In the midst of the warfare and turmoil that we are currently coping with, it is important not to neglect this day: Yom Yerushalayim, which marks the reunification of Jerusalem in June 1967.
The eastern part of Jerusalem – including the Old City and the Temple Mount – had been captured by Jordan in 1948, the only time in her long history that Jerusalem was divided. Jordan’s King Hussein, when signing the Armistice agreement at the end of the war, pledged to allow Jews to visit their holy places, but he broke that pledge and Jews were not allowed in the Old City for 19 years. What is more, Hussein destroyed over 50 synagogues and utilized gravestones for building and as latrines (more on this below).
But then, in a stunning operation, we reunited her on the third day of the Six Day War.
She is ours and will never be divided again.
There is no such thing as “East Jerusalem” as a separate entity, there is only the eastern part of a united Jerusalem. Eastern Jerusalem has been considered “Arab Jerusalem” (although this is today much less the case) because for 19 years no Jews were allowed to live there.
Do not miss the video of the miraculous battle to take eastern Jerusalem, narrated by Rabbi Doron Perez, Chair of World Mizrachi, “When Heaven Altered the Course of History.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6wlPw3NUeb0
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This is the city that King David chose as his capital over 3,000 years ago, because it was to be shared by all of the tribes and didn’t fall in the purview of any one particular tribe.
Its religious import cannot be exaggerated. It was here that David’s son, King Solomon, built the first Temple and here that the Second Temple was subsequently built. When King Herod enlarged the Second Temple, he first expanded the Mount on which it was to stand. This is the Temple Mount (Har Habayit) that we know today. The Kotel is a remnant of the retaining wall from that enlarged Mount. It is not a wall of the Temple itself, which stood on the Mount.
Considerable evidence exists for the fact that the Temples stood on the Mount.
There is substantial evidence in numerous historical sources that witnessed them and there is archeological evidence.
One example among many: “The Beit Hatekia Inscription – Archaeologist Prof. Benjamin Mazar in 1972 found this Hebrew inscription which had fallen from the south-western corner of the Temple Mount and was found in the rubble being excavated by archaeologists excavating nearby. The stone carries the inscription “lebeit hatekia lehakhriz” which means “to the house of the blowing of the trumpet to announce.” Jewish historians and rabbinical sources described the custom of blowing the trumpets from the Temple Mount in order to announce the time of the sabbath and sacred holy days.”
See a great deal more here: https://tmsifting.org/en/2016/10/14/archaeological-proof-of-the-jewish-temples-on-the-temple-mount/
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But there is also a huge political import to the Temple Mount. The Arabs know: who controls Jerusalem, and most especially the Temple Mount, controls Israel. Thus do they make their claims to this holy place and do they charge Israel with “desecrating” the Mount.
Motta Gur, IDF Chief of Staff during the Six-Day War, may have cried “Har HaBayit B’Yadenu” – the Temple Mount is in our hands, bringing many to tears. But that was not truly the case to a large degree for a very long time. Israel acceded day-to-day control of the Mount to the Muslim Waqf, and Jewish prayer was not permitted so as to not “disturb” the Arabs and foment violence.
I am delighted to report that the situation is shifting. Today larger numbers of Jews are visiting the Mount and there is quiet but open Jewish prayer. May this practice continue and expand.
There have been Arab protests, but the Arab world has not gone crazy over this. It has been a matter of claiming our rights and showing strength, long overdue.
I give considerable credit to Itamar Ben Gvir, Minister of National Security, who has spoken out about Jewish rights on the Mount. He was up on Har Habayit today. The Jordanian Foreign Ministry accused him of “storming al-Aqsa Mosque…along with a large group of extremist settlers.”
Amazing, never saw anyone “storming” while strolling slowly. Note that the Arabs refer to the entire Mount as “Al-Aqsa Mosque.”
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I share here a podcast with Josh Hasten of JNS interviewing Jeff Daube, Israel Chair of the International Committee for Har HaZeitim – the Mount of Olives, which is both strategically and spiritually significant. At 3,000 years old, this is the oldest Jewish cemetery in the world, still in use today.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f5yy-uh1VUg
Most appropriate for Yom Yerushalayim.
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At the beginning of the day an enormous Israeli flag was unfurled in the courtyard of the Kotel to singing.
Rejoice, rejoice in our holy city.
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Still a great favorite: Yerushalayim Shel Zahav, Jerusalem of Gold, written by Naomi Shemer in 1951. Sung by the magnificent Ofra Haza, z”l, it includes English subtitles and gorgeous pictures.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JH8gtdDA5x0
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I have been having technical problems with the email that is associated with these posting. I hope the problems can be fixed within a couple of days. But please understand if I do not respond promptly to queries – right now I cannot access the emails.
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I ask for prayers for Israel’s wellbeing.
Pray for the wisdom and courage of our leaders.
Pray for the safety of our brave troops.
Pray that the hostages will be brought home.
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©Arlene Kushner. This material is produced by independent journalist Arlene Kushner. Permission is granted for it to be reproduced only with proper attribution.
