WATCH: Playing With History — The Original Jerusalem

Illustration: Jerusalem's Old City, Screenshot (The Original Jerusalem 00:06)

What if we told you the Jerusalem you know today isn't the ancient Jerusalem of the Bible?

When you think of Jerusalem what comes to mind — is it the colorful array of spices and candy on display at Mahane Yehuda? Maybe it’s the animals at the Biblical Zoo, or the notes you put between the stones of the Kotel?

But while you wander the historic streets of Jerusalem, connecting with the historic City of Gold from thousands of years ago, you might be surprised to find out you’ve missed the ancient city.

Most of the Jerusalem that we know today was not part of David and Solomon's ancient city of Jerusalem. Almost 3,000 years ago, King David left Hebron for a small hilltop now known as Jerusalem, establishing it as the kingdom’s capital. King David’s son, Solomon, built the First Temple near the City of David, making it one of the most important sites in the world.

The “Original Jerusalem Challenge,” an initiative of ikonnect, uses an interactive game format to teach and share the history of Jerusalem. Users can earn points and connect with Israel through articles, games, quizzes, polls, and more; click here to learn more.

ikonnect was created by immigrant parents who craved connection with Israel so much that they made the move to the Holy Land. Now, ikonnect acts as a platform to connect anyone, anywhere in the world, with Israel and the authentic Israeli experience by providing incentive for every click, or every "connection" made on ikonnect's site.