In rabbinic literature
Jerusalem or Mount Zion continues to be acknowledged as the center or navel of the earth in literature subsequent to Matthew. The Matthean phrase “heart of the earth” (12:40) may therefore be a singular occurrence of the theme in a tradition stretching from antiquity to medieval times.
In the Talmud, the theme of Jerusalem as the navel of the earthappears in midrashic explanation of courtroom seating arrangements:
From where do we derive this law that the members of the Sanhedrin must sit in a semicircle? Rabbi Aḥa bar Hanina Said: It is derived from the verse that says (Song of Songs 7:3) “Your navel is like a round goblet, that never lacks blended wine; your belly is like a heap of wheat set about with lillies.” The words, “your navel” (שׁררך) refer to the Sanhedrin. Why is the Sanhedrin called “your navel”? Because it is seated in the Temple of Jerusalem, which is at the center of the world” (בטיבורו שׁל עולם) (b. Sanh 37A). 11The parenthetical inserts are mine. Adapted from Steinsaltz, trans,1998, p. 65. The rabbinic texts in this section were identified by Talmon,1977, pp. 249-50. Again, I acknowledge Charlesworth, 1985, p. 720 note i., for his mention of Talmon.
The theme reappears in the Adolph Jellinek (1853-77, Vol.5, p. 63) midrashic collection:
‘In wisdom God founded the earth…’ The Holy One blessed be he created the world like the infant of a woman. In the beginning the infant develops from the navel and extends from there. What is the earth’s navel? This is Jerusalem and its central point is the altar. And why was it called the foundation stone? Because from it the entire world was established” (BHMidr 5.63).
In the Solomon Buber recension of the Midrash Tanḥuma (adapted from Townsend, 1997, pp. 309-10) even the land of Israel itself sits at the navel or center of the world:
Just as a navel is set in the middle of a person, so the land of Israel is the navel of the world. Thus it is stated (in Ezek 38:12): who dwell on the navel of the Earth. The land of Israel sits at the center of the world, Jerusalem is in the center of the land of Israel; the sanctuary is in the center of Jerusalem; the Temple building is in the center of the sanctuary; the ark is in the center of the Temple building; and the foundation stone, out of which the world was founded, is before the Temple building (Tanh.. Lev 19:23).