|
The expression The Holy Land (Hebrew: ארץ הקודש, Latin: Terra Sancta ; Aramaic: ארעא קדישא Ar'a Qaddisha) generally refers to the historic geographical region of Israel. It concerns the areas that hold significant religious importance to the three monotheistic Abrahamic religions: Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Part of its sanctity stems from the religious significance of Jerusalem and its importance as the Land of Israel.
In the Hebrew Bible (otherwise called the Tanakh or the Old Testament), the term Holy Land never occurs. Nevertheless there are terms like Land of Israel and Promised land.
Judaism's holiest cities are Jerusalem, Hebron, Tzfat and Tiberias. Jerusalem has been the holiest city in Judaism and the spiritual homeland of the Jewish people since the 10th century BCE.
|