In UNDER JERUSALEM: The Buried History of the World’s Most Contested City, acclaimed journalist and author Andrew Lawler delves into the tombs, tunnels, and trenches of the Holy City—a saga of biblical treasures, intrepid explorers, and political upheaval—and brings to life the indelible characters who have investigated this subterranean landscape. Sharing previously unpublished images by National Geographic photographers, Lawler will discuss how the 150-year quest to unearth the city’s biblical history has not only led to remarkable discoveries, but also contributed to riots and bloodshed. And yet while the colorful array of excavators has helped spawn Zionism, create the state of Israel, and ultimately define the conflict over modern Jerusalem, their struggles to control this contested place may also provide a map for two peoples and three faiths to peacefully coexist. This program is funded, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council. This event took place December 8, 2021.