Dateline Jerusalem — “Ani ohevet et Yerushalayim” is how a woman says “I love Jerusalem.” Israel celebrated Jerusalem Day (Yom Yerushalayim) this week. This national holiday commemorates the relationship the Jewish people have with Jerusalem, from the beginning of its history. It also celebrates the reunification of Jerusalem after the Six-Day War of 1967.  Just as our miraculous world was created in six days, and on the seventh G-d rested, Israel’s winning of the war in only six days was another miracle from G-d. Then He rested.

Jerusalem is known as the “heart of the Jewish people,” its eternal capital.  Every Passover seder around the world ends with the words “Next year in Jerusalem.”  For more than 3,000 years, Jews have been a  continuous presence, living in Jerusalem. This was an undivided city, with Jews praying at the Kotel, also known as the Western Wall or Wailing Wall, the only surviving remnant of the Second Holy Temple, destroyed 2,000 years ago.  The Kotel is on the western side of the Temple Mount where both the Holy Temple (built by King Solomon, destroyed by the Babylonians) and the Second Holy Temple (erected 70 years later, destroyed by the Romans) stood for 1,000 years.  The Wall consists of 45 layers of Jerusalem limestone, 28 above ground, 17. 

For the 19 years between 1948 and 1967, Jordan took control of the area, denying Jews the right to pray at Judaism's holiest place. For the first time in Jerusalem's history, the city was divided. “East Jerusalem” was created. Until that time, there was no such thing as “East Jerusalem.” Israel liberated Jerusalem in 1967. Under Israeli control, all religions have the right to worship in Jerusalem. Isn’t it interesting  that while Jews throughout the world pray in the direction of Jerusalem, Muslims pray in the direction of Mecca, their backs to Jerusalem? 

Yom Yerushalayim festivities and ceremonies are held throughout Israel.  In Jerusalem, the main ceremony is at Ammunition Hill, where one of the deadliest fights of the Six-Day War occur red.  The battle for Jerusalem began when the Jordanians opened fire against Israel along the cease-fire line established after the War of Independence in 1948. Another major event is a flag dance procession from the Knesset (Israel's legislature) to the Kotel.

May Jerusalem, the eternal capital of the Jewish people, remain the capital of the State of Israel.  May Jerusalem never be divided again.

L'hitraot. Shachar