There’s something magical about the Old City of Jerusalem: The light filters through the cracks in the stones in ways that turn back time a millennium and the scent of resin and honeyed apple smoke from the nargilla waft around you in a cloud.
The footsteps of the faithful from three major religions tread the worn stone steps that lead to the heart and soul of the city.
Close your eyes, and you can almost feel the warble of a dozen languages spoken all around wash over you.
In Jerusalem, you can forget what day it is. Or what century. As you walk the paths that bore the weight of those who have come before for thousands of years, you turn a corner and discover a new world.
A magnificent aerial view of the Old City. Photo by David Katz
Children will always find somewhere to play.
Photo by Rahel Sharon Jaskow.
Women strolling near Al-Aqsa Mosque.
Photo by Sarah Tuttle-Singer
Looking out.
Photo by Avi Mayer.
A sweeping view of the Kotel.
Photo by Avi Mayer
An ally near Jaffa Gate where they sell stamps. And tattoos.
Photo by Annie Aronheim.
Better than Starbucks = #winning.
Fragrant spices in the Old City.
Photo by Sally Weber
Night falls on Jaffa Gate.
Photo by Avi Mayer.
A beautiful shot of the Kotel.
Photo by Aaron Kalman.
A mesmerizing shot of the Dome of the Rock.
Photo by Perry Bindelglass
The streets of Jerusalem, lined with snow.
Photo by Sammy Raskas
A gorgeous capture of the Teddy Fountains just outside of the Old City walls.
Photo by Elie Leshem.
The roofs of Jerusalem.
Photo by Heddy Abramowitz.
A child prays at the Kotel.
Photo by Perry Bindelglass
Sunlight filters inside the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.
Photo by Paul Boyer
A candid moment captured near Jaffa Gate.
Photo by Laura Ben-David
At the pluralistic Kotel.
Photo by William Daroff.
A Christian pilgrim prays at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher.
Photo Yifa Yaakov
A lantern burns bright just inside Jaffa Gate.
Photo by Dr. Leora Leeder.
The faithful in prayer.
Photo by Jaeheon, Kim.
Sweeping views of the Old City.
Photo by Joe Aminoff
Photo by Sally Weber
Shoes on a wire.
Photo by Malynnda Littky
A man sits in the Muslim Quarter of the Old City.
Photo by Sarah Tuttle-Singer
You’ll find beautiful things in the shuk.
Photo by Josiah Ching
Night falls on the Old City, and the shops are shuttered.
Photo by Judy Lash Balint
Kids playing in the Old City.
Photo by Jaeheon, Kim.
Wipeout!!!
Photo by Daniel J. Levy
Haggling.
A celebration at the Western Wall.
Photo by Josiah Ching
Looking out from the Austrian Hospice.
Robinson’s Arch
Photo By Hillary Glaser
A stunning view of the Old City at night.
Photo by Natan Epstein.
Celebrating Christmas in the Armenian Quarter.
Al Aqsa Mosque
Photo by Charlie Jasper
Photo by Yifa Yaakov
Shadow and light in the Old City.
Photo by Marc Goldberg.
Siblings are alike all over.
Photo by Sarah Tuttle-Singer
Snow falls on the Kotel.
Photo by Nechama Perton
Beautiful view of the Kotel.
Photo by Michelle Appelbaum
An angel plays the harp just inside of Jaffa Gate.
Photo by Sarah Tuttle-Singer
Gorgeous color and light.
Photo by Rachael Risby Raz
A stunning shot of the Dome of the Rock.
Photo by Chris Humphreys.
The devoted pray at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher.
Photo by Irene Rabinowitz
Prayers in the Western Wall.
Nechama Perton
Jerusalem of light.
Photo by David Katz.
Always look up in Jerusalem.
Love near the Kotel.
Photo by Sarah Tuttle-Singer
The bread seller of Jerusalem.
Photo by Robert Kern
An old woman waits for a few spare coins outside of the Lutheran Church.
Photo by Sarah Tuttle-Singer
An epic game of Sheshbesh.
Photo by Robert Kern.
A beautiful photo of King David’s Tower.
Photo by Sharon Altshul, Real Jerusalem Streets.
Late afternoon in the Old City.
Photo by Sarah Tuttle-Singer
An Armenian priest summons the faithful to prayer.
Photo by Sarah Tuttle-Singer
Photo by Zuriel Atia
Dusk in the Muslim Quarter
Photo by Sarah Tuttle-Singer
Looking out over the Muslim Quarter at sunrise…
Photo by Rigel Janette
Old and new – Kids play in the Teddy Fountains just outside of the Old City.
Photo by Brian John Thomas
The Dove of Peace.
Photo by Sarah Lavi
If you have a truly spectacular picture of the Old City, send it to me – I’m happy to add it here 🙂 sarah@timesofisrael.com
Sarah Tuttle-Singer, author of Jerusalem Drawn and Quartered and the New Media Editor at Times of Israel, She was raised in Venice Beach, California on Yiddish lullabies and Civil Rights anthems. She now lives in Jerusalem with her 3 kids where she climbs roofs, explores cisterns, opens secret doors and talks to strangers, and writes stories about people. Sarah also speaks before audiences left, right, and center through the Jewish Speakers Bureau, asking them to wrestle with important questions while celebrating their willingness to do so. She also loves whisky and tacos and chocolate chip cookies and old maps and foreign coins and discovering new ideas from different perspectives. Sarah is a work in progress.
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