THE HOLY LAND
Next Year in JERUSALEM
|
Jerusalem ( Yerushalayim )- where history lives TEN MEASURES OF BEAUTY GAVE GOD TO THE WORLD: NINE TO JERUSALEM AND ONE TO THE REMAINDER TEN MEASURES OF SORROW GAVE GOD TO THE WORLD: NINE TO JERUSALEM AND ONE TO THE REMAINDER The Talmud As they says, Tel Aviv plays,Jerusalem prays and Haifa pays. Another says Tel Avi dances, Jerusalem reflects and Haifa stands in beauty “Close your eyes and imagine that everything you now wish for can come true if you really, really try” Jerusalem is founded over 3,000 years ago, and is holy to Judaism, Islam, and Christianity. The historical heart of the capital of Israel - Jerusalem – is the Old City- the place of living history. Only 7 of the 11 Gates are open, and the narrow streets and suqs ( marketplaces) is full of life and bustling crowds. By Jaffa Gate, we can follow ancient footpaths to Western Wall- which has other names- Wailing Wall or The Kotel- the last remnant of the support wall constructed around 19 BC as part of the renovation by Herod the Great. This is the closest connection to Hashem ( Hebrew for God) It has been a site of pilgrimage and prayer since the 4th century. More than a musty place of rocks and dust, this limestone structure is alive unlike other relics. The best time to experience the wall and what it means to the faithful is Friday at sunset, the beginning of the Jewish Sabbath, where it transform into a mix of the penitent engrossed in prayer and jubilant crowds who dance and sing the night away as they celebrate the start of the Jewish holy day. It is this personal connection with the millions who did exactly the same thing over the generations- writing notes and placing them in the cracks. Jerusalem has no natural resources, no power, no harbour- sea port, not in a strategic trade route, no fresh water. It exists for only 1 reason – the passion and significance begins with the bible when God choose this place to put His name. Jerusalem is the spiritual heart of Israel ‘s capital. Also the most political and religious city of the world. It is at the heart of Israel-Palestine-Arab equation. Its history goes back over 4 millennia. Through the years, it has been the object of veneration and rivalry- fought over by the great empires of its times. A walled enclave – the old city occupying just a sqmile on eastern side within the old borders. It is home to some of the holiest sites of the world’s 3 major Abrahamic religions- Jewish, Muslims and Christians. The Holy City is home to the most venerated and sacred places. At the center of it all is the Temple Mount – a 35 A hilltop platform – the location of the biblical First Temple ( Temple of Solomon) from 1000 BCE until destruction by Bablyonians in 586 BCE. The Second Temple stood from 515 BCE until Romans destroyed it in 70 CE. The Temple Mount is out of bound for organised Jewish prayers- Jews pray at a retaining wall from the Second Temple located adjacent and below the Temple Mount.For Jewish, Western Wall/ Wailing walls – the last remnant of the Second Temple- closest you can get to the Holy of Holies relic of the Temple. Temple Mount as Haram Al Sharif/ Noble Santuary is the 3rd holiest site for Muslims - 3rd most hallowed location in Islam ( after Mecca and Medina) - with 2 shrines – Dome of the Rock and Al Aqsa Mosque. Dome of the Rock –– the very spot that Prophet Mohammed made his ascent to heaven. For Christians, in the Christian Quarters, the Church of Holy Sepulchre –build by Roman Emperor Constantine, held to be location of the crucifixion and tomb of Jesus. Salem – means peace and Jeru – comes from Jebusites. 2nd Samuel 5:9-11. David purchase the threshing floor from JebusitesAraunah on the adjacent Mt Moriah.. Through history there were attempts to negotiate peace by dividing Jesusalem up such as Camp David legacy under Clinton under Barak. Temple denail were destroyed by archeological findings. Sharon and Bush took over and maintain Jersusalem for Israel. Jerusalem is mention over 700 times as the Holy City. Situated within Benjamin territory , along the boundary separating the lands of tribes of Benjamin and Judah. Deut 3:25 Jerusalem was “ the godly mountain” that Moses saw across the Jordan river of the Promised Land. For 3 millennia, Jerusalem remained central to Jews’ aspirations and national unity. It was inhabited by Jebusites and Hittite..etc. Temple Mount is on Mount Moriah is where Abraham was tested and where Jacob dreamt of ladder to heavens (Gen 28:11).Judean tombs found wordings – dwelling place of Yah, YHWH – House of God. Jerusalem was home to divine presence. Pilgrims from world over comes on Yom Kippur / day of Atonement where the nation’s sins are forgiven, main festivals in the year - Pesach ( Passover), Shavuot (Pentecost) and Succot ( Feast of Tabenacles) HISTORY OF JERUSALEM Bliblical verses on Jerusalem Zech 12:2-3- a cup of trembling and a burdensome stone 2 Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round about, when they shall be in the siege both against Judah and against Jerusalem. 3 And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it. Luke 21:24- 1st after Babylonian captivity, 1914 2nd after Theodore Herzl, until 14 may 1948 restoration of Jewish homeland- gathering back 24 And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled. Ezekiel 36:19-24- bring you back to your land 19 And I scattered them among the heathen, and they were dispersed through the countries: according to their way and according to their doings I judged them. 20 And when they entered unto the heathen, whither they went, they profaned my holy name, when they said to them, These are the people of the Lord, and are gone forth out of his land. 21 But I had pity for mine holy name, which the house of Israel had profaned among the heathen, whither they went. 22 Therefore say unto the house of Israel, thus saith the Lord God; I do not this for your sakes, O house of Israel, but for mine holy name's sake, which ye have profaned among the heathen, whither ye went. 23 And I will sanctify my great name, which was profaned among the heathen, which ye have profaned in the midst of them; and the heathen shall know that I am the Lord, saith the Lord God, when I shall be sanctified in you before their eyes. 24 For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land. Psalms 122:6- pray for peace 6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee. Psalms 137:5-6- Never forget Jerusalem 5 If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget her cunning. 6 If I do not remember thee, let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth; if I prefer not Jerusalem above my chief joy. Daniel 9:7 7 O Lord, righteousness belongeth unto thee, but unto us confusion of faces, as at this day; to the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and unto all Israel, that are near, and that are far off, through all the countries whither thou hast driven them, because of their trespass that they have trespassed against thee. Zech 12:9 9 And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem. Ezekiel 38:16-23 16 And thou shalt come up against my people of Israel, as a cloud to cover the land; it shall be in the latter days, and I will bring thee against my land, that the heathen may know me, when I shall be sanctified in thee, O Gog, before their eyes. 17 Thus saith the Lord God; Art thou he of whom I have spoken in old time by my servants the prophets of Israel, which prophesied in those days many years that I would bring thee against them? 18 And it shall come to pass at the same time when Gog shall come against the land of Israel, saith the Lord God, that my fury shall come up in my face. 19 For in my jealousy and in the fire of my wrath have I spoken, Surely in that day there shall be a great shaking in the land of Israel; 20 So that the fishes of the sea, and the fowls of the heaven, and the beasts of the field, and all creeping things that creep upon the earth, and all the men that are upon the face of the earth, shall shake at my presence, and the mountains shall be thrown down, and the steep places shall fall, and every wall shall fall to the ground. 21 And I will call for a sword against him throughout all my mountains, saith the Lord God: every man's sword shall be against his brother. 22 And I will plead against him with pestilence and with blood; and I will rain upon him, and upon his bands, and upon the many people that are with him, an overflowing rain, and great hailstones, fire, and brimstone. 23 Thus will I magnify myself, and sanctify myself; and I will be known in the eyes of many nations, and they shall know that I am the Lord. Jerusalem in Psalms Psalms 51:20 Psalms 102:21-22
122:6-9 6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: 125:1-2 A song of ascents.1 Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, 128:5 5 May the Lord bless you from Zion; 135:21 21 Praise be to the Lord from Zion, 137:5-6 Jerusalem’s Restoration We are promised that Jerusalem will be united and restored to her former glory: “ People of Zion, who live in Jerusalem, you will weep no more” Jerusalem in Prayers So important is Jerusalem to the Jewish people, that it has its own blessing in the “ Amidah” prayer, said three times every weekday facing Jerusalem. Isaiah 30:19 19 People of Zion, who live in Jerusalem, you will weep no more. How gracious he will be when you cry for help! As soon as he hears, he will answer you. Jewish Jerusalem In Yaaleh V’yavoh on holy days “ May theer rise before you our remembrance and consideration, the remembrance of our forefathers, the remembrance of the Messiah.. and rthe remmenbrance of Jerualem, your Holy City.” In Birkat Hamazon ( grace after meals) one of the four blessings is dedicated to Jerusalem. May you build up Jerusalem, the holy city, speedily in our lifetimes. Blessed are you, the Lord, Who in His mercy builds up Jerusalem Amen. Joy of Jerusalem 2nd Chronicles 30:26 26 There was great joy in Jerusalem, for since the days of Solomon son of David king of Israel there had been nothing like this in Jerusalem. 27 The priests and the Levites stood to bless the people, and God heard them, for their prayer reached heaven, his holy dwelling place. Nehemiah 12:27 Dedication of the Wall of Jerusalem 27 At the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem, the Levites were sought out from where they lived and were brought to Jerusalem to celebrate joyfully the dedication with songs of thanksgiving and with the music of cymbals, harps and lyres.
Nehemiah 12:43 43 And on that day they offered great sacrifices, rejoicing because God had given them great joy. The women and children also rejoiced. The sound of rejoicing in Jerusalem could be heard far away. Following the destruction of the 1st Temple and exile
Lamentations 1:7 7 In the days of her affliction and wandering
We want our Jerusalem back November 11, 2014, 9:17 am
Hanan Rubin Hanan Rubin is a member of the Jerusalem city council. He holds the portfolio for young adults, families and students To this day, I find myself rattled at the sound of sirens. Then I count them off. Three sirens tell me everything I need to know. A quick glance at the news websites, the requisite call from Mom or my wife, the endless stream of Whatsapp messages – and then we’re back to normal, supposedly. Inevitably, memories of the Second Intifada come to mind. They were never truly gone anyway; every Jerusalemite, myself included, carries them in his or her heart. Riding the bus, walking through city center or the market – our eyes still instinctively seek out the man with the oversized backpack, or the one wearing an overcoat in the midst of summer. Everything reminds us of that which we could never forget: the feeling of sheer terror, the youth we lost, the “routine” we’ve managed to impossibly get used to, this abnormality that became quite normal. Not only did we lose our dearest: friends, acquaintances, relatives. We also lost ourselves in the fright and insecurity. There was no one who didn’t know someone, who knew someone, who joined the terrible circle of grief. Jerusalem, home to some of the bloodiest attacks of the time, was scarred, more so than any other city in Israel. From the ashes of mental and financial duress, and through tenacity and hard work, we were able to slowly rebuild that which was shattered. Piece by piece, step by step, ten years later we were on our feet again. Today, Jerusalem is vibrant and attractive, drawing thousands of newcomers to its top-notch higher education institutions. Two weeks ago, the academic year was inaugurated, and more than 40,000 new students took their first classes. The cultural sphere is blooming, with a variety of events taking place around the city on any given day. Millions of tourists flood the city every year. Mahane Yehuda Market has become the number one site for culinary experience in Israel. The Jewish Quarter and the rest of the Old City, the renovated Jaffa and Mamila Streets, all of these are a perfect example of the trademark Jerusalem blend – progress and modernity living alongside history and heritage. Leena, featuring the very best hummus in the country; The 12,000-seat Jerusalem Arena, a world-class multipurpose stadium inaugurated just a couple of months ago; The Formula One Race and Road Show, held just last month. These are evidence that Jerusalem is now a player on the international sports scene. Yet it is this very same Jerusalem that’s been on the news these past few months. Civilians deliberately run over, rock throwing, arson, Molotov cocktails, and other instances of physical and verbal confrontations between Jews and Arabs have been plaguing the city on a daily basis. This escalation has also seeped into the public discourse, on social networks and on the city streets. Recent events have threatened to tear apart the delicate fabric of relations between East and West Jerusalem, and locals are struggling to maintain a sense of security. As public representatives, we have called for peace and quiet to return wherever we’ve gone. We have tried to alert the authorities and the public to the growing threat and to the fear we now experience under this sordid reality. We have urged the government to step in and give additional authority to the police. We have demanded stronger enforcement, alongside real efforts to promote genuine dialogue among leaders and ordinary people. We have cried out for sanity to return to Jerusalem. But Jerusalem has an entirely different problem. The government of Israel is quite comfortable seeing Jerusalem as a symbol, a nearly metaphysical object. Our politicians can announce constructions and demolitions and tag along on tours or ceremonies. But they stop short of recognizing our Jerusalem, the Jerusalem of our daily lives, where we live, work, raise children and go out. Perhaps they’ve grown numb to the plight of ordinary Jerusalemites; perhaps it would take an outside perspective to convince them something needs to be done. Yes, Jerusalem is and will remain the subject of much debate and friction on the national and international fronts; that which begins in Jerusalem does not stay confined within city limits for long. But if the entire world, Israel included, knows how to use our city for political purposes when it wants to, then it had better also know how to help it run its life. Statements about construction or demolition cannot suffice in developing our city; we need educational programs to teach our youth about how to grow up in a mixed city, significant improvements in infrastructure, stronger law enforcement and support for moderate, meaningful dialogue. This time, we don’t want to go at it alone. The scars of the Second Intifada have barely healed, and we refuse to go back to those dark days. We want to be the last generation to have the word Intifada in its vocabulary, the last generation to experience hatred and violence on such a scale. We want a different reality, and we want our city to be treated as a real place, with all its complexities. We want our voice, and the voices of our friends all over the world, to be heard: We want our Jerusalem back. Hanan Rubin (32) is a member of Jerusalem city council & the holder of the portfolio for young adults, families & students
|
