As a Muslim Jerusalemite living in the reality of the modern-day city, I would like to tell a tale that has accompanied me since childhood. Lessons are to be learned from this tradition that blur the distinctions between religions, political events, historical conquests, and individual identities, and force us to enter Jerusalem as a holy city for all, as a city of unity and piety, stripped of earthly prejudice and human indifference.

We will hear at this conference about the historical building and rebuilding of Jerusalem’s stones. And although history and archaeology tell us that these events transpired in the name of each religion’s quest to establish presence in God’s earthly abode, we should not lose sight of the fact that Jews, Christians, and Muslims together can still fulfill the city’s destiny of bringing peace unto all nations