Jerusalem is the holiest place on earth.
In the Bible, King Solomon built a Temple there that survived for over 400 years.
70 years after the destruction of the first Temple, Ezra the prophet and priest was paid by the Emperor of Persia to rebuild the temple so that they would pray for him and his sons.
This story is documented in the book of Ezra in the Bible.
The Emperor of Persia had his own gods.
He had his own idols.
His own prayer services and rituals.
Yet, he wanted Ezra the priest to pray for him and his children.
He wanted this so badly, that he provided money and gold.
He provided many granaries of food - flour, oil and animals.
He gave specific instructions to all the government bureaucrats to provide what was needed without the usual bureaucracy - without the usual paperwork and delays.
He issued an executive order that anybody who delays this process should know that they are delaying the Emperor and his children from getting a blessing for their long life and health.
The Emperor also encouraged ordinary citizens to contribute to this grand effort.
Can you imagine a country that has an idol based religion all paying money to help build the temple of the One GOD in Jerusalem? Believe it or not, that is what happened! The Emperor knew that above all the idols that he believed in - there was One GOD.
That though he believed in his idols and their religion, he knew there was something more powerful and grander.
That is why he wanted the blessing of the One GOD - the blessings of his own religion and priests were not enough for him.
He also knew that the right place for this prayer was at the site of God's Temple in Jerusalem.
Though he could not go himself, he did the next best thing.
He financed the holiest prophet and priest of the One GOD to build God's Temple in Jerusalem and then to pray for him and his children.