“I live a pretty normal life in Jerusalem,” said Dr. Marcie Lenk as she looked out to her audience of 10 attendees that sat in the Heroy Science Hall of Southern Methodist University. Dr. Lenk, Research Fellow at the Shalom Hartman Institute in Jerusalem, went on to describe her daily routine that consists of feeding her cat breakfast, eating in restaurants, enjoying the roof over her head, seeing movies, and ending each day by watching cable television. Although her life may seem artificially normal, the purpose of the discussion put on by SMU Jewish Studies and Hillel of Dallas was to discuss strategies for peaceful co-existence among the different cultures residing in Jerusalem.

Although the earth has been scientifically proven to be spherical, the Jewish culture has always shared a sense that Jerusalem is the center of the world. Located at the center of Jerusalem is Temple Mount – The Noble Sanctuary. Not only is this the most holy place for all Jews, it is also holy for Christians and Muslims. In the eyes of Christians, this is the temple that Jesus called his home and grew up in. To Muslims, Temple Mount is called Al-Aqsa Mosque, or Farthest Mosque, and is the third holiest site in the Islamic culture. “There is such a sense for heightened holiness at Temple Mount, that there is an expectation for ourselves and others. With that expectation comes fear,” said Dr. Lenk.

On a typical day at Temple Mount, the nature of the vicinity is quiet. People may be having picnics, playing soccer, or just enjoying the scenery; however, when the subjectively respectful behavior is broken, people get nervous. “One person’s holiness, is another person’s profanity,” said Dr. Lenk. There is no guidebook for appropriate behavior, just a status quo. The problem that arises from the congregating of various cultures and religious beliefs at one specific sanctuary is the result of questionable, and sometimes even violent, behavior.

When Israel was founded only 66 years ago on May 14, 1948, its Proclamation of Independence was based on the concept of being the homeland for the Jewish people after the Holocaust. Although it was not a theocracy, the calendar is Jewish and it is a Jewish public space; however, there is freedom of religion. Dr. Lenk closed her discussion with, “I started by saying this is a normal place, and I hold true to that. Yet, this is a potent place. In this place, nothing is simple.”