaust, and the death of six million Jews, proved that Jews had to have one tiny corner of the globe where they could determine their own fate and control their own security. Before Israel was re-established, in 1948, the majority of Jews felt acutely vulnerable in other countries. The classic racist remark that was thrown at Jews was 'Go back where you came from!'. Can you imagine how that must have felt, to people who HAD no place to go, if the country they lived in turned against them? Israel has restored to Jews a sense of pride. If we'd had Israel back in WW2, we wouldn't have lost six million of our fellow Jews, or suffered in the death camps, because Israel would have come to help us. No other country even tried to bomb the railway tracks leading to the concentration camps - the Allies could have, but chose not to. To understand more fully what Israel means to us, I recommend the wonderful novel EXODUS, by Leon Uris. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Answer 4

• For Jews it is the ancient homeland and place of origin of the Jewish people, and the location of the Ancient Holy Temple (בית מקדש).
• For Christians it is the place of birth, life, and death of Jesus of Nazareth.
• For Muslims, it is the place where Muhammad ascended to Heaven on the spot where the Jewish Holy Temple (בית מקדש) was located.

Answer 5

Jerusalem is the center of Judaism. It is important to Jews because it was chosen by God (Zechariah 3:2). It was the site of the Akeidah (Binding of Isaac, in Genesis ch.22) and was later the seat of the Davidic Kings, when King David, Israel's greatest king, founded the dynasty that ruled Judah for much of its history, making Jerusalem the capital of the United Kingdom of Israel during his reign and that of his son, King Solomon.
Most importantly, it was the location of the First and Second Temples, where offerings were made to God and where His presence dwelt in the Holy of Holies (1 Kings ch.8).

See also the Related Links.

Link: The Promised Land

Link: The Western Wall

Link: Destruction and Diaspora

Link: Beauty of Jerusalem

Answer 6

Because Jerusalem has long been the Capitol city of the Israelites. All 3 religions have their roots in Jewish history.