Where Heaven and Earth Meet
Where Heaven and Earth Meet: A short, easy-to-understand summary
Where Heaven and Earth Meet is a 2009 interdisciplinary book about Jerusalem’s Temple Mount, known to Muslims as al-Haram al-Sharif and to Jews as the Temple Mount. It was edited by Oleg Grabar and Benjamin Z. Kedar and published by the University of Texas Press. The book brings together 21 Jewish, Muslim, and Christian scholars from Hebrew University, Al Quds University, and other institutions, with support from Israeli, Palestinian, and Catholic organizations.
The chapters cover about 20 essays that look at history, archaeology, biblical and Islamic studies, geography, art, architecture, and religion. They tell the story of the site from the First Temple period to today, showing how the space has been understood and contested by different communities.
A key idea in the book is the term “Sacred Esplanade,” a neutral way to describe the open space that holds the Dome of the Rock, the Al-Aqsa Mosque, and the walls of the old Jewish temple. The editors say this compromise wording should be acceptable to all sides.
The project grew out of tensions after Ariel Sharon’s 2000 visit to the site, which sparked protests and helped trigger the Second Intifada. The book faced political tensions, including a boycott by Al-Quds University of Israeli academic institutions during the publishing process, though Palestinian chapters had already been completed.
Overall, the book aims to promote mutual tolerance, acceptance, and understanding by presenting a broad, balanced view of a highly sensitive place. Reviewers described it as a comprehensive, historically broad, and comparatively neutral work.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 11:44 (CET).