Now available on Amazon!

The Power of Storytelling: How a Story Told by a King to His People 3,000 Years Ago Shaped History, Still Resonates Today, and Keeps Conflicts Alive.

A unique perspective on history from an author who is at once an archaeologist, a journalist, and a scholar of religion.

History of Religions | The Holy Land | Middle East | Archaeology | Bible | Politics | Modern Israel | Personal Expertise

This comprehensive work focuses on the holiness of Jerusalem in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. It analyzes how the establishment of a Temple, regarded as the house of God, shaped the city’s history and urban development over thousands of years—ultimately leading the Zionist movement to establish the Jewish state there.

Why Jerusalem?
What makes one city a center of faith, conflict, and longing for thousands of years? How did a small hilltop settlement become a global city? And why has Jerusalem drawn empires and rulers, prophets and preachers, believers and tourists across generations?

A Unique Perspective
In The Story of Jerusalem, Shlomo Cesana explores the city’s exceptional status through his three areas of expertise: journalism, archaeology, and guiding. Together, these perspectives help explain how Jerusalem became one of the most influential and contested cities in history.

Writing as an Israeli and Jewish scholar, Cesana draws on this background while striving to present the historical record with respect, fairness and academic rigor, engaging seriously with the perspectives of all three faiths that hold the city sacred.

The Central Idea
The book connects the city’s history, its urban development, and its renewal as the capital of the State of Israel to the belief in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam that Jerusalem is the dwelling place of God. It gives readers a deeper insight into why Jerusalem stands apart from every other city.

Dear Reader,
Thank you so much for requesting and reading my book, The Story of Jerusalem. As an independent author, your voice and your feedback mean the world to me. To give you some context about who I am: I am a veteran Israeli journalist, analyst, and senior editor with three decades of experience in the field.

My career includes a decade as a diplomatic correspondent, a decade as a religious affairs correspondent for Israel's two leading national newspapers, and a decade as a senior editor for the country's top news websites and a correspondent in Jerusalem. Today, I live and reside in Chicago.

In addition to my journalism career, I have excavated as an archaeologist in the Old City of Jerusalem and personally participated in the uncovering of the ancient Pilgrimage Road: a discovery of monumental historical and spiritual significance for Jews and Christians alike.

This book represents years of deep research into the rich history, diverse religions, and unique urban development of Jerusalem, combining my professional expertise in journalism, archaeology, and guiding. It was shaped by direct field insights and conversations with thousands of people in Jerusalem from various backgrounds whom I met as a journalist and as an archaeological tour guide, directly addressing the core questions they raised.

Furthermore, this work was written out of profound respect for all of Jerusalem's residents -Christians, Muslims, and Jews alike, with the ultimate hope that a deeper understanding of the city can contribute to peace in this deeply tense region.

Since the book is already live and available on Amazon, I have a small but incredibly important favor to ask:
Once you complete your review here on NetGalley, please take a brief moment to copy and paste your honest review onto the book's Amazon product page as well. Early reviews are the lifeblood of indie books, helping us gain visibility and reach new readers who are passionate about history and non-fiction.

Thank you for your time, your dedication to reading, and your crucial support!

Warm regards,
Shlomo Cesana