Jerusalem - Records All Around

1. The First Settlement was in Jerusalem. When Adam left the Garden of Eden, he wandered to the east of the world and settled on Mount Moriah (Rabbenu Bachya, Genesis 4:14).

2. Jerusalem is the city with the most names and nicknames. The Bible and Talmud give it about 290 names and nicknames, including Zion, City of David, City of Peace, Ariel, Jebus, and many more (see Numbers Rabbah 14:12). The abundance of names reflects the city's many facets – its beauty, joy, endearment, serenity, the virtue of its inhabitants, and those who long to see its rebuilding and greatness. Indeed, Jerusalem is considered one of the most beautiful cities in the world. There's even a whole book titled "Jerusalem - Many Names Surround It" by artist Jacob Bussidan. In Midrash (Genesis Rabbah 49), it is said that in the future, Hashem will give it a new name, as it says, "At that time they will call Jerusalem the throne of Hashem" (Jeremiah 3).

3. Jerusalem is also the most mentioned city in the Holy Scriptures. In the Bible alone, it is mentioned 659 times, and considering its other names, it appears in the Scriptures over a thousand times. This frequent mention testifies to its greatness and special connection to the Creator and the people of Israel. In the Oral Torah as well, Jerusalem's name appears more than any other city's.

4. The Oldest Sites in the World: Jerusalem hosts several significant sites that are the oldest in the world. First, we turn to the Mount of Olives in East Jerusalem, home to a cemetery that holds the title of both the oldest and largest active cemetery in the world. The site has been used for burials for nearly 3,000 years, with approximately 70,000 gravestones. Its proximity to the Old City and its rocky terrain have made it a prime burial site since the First Temple era, as halacha prohibited burials within the city. Among those buried there are Prophets Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi, Absalom, Rabbi Ovadia of Bartenura, Ohr Hachaim, Rashash, Rabbi Yehuda the Pious, Rabbi Matzliach Mazuz, and many more holy figures.

5. The oldest mikveh in the world is also found in our holy city of Jerusalem. It is the mikveh where Rabbi Ishmael Cohen Gadol immersed 2,000 years ago in the City of David, Jerusalem. This is the mikveh where Rabbi Ishmael purified himself, mentioning Hashem with reverence. The location of the mikveh was known even to the few pilgrims who visited Jerusalem and wrote travelogues. According to the book "Memory of Jerusalem": "At the spring's head, there's a large and deep immersion mikveh, called the mikveh of Rabbi Ishmael Cohen Gadol. And the books of Gates of Jerusalem state that "nearby there is a cave with steps filled with pure waters, believed to be the mikveh of Rabbi Ishmael Cohen Gadol. Each time we return from the cemetery, we immerse in it, and the waters are very cold and are a remedy for eye pain. Tried and tested. Even the non-Jews immerse in it for healing." The City of David's visitor center plans to restore the mikveh to working order.

6. The synagogues and yeshivas adorning the streets of Jerusalem are legendary. The neighborhood with the most synagogues is the Bukharan neighborhood, with about a hundred synagogues. The largest synagogue in the world is in Jerusalem. This refers to the great central synagogue of the Belz Hasidic dynasty in Jerusalem. The magnificent building, somewhat reminiscent of the Temple with its protruding roof gables, was inaugurated during Passover in the year 2002, after about 18 years of construction. The synagogue is a reconstruction of the historic study hall that stood in Belz, Eastern Galicia (Ukraine). Stones from the old building are integrated into the current study hall, and the chair of the previous Belz Rebbe is also displayed. The main hall within the synagogue complex seats 5,000, with standing room accommodating at least 7,000 people. The structure rises to a great height, and its ark measures 12 meters in height. The building is located in northern Jerusalem and is visible from afar. This grand study hall was inspired by the words of the first Belz Rebbe ztz", who expressed that "Belz will be a stronghold for Torah and the fear of Heaven until the Messiah comes."

7. The largest morning prayer service in the world is held in the Mea Shearim neighborhood of Jerusalem, at the "Or HaNehula" synagogue of the Breslov Hasidim. The minyan, held continuously for many years (on weekdays and Shabbat), is attended by over two hundred worshippers. Breslov Hasidim's minyanim are held very early to coincide precisely with the time of sunrise due to their custom of extending the prayer service.

8. The synagogue hosting the most daily daf-yomi lessons in the world is also in Jerusalem, at the Zichron Moshe synagogue. Around the clock, lessons are given in different rooms of the synagogue, adding up to over forty-five daily lessons. All under the direction of Rabbi Pinchas Gotfrid.

9. And from the synagogues, we move to the halls of Torah and the yeshivas that glorify Zion, with the most prominent being the prestigious Mir Yeshiva, which is the largest yeshiva in the world. It boasts over 5,000 students and young married men dispersed across several study halls along an entire street in the "Beit Yisrael" neighborhood of Jerusalem. What makes it unique is the many foreign students who study there. An interesting fact: the oldest young married man studying in the yeshiva is 84 years old, and with him, four consecutive generations learn in the yeshiva – his son, grandson, and grandson's son-in-law. Another interesting detail: lessons are given in various languages, including Hebrew, Yiddish, English, and French.

10. Soon, when our Messiah arrives and Jerusalem tops our joy, we will place the Temple at the pinnacle of our records.