according to jewish tradition, jerusalem is where god told the patriarch abraham to sacrifice his son, isaac, to him. the jews built the temple, the centre of jewish worship in ancient times, at the site of abraham's sacrifice on the temple mount in the old city. two buildings, one after the other, the first temple and the second temple, stood at the site. the first temple housed the ark of the covenant, a sacred box holding the tablets inscribed with the ten commandments.