On the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, I witnessed devotion stronger than restriction—hearts bowing low where voices could not be raised. It was one of those moments where the weight of Scripture, history, longing, and identity seemed to rest on the air. I didn’t expect to be moved the way I was. But Jerusalem has a way of doing that—opening your eyes, stirring your spirit, and imprinting truth you can’t unsee.

Before my trip, I learnt that Jews are not allowed to pray on the Temple Mount.

I remember thinking, How can that be?
A Jewish nation.
A Jewish capital.
And yet at their holiest site, Jewish prayer is restricted.

It felt like imagining someone saying I wasn’t allowed to pray in my own home.

But like all things in Jerusalem, the story is layered—deeply historical, deeply emotional, and deeply sacred.

The Temple Mount is the most spiritually charged piece of land in the world.

For Jews, it is the holiest place on earth — the location of the First and Second Temples, the centre of biblical worship, and the place where God declared His name would dwell forever.

For Muslims, it is Haram al-Sharif — home to the Al-Aqsa Mosque and Dome of the Rock, both among the holiest sites in Islam.

This shared reverence has shaped centuries of conflict, prayer, and tension.

Why Jews Cannot Worship Freely on the Temple Mount

After Israel reclaimed the Old City of Jerusalem in 1967, something unexpected happened:
Israel allowed the Islamic Waqf (a Jordanian religious authority) to retain administrative control of the Temple Mount.

This delicate arrangement — known as the Temple Mount status quo — means:

• Muslims may pray openly.
• Jews and Christians may visit, but
• Jews cannot pray, bow, sing, or show outward worship.
• Any Jewish worship is restricted or stopped by Temple Mount police.
• Every Jewish group is monitored and escorted.

The intention was peace.
But the reality is pain:

The Jewish people are restricted from praying on their holiest site.

This is why the Temple Mount remains one of the most sensitive places on earth — a crossroads of worship, identity, longing, and conflict.

Our July calendar photo captures that tension and beauty.

We had just passed the first security checkpoint when I noticed a devout Jewish man waiting with us. He sat quietly, but the longing in his posture was unmistakable. His eyes were fixed on the Mount with a mixture of reverence and restraint.

He could enter,
but he could not pray.

That moment hit me deeply.
It made me realise how easily I take my own freedom of worship for granted. I can pray in my home, my church, my garden — freely, openly, without fear or surveillance.

But here, in the heart of Jerusalem, Jewish prayer is watched, limited, or forbidden.

I never want to overlook the blessing of worshipping freely.

Before our journey, I read articles about how some religious Jews — especially after the October 7 attacks — began praying quietly, silently, or in subtle movements to express devotion.

But reading is not the same as witnessing.

I saw it with my own eyes.

A group of devout Jews, escorted closely by Temple Mount police, suddenly lowered themselves to the ground in hishtachavaya — the ancient biblical act of full-body prostration.

Face to the stones.
Arms stretched out.
Heart bowed low.

It was silent.
It was risky.
It was holy.

I wasn't even sure if it was appropriate to look at them. 

The Hebrew word Hishtachavaya (הִשְׁתַּחֲוָיָה) means more than kneeling. 
It means complete surrender.

This is how Abraham bowed. (Genesis 22:5)
How Moses bowed. (Exodus 34:8)
How kings bowed before the God of Israel. (Solomon — 2 Chronicles 7:3)

To see it here — where it is forbidden — brought tears to my eyes.

Their silence became a louder prayer than any words could ever be.

As I watched those silent prayers rise like incense from stone to heaven, a verse stirred in my heart — one that speaks of the future restoration God Himself promises:

“I will make sure that my holy name is acknowledged among my people Israel,
 and I will make sure that my holy name is no longer allowed to be profaned.
 Then the nations will know that I am YAHWEH, the Holy One of Israel.”
(Ezekiel 39:7 TPT)

One day,

Prayers from all the people groups will rise openly on the Temple Mount.
One day,
God’s name will be honoured where His glory once dwelt.
One day,
The nations will know that He alone is the Holy One of Israel.

Human restrictions cannot silence divine prophecy.

As we walked across the Temple Mount, my heart whispered prayers — not only for peace, but for restoration. For the Jewish people whose longing for God’s presence runs deep. For the day when worship rises unhindered from this holy hill.

And I prayed for myself that I would never again take worship lightly.

If this story stirred something in you, the full 2026 Israel Calendar was created for exactly this purpose — to help believers pray for Israel month by month.

📸 12 Holy Land photos from our journey
📝 12 real stories from Israel (including this July one)
📅 Biblical feasts marked
🎁 A meaningful Christian gift for 2025–2026
🇮🇱 Perfect for praying for Jerusalem all year round

👉 Order your 2026 Israel Wall Calendar here

and keep the Holy Land close to your heart — or gift it to someone who loves Jesus and Israel.