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BYU Jerusalem Center

May 02, 2024

31°47′12″N 35°14′40″E / 31.78667°N 35.24444°E / 31.78667; 35.24444

BYU Jerusalem Center
TypePrivate
Satellite campus of BYU
EstablishedMay 16, 1989; 34 years ago (1989-05-16)[1]
Religious affiliation
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Location
Mount of Olives, East Jerusalem
CampusSuburban, 5 acres (0.020 km2)
DirectorJames R. Kearl
WebsiteBYU Jerusalem Center

The Brigham Young University Jerusalem Center for Near Eastern Studies (often simply referred to as the BYU Jerusalem Center or BYU–Jerusalem, and locally known as the Mormon University[2][3][4]), situated on Mount of Olives in East Jerusalem, is a satellite campus of Brigham Young University (BYU), the largest religious university in the United States.[5] Owned by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), the center provides a curriculum that focuses on Old and New Testament, ancient and modern Near Eastern studies, and language (Hebrew and Arabic). Classroom study is built around field trips that cover the Holy Land, and the program is open to qualifying full-time undergraduate students at either BYU, BYU-Idaho, or BYU-Hawaii.[6]

Plans to build a center for students were announced by LDS Church president Spencer W. Kimball in 1979. By 1984, the church had obtained a 49-year lease on the land and had begun construction. The center's prominent position on the Jerusalem skyline quickly brought it notice by the Ultra-Orthodox Jews, or Haredim, of Israel. Protests and opposition to the building of the center springing from the Haredim made the issue of building the center a national and even international issue. After several investigative committees of Israel's Knesset reviewed and debated the issue, Israeli officials decided to allow the center's construction to continue in 1986. The center opened to students in May 1988 and was dedicated by Howard W. Hunter on May 16, 1989.[7] It did not admit students from 2001 to 2006 due to security issues during the Second Intifada but continued to provide tours for visitors and weekly concerts.[8]

History

Before the center

The first LDS official to enter Jerusalem was apostle Orson Hyde, who came in 1841 and dedicated the land for the gathering of the people of Israel, the creation of a Jewish state, and the building of an LDS temple at some future time. After his visit, LDS presence in the city was virtually non-existent. By 1971, the city saw enough LDS visitors for the church to lease a building in East Jerusalem for church services. BYU's study abroad program to Jerusalem, which began in 1968, played a key role in the growth of LDS visitors to the area. The LDS presence in the area soon grew too large for the leased space to provide adequate space for worship, so the church began looking into building a center for students.[9][10] In 1972, David B. Galbraith became the director of BYU's program in Jerusalem. He remained in this position until 1987 when the church's First Presidency asked him to organize the BYU Jerusalem Center.[11]

On October 24, 1979, church president Spencer W. Kimball visited Jerusalem to dedicate the Orson Hyde Memorial Gardens, located on the Mount of Olives.[12] The church had donated money to beautify the Jerusalem area, and officials of the Jerusalem government were present at the occasion. It was at this dedication that Kimball announced the church's intent to build a center for BYU students in the city. Negotiations between the church and the Israeli government stretched from 1980 to 1984. The land the church wanted for the center, located at the northwestern margin of Mount Olivet, right next to the valley which separates it from Mount Scopus, had been occupied by Israel since the Six-Day War of 1967 and could not be sold under Israeli law. The church decided to obtain a lease on the land instead. Leasing the land also prevented the politically controversial problem of the church owning a piece of Jerusalem land. Israeli officials saw the building of the center on the land as a way of solidifying control over land whose ownership was ambiguous under international law. By August 1984, the church had the land on a 49-year lease, building permits had been obtained, and construction on the building began.[10][12][13][14][15][16]

Construction and controversy

 
The distinctive multiple-arched BYU Jerusalem Center (top left) amid the buildings of Jerusalem

The 1980s saw not only Mormons, but many Christian groups vying for representation and space in the city.[17][18][19] These groups constantly faced opposition from a strong political minority of Orthodox Jews living in the city. Neither major political party in Israel (the Likud and Labor Parties) could achieve a majority vote in the Knesset without support from the more religious parties. Religious parties used this situation to pass laws in favor of Jewish Orthodoxy in exchange for their support on other issues.[20][21] At the time, the conservative Jews, who made up the "religious right" in Israel, or the Haredim, constituted 27% of the population of Jerusalem, and was decidedly against the building of the BYU Jerusalem Center or any other similar Christian structure. Larger parties faced loss of a majority if they stood opposite on this issue. Many Israeli officials, however, such as the Mayor of Jerusalem at the time, Teddy Kollek, along with others in attendance at the Orson Hyde Memorial Garden dedication, supported the center because of what the church had done for the city. Kollek specifically stated that "the Mormon church's presence in Jerusalem can do a great deal of work in providing the bridge of understanding between the Arab and Jews...because its members look with sympathy and understanding at both sides."[22] The land on which the center was built was then still considered Arab land by many, and many officials saw that its lease would add an image of religious tolerance to their government and increase Israeli control of the land.[10]

Because of its prominent location in the Jerusalem skyline, construction was quickly noticed, and this sparked a major controversy in Israel and in the Jewish world as a whole beginning in 1985. The Haredim led the opposition, their main concern being that the building would be used not as a school, but as a center for Mormon proselyting efforts in Jerusalem. The Haredim warned of a "spiritual holocaust".[23] The LDS Church, they argued, had no local presence in the population of the Jerusalem area and no historical connections to the land.[19] The group spread warnings through letters, newspapers, and television that Mormon missionaries would convert Jews throughout the city, saying that:[10]

"The Mormon organization is one of the most dangerous, and in America they have already struck down many Jews. At the present the Mormons are cautious because of the tremendous opposition their missionary activities would engender, but the moment their new Center is completed, we won’t be able to stop them." -- Kol Ha’Ir[10][24]

and that:

"At the heart of the "emotional" and "bitter" controversy brewing in Jerusalem is whether Christian Zionism, based on Christian eschatological expectations, should function in Israel with the help and active aid of government and municipal authorities, such as the assistance being rendered to the Brigham Young University." -- Inter Mountain Jewish News[10][25]

 
Overlooking the Dome of the Rock from inside the center

Warnings in the media led to street protests and demonstrations. Orthodox Jews marched on City Hall and to the construction site in 1986.[26] Some even gathered at the Western Wall in a public prayer of mourning because of the center.[27] They also gathered at the hotel at which the BYU President was staying at one point, carrying signs saying: "Conversion is Murder!" and "Mormons, stop your mission now".[28][29] Despite the intensity of the Haredi opposition, at no point did the protests become physically violent.[30] In late 1985, the Haredim motioned for a no-confidence vote against the leading Labor Party. Prime Minister Shimon Peres organized a committee of eight, four for the center and four against, to debate the issue and come up with a solution either for or against the center's presence. Another committee was formed to look into the allegation that the money the church had put into Jerusalem was a bribe to gain Mayor Kolleck's support for the center[31] (the committee found the church "Not Guilty"). A subcommittee of the Knesset requested that the LDS Church issue a formal promise not to proselytize Jews. Some Israelis considered this discriminatory, as no other Christian church had been asked to do this in Jerusalem. Church leaders, however, agreed to comply and sent a formally signed statement soon after.[32] Some Jews in the area were still uneasy and doubted the church's intent, believing that religious belief among Mormons would supersede adherence to the law. One protester stated that "converting the sons of Judah, us, is a basic article of their faith. . . . They regard themselves as sons of Joseph and believe there will be no Second Coming for as long as we and they do not fuse."[10][33]

In addition to the promise not to proselyte, BYU began a public relations campaign to inform the public of their intentions for the center as a school and a gathering place for those already of the LDS faith. Ads were purchased in local newspapers, magazines, and on television, and the center had personnel appear on radio talk shows. Government officials in favor of the center also began to speak out, saying that Jerusalem should deny no one a place to worship, Jew, Muslim, or Christian. The Minister for Economic Planning, Gad Yaakobi said that the debate had "already caused considerable damage to Israel",[34] and Former Foreign Minister Abba Eban stated that the "free exercise of conscience and dissent in a democratic society" was at stake.[35] The center also received support in the U.S., as former president Gerald Ford spoke for the center, as well the United Jewish Council of Utah, who wrote a letter stating that "For over one hundred years, the Jewish and LDS communities have coexisted in the Salt Lake Valley in a spirit of true friendship and harmony. It has been our experience that when the leaders of the LDS Church make a commitment of policy, it is a commitment which can be relied upon. The stated commitment of Brigham Young University not to violate the laws of the state of Israel, or its own commitment regarding proselytizing in the state of Israel through the Jerusalem-based Brigham Young facility, is a commitment which we sincerely believe will be honored."[36] The U.S. government also became an intermediary for BYU as 154 members of Congress issued a letter to the Knesset in support of the BYU Jerusalem Center. In 1986, the Knesset approved the completion of the center.[10]

Opening and dedication

Students moved into the center on May 8, 1987. The school remained unfinished, but the dormitory levels had been completed. Students had formerly been housed at Kibbutz Ramat Rachel.[36] In 1988, before the center's dedication, a few Jerusalem locals complained that the arrangement of the windows at night looked like a Christian cross. The center purchased blinds and carefully arranged them over the windows so that no such sign would be seen. Members of the LDS Church do not use the symbol of the cross as other Christian denominations do, due to their focus on the resurrection, rather than the death, of Christ.[10][19]

The center was dedicated on May 16, 1989, by Howard W. Hunter, the president of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.[7] The dedication ceremony was small, as the church decided not to announce it until a month later. The church did not want a large ceremony to cause concern among those in opposition to the center, who may have seen it as a religious gathering. Thomas S. Monson, then a second counselor in the First Presidency of the LDS Church, and Boyd K. Packer, another member of the church's Quorum of the Twelve, were among those in attendance, as well as BYU President Jeffrey R. Holland. Robert C. Taylor, director of the BYU Travel Study program was in attendance and stated in an interview with The Daily Universe that the dedication of the building was centered solely on the educational aspect of the school, as well as for "whatever purposes [the Lord] has in store" in the future. Taylor stated that the church would respect the laws of the land and their commitment not to proselyte.[7]

Center closings

After the onset of the Second Intifada, security for BYU students became increasingly difficult to maintain, and the center closed indefinitely to students in 2000. During the fighting, BYU sources reported that the center's staff remained on location and managed to maintain good relations on both Israeli and Palestinian sides. As negotiations to stop the fighting continued, one proposed settlement had the center placed within the borders of a proposed Palestinian state (this, however, was not the proposal ultimately agreed upon by the two sides).[13] While closed to students, the center remained open for visitors and concerts.[37]

On June 9, 2006, officials announced their intention to reopen the Jerusalem Center for the Fall 2006 semester. However, escalating violence in the area from the 2006 Israel-Lebanon Conflict frustrated these plans and raised new concerns about students' safety in the area. School officials deemed the center would remain closed until the conflict was resolved.[38] During this time, some LDS members in Northern Israel were "voluntarily relocated" into the center, away from border missile strikes.[39] BYU officials announced on October 9, 2006, that the center would be reopening for student academic programs for Winter Semester 2007. The initial program was limited to only 44 students. Currently, over 80 students participate each semester.[40] The center remains open into future academic terms.[41]

Facilities and architecture

 
Building seen from below

The center was designed in partnership with Frank Ferguson of FFKR Architects (Salt Lake City)[42] and by Brazilian-Israeli architect David Resnick,[43] who also designed the nearby campus of the Hebrew University. The center is situated on the western slope of the Mount of Olives, right where it connects to Mount Scopus, overlooking the Kidron Valley and the Old City. The 125,000-square-foot (11,600 m2), eight-level structure is set amid 5 acres (2.0 ha) of gardens. The first five levels provide dormitory and apartment space for up to 170 students, each of these apartments having a patio overlooking the Old City. The sixth level houses a cafeteria, classrooms, computer facilities, and a gymnasium, while administrative and faculty offices are located on the seventh level, along with a 250-seat auditorium. The main entry is on the eighth level, which also contains a recital and special events auditorium with organ, lecture rooms, general and reserve libraries, offices, a domed theater, and a learning resource area.[44] This auditorium is surrounded by glass on three sides, providing views of the city. The organ within it is a Scandinavian-made Marcussen organ. The aforementioned library on the same floor as the auditorium contains 10,000-15,000 volumes focusing largely on the Near East.[30]

The center's design reflects the architecture of the Near East. It is constructed of cast concrete. Hand-carved Jerusalem limestone adorn the building, according to local custom.[30] The use of arches and domes closely models other building of Jerusalem and the gardens throughout the center contain many trees and other plants named in the Bible. The interior contains the arches and cupolas typical of the Near East, and large, windowed pavilions provide wide views of Jerusalem.[9]

Over 400 micropiles were drilled into the Mount to secure the foundation in case of an earthquake. The building also contains, in adherence to Israeli law, bomb shelters capable of holding all faculty, staff, and students in case of emergency.[30]

Research and education

The Jerusalem Center played a role in the research of the Dead Sea Scrolls in cooperation with the Dead Sea Scrolls Foundation of Jerusalem. They developed a comprehensive CD-ROM database of the contents of the Scrolls, enabling researchers worldwide the ability to study them.[45]

The center provides a curriculum that focuses on Old and New Testament, ancient and modern Near Eastern studies, and language (Hebrew and Arabic). Classroom study is built around field trips that cover the Holy Land, and the program is open only to qualifying full-time undergraduate students at either BYU, BYU-Idaho, or BYU-Hawaii.[6]

The center teaches classes in four-month semesters occurring three times per year. Each semester costs $10,815. Students are required to take a small orientation course online before entering the center and are interviewed individually. Application requirements state that students must have attended at least two semesters (including the semester immediately preceding the trip abroad) at BYU, BYU-Hawaii, or BYU-Idaho, have a GPA of at least 2.5, and sign an agreement not to proselytize. Married students are not allowed to attend.[6]

Mission

 
The pipe organ inside the center

Members of the LDS Church believe that Jesus Christ will return in glory in his Second Coming.[46] Howard W. Hunter, who was president of the church's Quorum of the Twelve at the time of the center's construction, pointed out that although there would be no proselytizing from the center, it still served a valuable purpose. One church member quoted him this way: "Elder Hunter said that our mission was not to harvest, probably not even to plant, but to clear away a few more stones."[47] Latter-day Saints often see the center as a way for them to show local Jews what the church is about by example, rather than by proselyting. This is done by the way students and faculty at the center live their lives,[48] as well as through the hiring of both Israeli and Palestinian workers, as an example of what can be done through cooperation.[49] During construction of the center, for example, the church hired as many as 300 workers at one time, with about 60% of them being Arab and the other 40% being Jewish. Similar cooperation continues today.[30]

The center also strives to meet the goals of the BYU Mission statement, "to assist individuals in their quest for perfection and eternal life" as well as in their educational endeavors. The center aims to give students not only an educational experience by experiencing cultures and languages firsthand, but a spiritual experience by taking them to the sites of biblical events and encouraging them to live their lives in a Christian way.[50][51]

References

  1. ^ "How the BYU Jerusalem Center Nearly Caused the Collapse of the Israeli Government". ldsliving.com. 8 May 2017.
  2. ^ . Ministry of Tourism, Government of Israel. Archived from the original on 2015-09-06. Retrieved 2015-08-03.
  3. ^ . Website of Jerusalem Municipality. Archived from the original on 2016-02-09. Retrieved 2015-08-03.
  4. ^ G. Van Dyke, Blair (21 Nov 2013). (PDF). Journal of Media and Religion. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-10-21. Retrieved 2015-08-03. Their sole intention was to block the construction of the Mormon University" (as the Jerusalem Center came to be known by locals).
  5. ^ Naparsteck, Martin. . The Salt Lake Tribune. Archived from the original on December 13, 2007. Retrieved 2008-05-01.
  6. ^ a b c "Jerusalem Center - General Information". Brigham Young University. Retrieved 2013-07-25.
  7. ^ a b c Mccann, Jessica (2005-11-30). "BYU Jerusalem Center dedicated-LDS Church delays news to keep peace". The Daily Universe. Retrieved 2013-07-25.
  8. ^ Shaha, Abigail (2008-04-08). "Students Experience Religion and Culture at the Jerusalem Center". The Daily Universe. Retrieved 2013-07-25.
  9. ^ a b "BYU Jerusalem Center". Encyclopedia of Mormonism. Macmillan Publishing Company. Retrieved 2008-06-06.
  10. ^ a b c d e f g h i Olsen, Daniel H. and Jeanne Kay Guelke. "Spatial transgression and the BYU Jerusalem center controversy." The Professional Geographer. (Nov 2004) 56.4 pp. 503–516.
  11. ^ Galbraith and Van Dyke. "The BYU Jerusalem Center: Reflections of a Modern Pioneer" in The Religious Educator Vol. 9 (2008) no. 1, p. 29ff.
  12. ^ a b "President Kimball Dedicates Orson Hyde Memorial Garden in Jerusalem". Ensign Magazine. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 1979-12-01. Retrieved 2008-06-06.
  13. ^ a b Hadfield, Joseph (2002-04-04). . BYU. Archived from the original on 2008-09-08. Retrieved 2008-06-10.
  14. ^ Benvenisti, M. 1996. City of Stone: The Hidden History of Jerusalem, trans. M. K. Nunn. London: University of California Press. As cited in Olsen and Guelke.
  15. ^ Cohen, S. E. 1993. The Politics of Planting: Israeli-Palestinian Competition for Control of Land in the Jerusalem Periphery. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. As cited in Olsen and Guelke.
  16. ^ Benvenisti, M. 2000. Sacred Landscape: The Buried History of the Holy Land Since 1948. Berkeley: University of California Press. As cited in Olsen and Guelke.
  17. ^ Arieli, Y. S. 2000. Evangelizing the chosen people: Missions to the Jews in America, 1880–2000. Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press. As cited in Olsen and Guelke.
  18. ^ Kark, R., and M. Oren-Nordheim. 2001. Jerusalem and its environs, quarters, neighbourhoods, and villages, 1800–1948. Detroit:Wayne State University Press. As cited in Olsen and Guelke.
  19. ^ a b c Dumper, M. 1997. The politics of Jerusalem since 1967. New York: Columbia University Press. As cited in Olsen and Guelke.
  20. ^ Kna’an, M., ed. 1986. The Israeli yearbook. Vol. 41. Tel Aviv: Israel Yearbook Publications Ltd. As cited in Olsen and Guelke.
  21. ^ Stump, R. 2000. Boundaries of faith: Geographical perspectives on religious fundamentalism. Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield. As cited in Olsen and Guelke.
  22. ^ Foley, Mike (2004-01-06). "Former Jerusalem Center director draws parallels between Arab-Israeli and Book of Mormon conflicts". BYU Hawaii. Retrieved 2008-06-10.
  23. ^ Sittner, A. 1985. Miari blasts Knesset switch to offices of Chief Rabbinate. The Jerusalem Post, 4 June. n.v.:2. As cited in Olsen and Guelke.
  24. ^ Kol Ha’Ir June 8, 1984. As cited in Olsen and Guelke.
  25. ^ Inter Mountain Jewish News January 4, 1985. As cited in Olsen and Guelke.
  26. ^ Golan, P. 1985. Hysteria inside, demos outside. Jerusalem Post, 20 September. As cited in Olsen and Guelke.
  27. ^ Shapiro, H. 1985c. Prayers said against Mormon study centre. Jerusalem Post, 19 July. As cited in Olsen and Guelke.
  28. ^ Friedland, R., and R. Hecht. 1996. To rule Jerusalem. Cambridge U.K.: Cambridge University Press. As cited in Olsen and Guelke.
  29. ^ Watzman, H. M. 1985a. Building for Brigham Young U. in Jerusalem challenged anew. The Chronicle of Higher Education 31 (10): 41. As cited in Olsen and Guelke.
  30. ^ a b c d e Ogden, Kelly. "The Miracle of the Jerusalem Center for Near Eastern Studies". Retrieved 2008-06-11.[permanent dead link]
  31. ^ Shapiro, H. 1985a. Jerusalem Foundation link to Mormons ‘‘ridiculous’’. Jerusalem Post, 20 August. As cited in Olsen and Guelke.
  32. ^ Shapiro, H. 1985b. Mormon: Proselytizers will go home. Jerusalem Post, 7 August. As cited in Olsen and Guelke.
  33. ^ The Economist 1985, 31. As cited in Olsen and Guelke.
  34. ^ Watzman, H. M. 1986. Israeli Cabinet agrees to investigate Brigham Young’s Jerusalem Center. The Chronicle of Higher Education 31 (17): 33–34. As cited in Olsen and Guelke.
  35. ^ Time 1986, 73. As cited in Olsen and Guelke.
  36. ^ a b "News of the Church: BYU's Jerusalem Center Opens". Ensign Magazine. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 1987-06-01. Retrieved 2008-06-10.
  37. ^ Shaha, Abigail (April 8, 2008). . BYU NewsNet. Archived from the original on 2009-09-04. Retrieved 2009-04-01.
  38. ^ . BYU. 2006-01-28. Archived from the original on 2008-09-23. Retrieved 2008-06-06.
  39. ^ Erb, Emilee (July 20, 2006). . BYU NewsNet. Archived from the original on 2009-09-03. Retrieved 2009-04-01.
  40. ^ Preusz, Jared (2007-01-18). . BYU NewsNet. BYU. Archived from the original on 2009-09-04. Retrieved 2008-06-06.
  41. ^ "General Information". BYU Jerusalem Center. BYU Continuing Education. Retrieved 2009-04-01.
  42. ^ "Jerusalem Center for Near East Studies (Jerusalem, Israel)", FFKR.com, retrieved 2013-01-18
  43. ^ Gaunt, LaRene (April 1993), "One Voice", Ensign
  44. ^ "BYU JC homepage". BYU. Retrieved 2008-06-06.
  45. ^ "News of the Church: BYU Projects Aid Dead Sea Scrolls Studies". Ensign Magazine. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 1995-12-01. Retrieved 2008-06-10.
  46. ^ Joseph Smith, Jr. "Tenth Article of Faith". LDS Church. Retrieved 2008-06-14.
  47. ^ Staheli, Ronald (1996-06-18). . BYU Speeches. Archived from the original on 2006-09-01. Retrieved 2008-06-11.
  48. ^ Edgley, Richard C. (2002-11-03). "Becoming You". BYU Speeches. Retrieved 2013-07-25.
  49. ^ Kaye Terry Hanson (2002-12-03). "The Far and the Near". BYU Speeches. Retrieved 2013-07-25.
  50. ^ Faust, James E. (1989-09-24). . BYU Speeches. Archived from the original on 2008-05-01. Retrieved 2008-06-11.
  51. ^ Hafen, Bruce C. (1992-08-25). . BYU Speeches. Archived from the original on 2009-09-03. Retrieved 2008-06-11.

External links

 
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Brigham Young University Jerusalem Center.
  • BYU Jerusalem Center
  • The Dead Sea Scrolls Foundation
  • The Miracle of the Jerusalem Center for Near Eastern Studies - Slideshow of the construction of the center and protests.

May 02, 2024
jerusalem, center, 78667, 24444, 78667, 24444typeprivatesatellite, campus, byuestablishedmay, 1989, years, 1989, religious, affiliationthe, church, jesus, christ, latter, saintslocationmount, olives, east, jerusalemcampussuburban, acres, directorjames, kearlwe. 31 47 12 N 35 14 40 E 31 78667 N 35 24444 E 31 78667 35 24444BYU Jerusalem CenterTypePrivateSatellite campus of BYUEstablishedMay 16 1989 34 years ago 1989 05 16 1 Religious affiliationThe Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day SaintsLocationMount of Olives East JerusalemCampusSuburban 5 acres 0 020 km2 DirectorJames R KearlWebsiteBYU Jerusalem Center The Brigham Young University Jerusalem Center for Near Eastern Studies often simply referred to as the BYU Jerusalem Center or BYU Jerusalem and locally known as the Mormon University 2 3 4 situated on Mount of Olives in East Jerusalem is a satellite campus of Brigham Young University BYU the largest religious university in the United States 5 Owned by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints LDS Church the center provides a curriculum that focuses on Old and New Testament ancient and modern Near Eastern studies and language Hebrew and Arabic Classroom study is built around field trips that cover the Holy Land and the program is open to qualifying full time undergraduate students at either BYU BYU Idaho or BYU Hawaii 6 Plans to build a center for students were announced by LDS Church president Spencer W Kimball in 1979 By 1984 the church had obtained a 49 year lease on the land and had begun construction The center s prominent position on the Jerusalem skyline quickly brought it notice by the Ultra Orthodox Jews or Haredim of Israel Protests and opposition to the building of the center springing from the Haredim made the issue of building the center a national and even international issue After several investigative committees of Israel s Knesset reviewed and debated the issue Israeli officials decided to allow the center s construction to continue in 1986 The center opened to students in May 1988 and was dedicated by Howard W Hunter on May 16 1989 7 It did not admit students from 2001 to 2006 due to security issues during the Second Intifada but continued to provide tours for visitors and weekly concerts 8 Contents 1 History 1 1 Before the center 1 2 Construction and controversy 1 3 Opening and dedication 1 4 Center closings 2 Facilities and architecture 3 Research and education 4 Mission 5 References 6 External linksHistoryBefore the center The first LDS official to enter Jerusalem was apostle Orson Hyde who came in 1841 and dedicated the land for the gathering of the people of Israel the creation of a Jewish state and the building of an LDS temple at some future time After his visit LDS presence in the city was virtually non existent By 1971 the city saw enough LDS visitors for the church to lease a building in East Jerusalem for church services BYU s study abroad program to Jerusalem which began in 1968 played a key role in the growth of LDS visitors to the area The LDS presence in the area soon grew too large for the leased space to provide adequate space for worship so the church began looking into building a center for students 9 10 In 1972 David B Galbraith became the director of BYU s program in Jerusalem He remained in this position until 1987 when the church s First Presidency asked him to organize the BYU Jerusalem Center 11 On October 24 1979 church president Spencer W Kimball visited Jerusalem to dedicate the Orson Hyde Memorial Gardens located on the Mount of Olives 12 The church had donated money to beautify the Jerusalem area and officials of the Jerusalem government were present at the occasion It was at this dedication that Kimball announced the church s intent to build a center for BYU students in the city Negotiations between the church and the Israeli government stretched from 1980 to 1984 The land the church wanted for the center located at the northwestern margin of Mount Olivet right next to the valley which separates it from Mount Scopus had been occupied by Israel since the Six Day War of 1967 and could not be sold under Israeli law The church decided to obtain a lease on the land instead Leasing the land also prevented the politically controversial problem of the church owning a piece of Jerusalem land Israeli officials saw the building of the center on the land as a way of solidifying control over land whose ownership was ambiguous under international law By August 1984 the church had the land on a 49 year lease building permits had been obtained and construction on the building began 10 12 13 14 15 16 Construction and controversy nbsp The distinctive multiple arched BYU Jerusalem Center top left amid the buildings of Jerusalem The 1980s saw not only Mormons but many Christian groups vying for representation and space in the city 17 18 19 These groups constantly faced opposition from a strong political minority of Orthodox Jews living in the city Neither major political party in Israel the Likud and Labor Parties could achieve a majority vote in the Knesset without support from the more religious parties Religious parties used this situation to pass laws in favor of Jewish Orthodoxy in exchange for their support on other issues 20 21 At the time the conservative Jews who made up the religious right in Israel or the Haredim constituted 27 of the population of Jerusalem and was decidedly against the building of the BYU Jerusalem Center or any other similar Christian structure Larger parties faced loss of a majority if they stood opposite on this issue Many Israeli officials however such as the Mayor of Jerusalem at the time Teddy Kollek along with others in attendance at the Orson Hyde Memorial Garden dedication supported the center because of what the church had done for the city Kollek specifically stated that the Mormon church s presence in Jerusalem can do a great deal of work in providing the bridge of understanding between the Arab and Jews because its members look with sympathy and understanding at both sides 22 The land on which the center was built was then still considered Arab land by many and many officials saw that its lease would add an image of religious tolerance to their government and increase Israeli control of the land 10 Because of its prominent location in the Jerusalem skyline construction was quickly noticed and this sparked a major controversy in Israel and in the Jewish world as a whole beginning in 1985 The Haredim led the opposition their main concern being that the building would be used not as a school but as a center for Mormon proselyting efforts in Jerusalem The Haredim warned of a spiritual holocaust 23 The LDS Church they argued had no local presence in the population of the Jerusalem area and no historical connections to the land 19 The group spread warnings through letters newspapers and television that Mormon missionaries would convert Jews throughout the city saying that 10 The Mormon organization is one of the most dangerous and in America they have already struck down many Jews At the present the Mormons are cautious because of the tremendous opposition their missionary activities would engender but the moment their new Center is completed we won t be able to stop them Kol Ha Ir 10 24 and that At the heart of the emotional and bitter controversy brewing in Jerusalem is whether Christian Zionism based on Christian eschatological expectations should function in Israel with the help and active aid of government and municipal authorities such as the assistance being rendered to the Brigham Young University Inter Mountain Jewish News 10 25 nbsp Overlooking the Dome of the Rock from inside the center Warnings in the media led to street protests and demonstrations Orthodox Jews marched on City Hall and to the construction site in 1986 26 Some even gathered at the Western Wall in a public prayer of mourning because of the center 27 They also gathered at the hotel at which the BYU President was staying at one point carrying signs saying Conversion is Murder and Mormons stop your mission now 28 29 Despite the intensity of the Haredi opposition at no point did the protests become physically violent 30 In late 1985 the Haredim motioned for a no confidence vote against the leading Labor Party Prime Minister Shimon Peres organized a committee of eight four for the center and four against to debate the issue and come up with a solution either for or against the center s presence Another committee was formed to look into the allegation that the money the church had put into Jerusalem was a bribe to gain Mayor Kolleck s support for the center 31 the committee found the church Not Guilty A subcommittee of the Knesset requested that the LDS Church issue a formal promise not to proselytize Jews Some Israelis considered this discriminatory as no other Christian church had been asked to do this in Jerusalem Church leaders however agreed to comply and sent a formally signed statement soon after 32 Some Jews in the area were still uneasy and doubted the church s intent believing that religious belief among Mormons would supersede adherence to the law One protester stated that converting the sons of Judah us is a basic article of their faith They regard themselves as sons of Joseph and believe there will be no Second Coming for as long as we and they do not fuse 10 33 In addition to the promise not to proselyte BYU began a public relations campaign to inform the public of their intentions for the center as a school and a gathering place for those already of the LDS faith Ads were purchased in local newspapers magazines and on television and the center had personnel appear on radio talk shows Government officials in favor of the center also began to speak out saying that Jerusalem should deny no one a place to worship Jew Muslim or Christian The Minister for Economic Planning Gad Yaakobi said that the debate had already caused considerable damage to Israel 34 and Former Foreign Minister Abba Eban stated that the free exercise of conscience and dissent in a democratic society was at stake 35 The center also received support in the U S as former president Gerald Ford spoke for the center as well the United Jewish Council of Utah who wrote a letter stating that For over one hundred years the Jewish and LDS communities have coexisted in the Salt Lake Valley in a spirit of true friendship and harmony It has been our experience that when the leaders of the LDS Church make a commitment of policy it is a commitment which can be relied upon The stated commitment of Brigham Young University not to violate the laws of the state of Israel or its own commitment regarding proselytizing in the state of Israel through the Jerusalem based Brigham Young facility is a commitment which we sincerely believe will be honored 36 The U S government also became an intermediary for BYU as 154 members of Congress issued a letter to the Knesset in support of the BYU Jerusalem Center In 1986 the Knesset approved the completion of the center 10 Opening and dedication Students moved into the center on May 8 1987 The school remained unfinished but the dormitory levels had been completed Students had formerly been housed at Kibbutz Ramat Rachel 36 In 1988 before the center s dedication a few Jerusalem locals complained that the arrangement of the windows at night looked like a Christian cross The center purchased blinds and carefully arranged them over the windows so that no such sign would be seen Members of the LDS Church do not use the symbol of the cross as other Christian denominations do due to their focus on the resurrection rather than the death of Christ 10 19 The center was dedicated on May 16 1989 by Howard W Hunter the president of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles 7 The dedication ceremony was small as the church decided not to announce it until a month later The church did not want a large ceremony to cause concern among those in opposition to the center who may have seen it as a religious gathering Thomas S Monson then a second counselor in the First Presidency of the LDS Church and Boyd K Packer another member of the church s Quorum of the Twelve were among those in attendance as well as BYU President Jeffrey R Holland Robert C Taylor director of the BYU Travel Study program was in attendance and stated in an interview with The Daily Universe that the dedication of the building was centered solely on the educational aspect of the school as well as for whatever purposes the Lord has in store in the future Taylor stated that the church would respect the laws of the land and their commitment not to proselyte 7 Center closings After the onset of the Second Intifada security for BYU students became increasingly difficult to maintain and the center closed indefinitely to students in 2000 During the fighting BYU sources reported that the center s staff remained on location and managed to maintain good relations on both Israeli and Palestinian sides As negotiations to stop the fighting continued one proposed settlement had the center placed within the borders of a proposed Palestinian state this however was not the proposal ultimately agreed upon by the two sides 13 While closed to students the center remained open for visitors and concerts 37 On June 9 2006 officials announced their intention to reopen the Jerusalem Center for the Fall 2006 semester However escalating violence in the area from the 2006 Israel Lebanon Conflict frustrated these plans and raised new concerns about students safety in the area School officials deemed the center would remain closed until the conflict was resolved 38 During this time some LDS members in Northern Israel were voluntarily relocated into the center away from border missile strikes 39 BYU officials announced on October 9 2006 that the center would be reopening for student academic programs for Winter Semester 2007 The initial program was limited to only 44 students Currently over 80 students participate each semester 40 The center remains open into future academic terms 41 Facilities and architecture nbsp Building seen from below The center was designed in partnership with Frank Ferguson of FFKR Architects Salt Lake City 42 and by Brazilian Israeli architect David Resnick 43 who also designed the nearby campus of the Hebrew University The center is situated on the western slope of the Mount of Olives right where it connects to Mount Scopus overlooking the Kidron Valley and the Old City The 125 000 square foot 11 600 m2 eight level structure is set amid 5 acres 2 0 ha of gardens The first five levels provide dormitory and apartment space for up to 170 students each of these apartments having a patio overlooking the Old City The sixth level houses a cafeteria classrooms computer facilities and a gymnasium while administrative and faculty offices are located on the seventh level along with a 250 seat auditorium The main entry is on the eighth level which also contains a recital and special events auditorium with organ lecture rooms general and reserve libraries offices a domed theater and a learning resource area 44 This auditorium is surrounded by glass on three sides providing views of the city The organ within it is a Scandinavian made Marcussen organ The aforementioned library on the same floor as the auditorium contains 10 000 15 000 volumes focusing largely on the Near East 30 The center s design reflects the architecture of the Near East It is constructed of cast concrete Hand carved Jerusalem limestone adorn the building according to local custom 30 The use of arches and domes closely models other building of Jerusalem and the gardens throughout the center contain many trees and other plants named in the Bible The interior contains the arches and cupolas typical of the Near East and large windowed pavilions provide wide views of Jerusalem 9 Over 400 micropiles were drilled into the Mount to secure the foundation in case of an earthquake The building also contains in adherence to Israeli law bomb shelters capable of holding all faculty staff and students in case of emergency 30 Research and educationThe Jerusalem Center played a role in the research of the Dead Sea Scrolls in cooperation with the Dead Sea Scrolls Foundation of Jerusalem They developed a comprehensive CD ROM database of the contents of the Scrolls enabling researchers worldwide the ability to study them 45 The center provides a curriculum that focuses on Old and New Testament ancient and modern Near Eastern studies and language Hebrew and Arabic Classroom study is built around field trips that cover the Holy Land and the program is open only to qualifying full time undergraduate students at either BYU BYU Idaho or BYU Hawaii 6 The center teaches classes in four month semesters occurring three times per year Each semester costs 10 815 Students are required to take a small orientation course online before entering the center and are interviewed individually Application requirements state that students must have attended at least two semesters including the semester immediately preceding the trip abroad at BYU BYU Hawaii or BYU Idaho have a GPA of at least 2 5 and sign an agreement not to proselytize Married students are not allowed to attend 6 Mission nbsp The pipe organ inside the center Members of the LDS Church believe that Jesus Christ will return in glory in his Second Coming 46 Howard W Hunter who was president of the church s Quorum of the Twelve at the time of the center s construction pointed out that although there would be no proselytizing from the center it still served a valuable purpose One church member quoted him this way Elder Hunter said that our mission was not to harvest probably not even to plant but to clear away a few more stones 47 Latter day Saints often see the center as a way for them to show local Jews what the church is about by example rather than by proselyting This is done by the way students and faculty at the center live their lives 48 as well as through the hiring of both Israeli and Palestinian workers as an example of what can be done through cooperation 49 During construction of the center for example the church hired as many as 300 workers at one time with about 60 of them being Arab and the other 40 being Jewish Similar cooperation continues today 30 The center also strives to meet the goals of the BYU Mission statement to assist individuals in their quest for perfection and eternal life as well as in their educational endeavors The center aims to give students not only an educational experience by experiencing cultures and languages firsthand but a spiritual experience by taking them to the sites of biblical events and encouraging them to live their lives in a Christian way 50 51 References How the BYU Jerusalem Center Nearly Caused the Collapse of the Israeli Government ldsliving com 8 May 2017 Mormon University Ministry of Tourism Government of Israel Archived from the original on 2015 09 06 Retrieved 2015 08 03 Brigham Young University Mormon University Website of Jerusalem Municipality Archived from the original on 2016 02 09 Retrieved 2015 08 03 G Van Dyke Blair 21 Nov 2013 The Mormon University on the Mount of Olives A Case Study in LDS Public Relations PDF Journal of Media and Religion Archived from the original PDF on 2015 10 21 Retrieved 2015 08 03 Their sole intention was to block the construction of the Mormon University as the Jerusalem Center came to be known by locals Naparsteck Martin The Lord s University The Salt Lake Tribune Archived from the original on December 13 2007 Retrieved 2008 05 01 a b c Jerusalem Center General Information Brigham Young University Retrieved 2013 07 25 a b c Mccann Jessica 2005 11 30 BYU Jerusalem Center dedicated LDS Church delays news to keep peace The Daily Universe Retrieved 2013 07 25 Shaha Abigail 2008 04 08 Students Experience Religion and Culture at the Jerusalem Center The Daily Universe Retrieved 2013 07 25 a b BYU Jerusalem Center Encyclopedia of Mormonism Macmillan Publishing Company Retrieved 2008 06 06 a b c d e f g h i Olsen Daniel H and Jeanne Kay Guelke Spatial transgression and the BYU Jerusalem center controversy The Professional Geographer Nov 2004 56 4 pp 503 516 Galbraith and Van Dyke The BYU Jerusalem Center Reflections of a Modern Pioneer in The Religious Educator Vol 9 2008 no 1 p 29ff a b President Kimball Dedicates Orson Hyde Memorial Garden in Jerusalem Ensign Magazine The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints 1979 12 01 Retrieved 2008 06 06 a b Hadfield Joseph 2002 04 04 Jerusalem Center safe amid conflict BYU Archived from the original on 2008 09 08 Retrieved 2008 06 10 Benvenisti M 1996 City of Stone The Hidden History of Jerusalem trans M K Nunn London University of California Press As cited in Olsen and Guelke Cohen S E 1993 The Politics of Planting Israeli Palestinian Competition for Control of Land in the Jerusalem Periphery Chicago University of Chicago Press As cited in Olsen and Guelke Benvenisti M 2000 Sacred Landscape The Buried History of the Holy Land Since 1948 Berkeley University of California Press As cited in Olsen and Guelke Arieli Y S 2000 Evangelizing the chosen people Missions to the Jews in America 1880 2000 Chapel Hill University of North Carolina Press As cited in Olsen and Guelke Kark R and M Oren Nordheim 2001 Jerusalem and its environs quarters neighbourhoods and villages 1800 1948 Detroit Wayne State University Press As cited in Olsen and Guelke a b c Dumper M 1997 The politics of Jerusalem since 1967 New York Columbia University Press As cited in Olsen and Guelke Kna an M ed 1986 The Israeli yearbook Vol 41 Tel Aviv Israel Yearbook Publications Ltd As cited in Olsen and Guelke Stump R 2000 Boundaries of faith Geographical perspectives on religious fundamentalism Lanham MD Rowman amp Littlefield As cited in Olsen and Guelke Foley Mike 2004 01 06 Former Jerusalem Center director draws parallels between Arab Israeli and Book of Mormon conflicts BYU Hawaii Retrieved 2008 06 10 Sittner A 1985 Miari blasts Knesset switch to offices of Chief Rabbinate The Jerusalem Post 4 June n v 2 As cited in Olsen and Guelke Kol Ha Ir June 8 1984 As cited in Olsen and Guelke Inter Mountain Jewish News January 4 1985 As cited in Olsen and Guelke Golan P 1985 Hysteria inside demos outside Jerusalem Post 20 September As cited in Olsen and Guelke Shapiro H 1985c Prayers said against Mormon study centre Jerusalem Post 19 July As cited in Olsen and Guelke Friedland R and R Hecht 1996 To rule Jerusalem Cambridge U K Cambridge University Press As cited in Olsen and Guelke Watzman H M 1985a Building for Brigham Young U in Jerusalem challenged anew The Chronicle of Higher Education 31 10 41 As cited in Olsen and Guelke a b c d e Ogden Kelly The Miracle of the Jerusalem Center for Near Eastern Studies Retrieved 2008 06 11 permanent dead link Shapiro H 1985a Jerusalem Foundation link to Mormons ridiculous Jerusalem Post 20 August As cited in Olsen and Guelke Shapiro H 1985b Mormon Proselytizers will go home Jerusalem Post 7 August As cited in Olsen and Guelke The Economist 1985 31 As cited in Olsen and Guelke Watzman H M 1986 Israeli Cabinet agrees to investigate Brigham Young s Jerusalem Center The Chronicle of Higher Education 31 17 33 34 As cited in Olsen and Guelke Time 1986 73 As cited in Olsen and Guelke a b News of the Church BYU s Jerusalem Center Opens Ensign Magazine The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints 1987 06 01 Retrieved 2008 06 10 Shaha Abigail April 8 2008 Students Experience Religion and Culture at the Jerusalem Center BYU NewsNet Archived from the original on 2009 09 04 Retrieved 2009 04 01 BYU students will not return to Jerusalem Center this fall BYU 2006 01 28 Archived from the original on 2008 09 23 Retrieved 2008 06 06 Erb Emilee July 20 2006 Jerusalem Center acts as refuge BYU NewsNet Archived from the original on 2009 09 03 Retrieved 2009 04 01 Preusz Jared 2007 01 18 Students Return to Jerusalem BYU NewsNet BYU Archived from the original on 2009 09 04 Retrieved 2008 06 06 General Information BYU Jerusalem Center BYU Continuing Education Retrieved 2009 04 01 Jerusalem Center for Near East Studies Jerusalem Israel FFKR com retrieved 2013 01 18 Gaunt LaRene April 1993 One Voice Ensign BYU JC homepage BYU Retrieved 2008 06 06 News of the Church BYU Projects Aid Dead Sea Scrolls Studies Ensign Magazine The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints 1995 12 01 Retrieved 2008 06 10 Joseph Smith Jr Tenth Article of Faith LDS Church Retrieved 2008 06 14 Staheli Ronald 1996 06 18 The Comprehending Soul Open Minds and Hearts BYU Speeches Archived from the original on 2006 09 01 Retrieved 2008 06 11 Edgley Richard C 2002 11 03 Becoming You BYU Speeches Retrieved 2013 07 25 Kaye Terry Hanson 2002 12 03 The Far and the Near BYU Speeches Retrieved 2013 07 25 Faust James E 1989 09 24 Where Is the Church BYU Speeches Archived from the original on 2008 05 01 Retrieved 2008 06 11 Hafen Bruce C 1992 08 25 The Dream Is Ours to Fulfill BYU Speeches Archived from the original on 2009 09 03 Retrieved 2008 06 11 External links nbsp Latter Day Saint movement portal nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Brigham Young University Jerusalem Center BYU Jerusalem Center The Dead Sea Scrolls Foundation The Miracle of the Jerusalem Center for Near Eastern Studies Slideshow of the construction of the center and protests Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title BYU Jerusalem Center amp oldid 1190907109, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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