Mizrach · Jerusalem
Which way is mizrach in Jerusalem?
Jerusalem sits about 2 km from the Temple Mount — close enough that a compass bearing stops being useful. Prayer here is oriented to the Mount itself.
Use your phone as the compass
Tap “Use live compass” and turn until the arrow points straight up. It starts from Jerusalem and switches to your exact position if you allow location access.
62° ENE
Direction to the Temple Mount, Jerusalem from Jerusalem · 2 km / 1 mi
If the live compass isn’t available, hold a magnetic compass and face 62° (ENE).
Questions
Which way is mizrach in Jerusalem?
Jerusalem is essentially at the Temple Mount — about 2 km from it — so there is no meaningful compass bearing to follow. Prayer is oriented toward the Mount itself, which in practice means facing it directly rather than reading a direction off a compass.
Do you still face east in Jerusalem?
No. "Mizrach" means east because most of the Jewish world lies west of Israel and therefore faces east toward it. Inside Jerusalem the reference point is the Temple Mount, so the direction depends on which side of it you are standing.
Why do synagogues sometimes face plain east?
Many communities orient the mizrach wall to approximate east rather than to an exact great-circle bearing, and practice varies. The figure above is the geometric direction to the Temple Mount; follow your community’s custom.