“Secrets of the ‘Immovable Ladder’: Why This Sturdy Fixture Holds the Key to Jerusalem’s Religious Tensions”
Ever heard of the “immovable ladder” in Jerusalem? No, seriously—there’s actually a ladder that’s been hanging out under the window of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre since 1757, and moving it is more complicated than a game of Jenga played by a bunch of grumpy cats. Imagine this: just one tiny shift of a chair (we’re talking a mere 20 centimeters!) led to a full-on fistfight among church clerics! I mean, who knew furniture could stir up such drama? Now, this ladder is practically a symbol of stubbornness; it can’t budge without the consensus of all six church leaders. It’s like a sacred game of tug-of-war. So, let’s dive into the history behind this quirky piece of Jerusalem’s landscape and explore why some things are just too precious (or contentious) to move!
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In Jerusalem, there is an ‘immovable ladder’ under the window of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Since 1757, it cannot be moved without the agreement of all six church clerics. Once, a chair was moved 20cm, which resulted in a fistfight, so now nobody dares to alter the ladder.