Jewish places of importance

The author of this report has been asked to answer a number of important questions about Judaism and some of its monuments. The two primary ones that shall be covered and summarized are Mount Zion and Mount Sinai. Both hold a very special place with the Jews and their faith. Things that will be addressed include the theology that surrounds the two mountains, how they exist as a pilgrimage, the importance of Sinai's location, how Sinai indicates monotheism rather than henotheism, how Zion is a "cosmic mountain" and a few other things, how Isaiah's sixth chapter has related themes to the above, the significance of the earthly temple when it comes to Zion-related theology and how Zion functions in relations to the Deep. While some may be confused and intrigued about Jewish theology as it relates to Zion and Sinai, it is not that hard to understand and take in.

As for what the two mountains represent, Mount Sinai is a symbol of God's covenant with the people of Israel. By contrast, Zion is the location of the temple of Jerusalem. One thing to be mentioned when it comes to pilgrimage and meaning is that Zion and Jerusalem are often synonyms as the latter is commonly referred to as the former. Zion is held as special in large part because David of the Old Testament is presumed to have been buried there. Further, in addition to what will be covered later in this report, Mount Zion is also mentioned in Isaiah in chapter 60. Anyhow, Jews engage in pilgrimage to both the First Temple and the Second Temple. The first temple is Solomon's Temple. It was destroyed long ago by the Babylonians. What is special about Sinai is that Moses was received at that place. Because of this and other events on or around the two mountains, Jewish pilgrimage to both is commonplace and expected. Mt. Sinai and where it is located, not to mention what happened there, is important for a new of reasons. First, the Ten Commandments were received there. Something to be noted about Mt. Sinai is that people are not entirely sure where it actually is. Mt. Horeb is offered as the actual place but there is not a large amount of consensus (Levenson, 1985).

As for the monotheist/Henotheist argument, there apparently was a time where some Jews admitted that other gods existed but that only their own should be truly worshipped and given legitimacy. In other words, there was a hard and fast stance that the God of the Jews was the one and only true god, at least in the eyes of some Jews. Mt. Zion is considered a cosmic mountain because it is a very important place. It is a highest pedestal and place where decrees and important lessons take place, as noted before. Also important is the centralized and prominent location of Zion in comparison to the city of Jerusalem and beyond. When it comes to the sixth chapter of Isaiah, the first eight verses is all about a discussion between God and Isaiah and who God would send to spread the word. God asks the question and Isaiah answers that he will heed the call. As for the importance of the earthly temple, it is the convergence of where Earth and God intersect, a very holy place. Speaking of intersection, Zion is a point of deliverance and salvation and is a point of grace and saving from The Deep.