Mysterious as it may seem, a 53-year-old Muslim named Adeeb Joudeh holds a very significant key that would enthrall visitors and Christians alike. The key to Jesus' tomb in Jerusalem was passed on to his custody by his father and this has been their family tradition over the centuries.
The archaic key has been with Joudeh for three decades now and he feels privileged taking care of the key despite his different religious views. He has regarded the Church of the Holy Sepulchre as his second home. Considering the fact that he is not a Christian, it is surprising to learn that he feels a divine connection to the church.
Joudeh may be infamous to all, but his family is one of the most popular Muslim clans in Jerusalem from the ancient times up to the present generation. He first knew about the key and the practice of passing the key from father to son when he was eight years old.
Joudeh shared to Reuters, "Honestly, it's a great honor for a Muslim to hold the key to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, which is the most important church in Christendom."
One-foot in length and 250 grams in weight, the iron key is around 500 years old. It has a hole on top of the triangular metal end and a square tip. The very first key, which is about 850 years old, was broken due to wear and tear over the centuries.
Joudeh is not alone in his noble task. He may just be the one handling the key, but another Muslim family is in charge of doorkeeping. This responsibility is given to another famous Muslim family, the Nusseibehs.
The two prominent Muslim families have joyfully shared their respective responsibilities from one generation to another. It is a perfect example of coexistence in a place with conflicting perspectives. This attests that cooperation and respect work in a place where people of different faith live together.
