by Eliana Benador
“If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget her cunning. If I do not remember you, let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth; if I do not set Jerusalem above my highest joy.” King David: Psalm 137
The Old City of Jerusalem and the Temple Mount were liberated during the 1967 Six-Day War.The day is marked by Jews worldwide as “Jerusalem Day.” Jerusalem belongs exclusively to the Jews.
I remember the first time I visited many years ago, I fell in love with Jerusalem, I enjoyed touching the Stones of Jerusalem, I knew I was touching the History of our people and, regardless of whimsical opinions, our History has made the History of the world…
“Jerusalem is for Israel the focal point of Jewish History: the symbol of ancient glory, of longing, of prayer, of modern renewal.” — Abba Eban
Jerusalem just as Israel were words pronounced by G-d himself for the first time ever. And, those who want to contend this, they can feel free to show us where are those two words, Jerusalem and Israel mentioned before the Torah.
The Tallmud says Jerusalem was named by G-d and the name is formed of two roots: Yira means “to see” or “vision” and and shalayim comes from the word-root shalom which means “peace.”
The Talmud also says that the creation began in Jerusalem and from there, the world radiated. As a matter of fact, medieval maps show Jerusalem at the epicenter of Asia, Europe and Africa. The world flows into this spot and life itself resonates from there.
As Abraham said, Jerusalem is the place where one can see G-d. It was also the place of Abraham’s sacrifice of Isaac.
In the year 1004, before the common era, the G-d loving, fierce Jewish warrior, King David establishes Jerusalem as the Capital of the United Kingdom of Israel.
His successor and son, King Solomon, in 960, builds the Temple on the site designated by his father. However, in 922, the Kingdom was divided between north (Israel) and south (Judah) with Jerusalem as capital of the southern kingdom. In 586, Nebuchednazzar, King of Babylon captured and destroyed Jerusalem including the First Temple, and exiles the Jews to Babylon. Entre 536-537, exile in Babylon ends and the Jews began their way back home led by Ezra and Nehemia. During the reign of Darius in Persia, Jerusalem is restored and they dedicated the Second Temple. Antiochus Epiphanes, King of Syria, plunders Jerusalem in 170, And during 167 to 164, the Maccabean revolts by Hasmoneans ended by the desecration of Temple by Antiochus.
And nowadays we are looking forward to rebuilding the Third Temple.
Let’s celebrate Jerusalem Day, with joy in our hearts and prayers for her safety and the safety of the Land of Israel…
And, I have chosen King David, G-d’s Fierce Warrior, the Founder of Jerusalem, to tell the world of the Jewish Sovereignty in Jerusalem, the Capital of the Land of Israel, Given by G-d to the Jews.
May G-d bless Jerusalem and the Land of Israel and His Faithful Jews worldwide -and our devoted friends…
Goodwill Ambassador Eliana Benador is a global strategist and founder of Benador Associates. For speaking requests kindlycontact her here. Stephen E. Hughes is Director of Research at Benador Associates.