Dateline Jerusalem — Yom Yerushalayim…Jerusalem Day.
Jerusalem has been known as the “heart of the Jewish people.” No city is holier to Jews.
Jews pray in the direction of Jerusalem while Muslims and Arabs pray with their backs to Jerusalem.
For Muslims, Jerusalem is their third holiest city. It ranks behind Mecca and Medina, and it is not even mentioned in the Koran.
This week Israelis celebrated 50 years since the liberation and reunification of Jerusalem, the eternal capital of the Jewish people established by King David in 1000 BCE.
Jews have continuously lived in Jerusalem for over 3000 years. The only time Jerusalem was divided was during a short 19-year period.
From 1948 to 1967, Jews forcibly were expelled. Jordan took control of the area, denying Jews the right to pray at Judaism’s holiest sites.
It was the first time in Jerusalem’s history that the city was divided. “East Jerusalem” was created.
Even when the Holy Temple was destroyed and other nations and religions conquered Jerusalem, the city remained unified. Finally in 1967, Israel liberated Jerusalem. All religions have had the right to worship there ever since.
Shall We Celebrate?
Yom Yerushalayim is a national holiday commemorating the relationship between the Jewish people and Jerusalem.
It also honors the recapture and reunification of Jerusalem after the Six- Day War in 1967.
Just as our miraculous world was created in only six days and G-d rested on the seventh, Israel’s winning of the war in only six days was another miracle from G-d. Then He rested.
It is said that the Shechinah, G-d’s presence, rests on the Kotel, also known as the Wailing Wall and the Western Wall.
It is the only remnant of the Holy Temple built by King Solomon, son of King David. The battle for Jerusalem began when the Jordanians opened fire against Israel. During those six days, a severely outnumbered Jewish people were able to overcome their Arab oppressors and liberate Jerusalem.
Under Arab control, Jews were forbidden to pray at the Kotel. The Kotel is considered to be the closest wall to the former Holy Temple, which makes it the most sacred site in Judaism other than the Temple Mount itself.
Other religions also were forbidden to pray at their holy sites. Not only were the Jews banished from their neighborhoods, but Jewish holy sites were destroyed. The Arabs used the Cave of Shimon HaTzadik (Simon the Just), where King David originally built Jerusalem, as a stable for horses.
They also destroyed 38,000 Jewish graves in the ancient Jewish cemetery Mount of Olives, using the tombstones to pave roads and to serve as latrines for Arab soldiers!
Since archaeology, historical accounts and documents prove the continuous connection of Jews to Jerusalem, the Palestinians and Arabs have resorted to obliteration of ancient artifacts, holy sites and synagogues to de-legitimize Israel.
Not only do Jerusalemites celebrate the unification of the City of Jerusalem, but all of Israel rejoices. There is dancing in the streets, parades, ceremonies, flag waving and marches.
A ceremony is held at Ammunition Hill, where one of the most deadly fights in the battle over the city occurred. There is a flag dance procession from the Knesset to the Kotel.
This is a day of freedom for all.
The national anthem, HaTikvah, which means “the hope,” is played.
The Jewish people have been kept alive by “the hope” of “next year in Jerusalem.”
These words are said at every Passover Seder around the world.
Israelis hope Jerusalem will remain the undivided capital of Israel, and that the State of Israel will be undivided and contiguous as well.
If the Palestinians were to be granted a contiguous state between Judah and Samaria (West Bank) and Gaza, there would be no contiguous State of Israel.
Israel would be a country cut in half and indefensible. May Jerusalem never be divided again.
“Ani ohevet et Yerushalayim.”
That is how a woman says “I love Jerusalem.”
Am Yisroel Chai — the Jewish people live.
L’hitraot. Shachar