A day in Jerusalem through the lens of a Latino journalist
The hands, heads, and hand-written prayers on scraps of paper rest on a limestone wall inside Jerusalem’s Old City.
The Western Wall is a remnant of the ancient Jewish Temple and is a place of prayer and pilgrimage for Jews worldwide. It is one of many religious, historical monuments in the Old City.
Walking through streets filled with merchants selling religious trinkets and restaurants, I encountered people wearing hijabs, rosaries and kippahs.
It was a unique experience.
Outside of my hometown of Salinas, California, I haven’t witnessed different religions living so close to one another.
Jerusalem has been a site of contention for centuries due to its significance to Jews, Muslims, and Christians worldwide.
For the Jewish people, Jerusalem holds immense religious significance. It is considered the spiritual and historical capital.
Christians also consider Jerusalem as a holy city. The Church of the Holy Sepulchre, located in the Christian Quarter of the Old City, is revered as the site of Jesus Christ’s crucifixion, burial, and resurrection.
Many Christian denominations in Jerusalem maintain religious institutions and pilgrim sites.
For Muslims, Jerusalem is the third holiest city in Islam after Mecca and Medina. The Al-Aqsa Mosque, located on the Temple Mount, also holds religious and historical importance.
It is believed to be where the Prophet Muhammad ascended to heaven during the Night Journey. The city’s significance to Muslims has led to a strong attachment to Jerusalem among Muslim communities.
The shared affection for Jerusalem among these three major religions has contributed to the conflict and hostility in the region. The city’s religious and historical importance has also made it a focal point of competing claims and aspirations.
Throughout history, various powers, kingdoms, and empires have fought over control of the city, leading to its division, destruction, and reconstruction multiple times.
Establishing a Jewish state in Jerusalem has been an aspiration for many Jewish people.
Exploring Jerusalem’s history from various perspectives, including visiting the Old City and its holy sites, gave me a deeper understanding of its significance and narratives contributing to the ongoing struggle between Israel and the Palestinians.
As a Latino journalist, I felt as if someone was watching my every move. That uneasy feeling mixed in with visiting one of the holiest places for Christians. It was a place I felt like I had been before.
I left conflicted.
Seeing these three religions coexist, to some extent, was eye-opening. It also gave me hope that things could improve one day.
I’m grateful for the opportunity that Fuente Latina gave me. I experienced a different world and culture that showed me that although we’re across the country, we share many similarities and differences.
This gave me insight and widened my perspective in how I cover my stories. If one day I decided to become a war correspondent, this experience gave me the tools to be ready for that opportunity,
For those who value religion and or history, visiting the Old City at least once in your lifetime should be on your list.
David Rodríguez Muñoz is a 2022 Fuente Latina Media Fellow. Raised in Salinas and Aguascalientes, Mexico, he seeks to empower his community through his photographs and stories.
This story was made possible thanks to the generous help of the Fuente Latina Media Fellowship and in collaboration with the Visalia Times-Delta.
This article originally appeared on Visalia Times-Delta: A day in Jerusalem through the lens of a Latino journalist
