A web design thought experiment with heart
If you had to design a homepage for Yerushalayim at its peak — before the destruction — what would it look like?
No, really. Think about it like a designer.
What would be above the fold?
What fonts would reflect its energy?
Would you lead with imagery of the Beis Hamikdash, or faces of the people who lived there?
This isn’t just a cute prompt. It’s a real challenge in intentional design — to imagine a space so rich in meaning and beauty, and ask yourself how you would honor it through design.
Here are a few ways to explore this idea:
1. Design the homepage
Sketch or wireframe a basic layout. Think about:
- What’s the main headline?
- What sections are featured?
- What’s the tone of the colors, layout, typography?
2. Choose your “clients”
Would you build for visitors coming for aliyah l’regel?
Locals going about their week?
Kohanim preparing offerings?
Different users = different journeys.
This is classic UX — just more eternal.
3. Create a style guide
Choose a color palette, typography set, and icon system that reflects the values of Yerushalayim in its glory. Is it gold and stone? Soft linen? Structured serif fonts or handwritten psukim?
This exercise is a great way to practice brand thinking with soul.
4. Reflect through design
As you sketch or build, ask:
What made Yerushalayim beautiful beyond its architecture?
How do you design for something spiritual, not commercial?
And what does “above the fold” mean for a place that reached so high?
This week, as we sit with what’s been lost, try building a glimpse of what once was.
Even if it’s only for yourself. Even if it’s only in your sketchbook.
Because design isn’t just for products, it’s for memory. For meaning. And maybe even for rebuilding
