XVII. Jerusalem

This Chapter and You...

What are the first things which come to mind when you say: "JERUSALEM"?
Write them here:

Try asking that question of your family, relatives and friends and see how their responses are the same or different. There is no 'correct' answer, as Jerusalem means so many diverse things to each of us. Perhaps that is because Jerusalem is a city of contrasts, just as Israel is a land of contrasts.

This unit has only one reading:

Jerusalem:

There is so much more that we can say about Jerusalem, but that will have to wait until we enter that city ourselves, very soon.

Objectives

Reading #1

Jerusalem: A City of Contrasts

Here are some examples of the divergent things which can be said and told about Jerusalem:

Yes, Jerusalem is many things to many people. To the Jew, Jerusalem is all of the above and much more:

• It is the rock where Abraham was tested with Isaac.
• It is where David established the seat of his Kingdom.
• It is where Solomon built the First Temple.
• It is the capitol of Israel after 1,878 years of exile (after the destruction of the Second Temple in 70 CE).
• It is now reunited after the Six Day War in 1967.

QUOTES

"For out of Zion shall go forth the Torah and the word of G-d from Jerusalem."

"If I forget thee Oh Jerusalem may my right hand forget its cunning."

"By the shores of Babylon we wept and yearned for our return to Zion."

Did you know that:

Many Jews face east when they pray (towards Jerusalem). And in Israel, one should face Jerusalem, from whatever direction they are in (relative to Jerusalem).

A glass is broken at a wedding to remind us of the destruction of the Second Temple in Jerusalem.

For the same reason, many Jews leave a small section of their house unpainted; others leave one course at a banquet uneaten; and others take the knives off the table before saying grace after meals (which by the way mentions Jerusalem three times).

For two thousand years Jews hoped to see Jerusalem, and if not possible, then at least to be buried there.

Jerusalem is the home of-

• The Knesset - Israel's parliament
• The Israel Museum
• Yad VaShem
• Mount Herzl
• The Old Walled City
• The Kotel
• The Cardo
• The Jewish Quarter
• Hadassah Hospital
• The Hebrew University
• The Bezalel School of Art
• The Gordon School of Music
• Mea Sh'Arim
• Mahaneh Yehudah - the Jewish Shuk
• The Windmill of Yeniin Moshe

Jerusalem has a spiritual existence as strong as its physical presence. One only needs to close one's eyes: To hear the pleas of the prophets and the footsteps of the pilgrims

To "see" the burning of the Temple;
To hear the sounds of the prayers coming from the Kotel;
To smell the delicious Shabbat meals being prepared in kitchens from around the world;
To touch the clothing from the four comers of the earth;
To hear Hebrew spoken by Americans and Ethopians and Russians and Bosnians and Greeks and South Americans and Australians.
To see the kings of Israel and taxi drivers and the beggars and the begalach salesboys and the porters.

There are those who say that there is a "Yerushalayim Shel Matah," an earthly Jerusalem, and a "Yerushalayim Shel Maalah" a heavenly Jerusalem: (Yerusha = inheritance; layim = double; hence, a double inheritance.)

Elie Weisel says that the six million are presently living in that Yerushalayim Shel Maalah, waiting for the Messianic Age to return-n home. Jerusalem can be a very mystical place.

Questions:

1. What are some of the things that you are looking forward to seeing in Jerusalem'?

2. Why have Jews throughout the ages considered Jerusalem as the holiest of cities?

3. How will you prepare yourself for the first time that you approach the Kotel (the Western Wall)?

Reading #2

HOW DO YOU PREPARE FOR JERUSALEM?

* How do you prepare for a test? STUDY!

* How do you prepare for a performance? PRACTISE!

* How do you prepare for school? DRESS, PACK YOUR BOOKS AND EAT!

* How do you prepare for a trip? PLAN AND PACK.'

* How do you prepare for a book report? READ!

As you plan to visit Jerusalem, let us try to help you prepare.

WHAT WILL YOU SEE?

Buildings:

After 1948 all buildings must be built with or have a facade of Jerusalem stone, a limestone, sometimes with a yellow tint quarried around Jerusalem

You will see archeological ruins and modern buildings next to each other, the old and the new.

• The Old City, one of the three walled cities in Israel.
• Shopping
  • Ben Yehudah Street the famous outdoor mall.
  • The Cardo, a shopping area dating back to Roman times, in the Old City.
  • Mahaneh Yehudah, the open air market with fruits and vegetables, and everything else.
  • The Pit is a place to buy jewelry from street vendors. At the bottom of Ben Yehudah Street, Kikar Zion, turn right on Yoel Salomon Street then to the end.
• Battle Sites
  • Ammunition Hill, site of one of the bloodiest battles of the Six-Day War of 1967.
  • Latrun, now a memorial to the Armored Corps, it was a major battle site in the War of Independence in 1948 as it controlled the entrance road to Jerusalem.
• Everything's Jewish:
  • Coming from Poland, you will note that everywhere you look there is Jewish 'stuff': Street signs in Hebrew; mezuzzahs on every door, even the stores; Jewish police and soldiers; everyone speaking Hebrew (and Russian and Geez and French and Spanish and English); and people wearing kipot.
• Opportunities for Tzedakah:
  • In Poland your Bus Captain will give Tzedakah for you. She will know the appropriate place and people. Money given there is to save life for a little longer, but a life which will disappear in another generation.
  • In Israel, Tzedakah becomes more meaningful. Almost everyone cares for others. Israel has one of the highest levels of volunteerism in the world. Giving Tzedakah doing a righteous deed, is a way of life, as it should be anywhere. And in Jerusalem, it becomes even more special. Ask about Danny Siegel's Ziv Project, as an example.
  • At the Kotel many people will ask you for Tzedakah. A dollar is an appropriate amount When you have given what you think is sufficient say so. You do not have to give to everyone. Sometimes there are people who will give you a piece of red string, which bas been tied around the Grave of Rachel, and is supposed to bring good luck
• The Many Faces of Jerusalem:
  • In Jerusalem you will sec a potpourri of faces and clothes, ranging from Jews to Arabs, from Christians to Druze, from Mormons to Bedouins. You will see Hasidic religious Jews, in all kinds of coats, hats and pants out or tucked into their socks. You will see black kipot, knitted kipot and Yemenite kipot (Ask your madrich what they are.) You will see fur hats and kafiahs, ladies kerchiefs and hats.
  • From short skirts to long dresses, from short sleeve to long sleeve, you will see it all in Jerusalem. It all adds to the contrasts of the city.

WHAT WILL YOU EAT?

• Falafel - pitah filled with fried chick pea balls, salad and humous.
• Shwama - pitah filled with roasted lamb and salad.
• Pizza - baked dough topped with tomato sauce and cheese, all home-grown in Israel.
• Ice cream - all fresh no preservatives.
• Cafe Afooch - Cafe au lait (coffee with crearn).
• Begalach - large oval-shaped rolls topped with sesarne seeds.
• Sigfredo - a thick (eat it with a spoon) hot cocoa.
• Barecka - a hot french pastry filled with cheese or?

HOW WILL YOU DRESS?

• Style exists in the eye of the beholder.
• For the Kotel and Mea Shearim - ladies need long skirts and sleeves.
• Everywhere else, as the weather dictates.

HOW WILL YOU GET AROUND?

• While we are touring we will travel by chartered coach.
• When you have free time our buses will drop You off in town and arrange to pick you up at a designated location
• Taxis are safe and reasonable, especially in a small group. Demand that the driver turn on the meter. If he does not demand to get out of the taxi.
• Public buses are safe.
• Walking is a national pastime.

WHAT DO YOU NEED TO KNOW?

* Jerusalem celebrated its 3,000th 'birthday' in 1996.
* The word for bathroom is - SHERUTIM
* The First Temple was destroyed in 587 BCE.
* The Second Temple was destroyed in 70 CE.
* Stay away from a "HEFETZ HASHUD," a suspicious object.
* There are four sections in the Old City: The Jewish Quarter, the Christian Quarter, the Arab Quarter and the Armenian Quarter.
* The Old City was "occupied" by Jordan from 1948 to 1967, when it was reunited. During those 19 years, 59 of the 60 Jewish synagogues and institutions were vandalized or destroyed
* To ask the price of something, say: "Comma zeh oleh?"
* The Peace Treaty with Egypt was signed on March 26th, 1979,
* Jerusalem is the capitol of Israel, with the Knesset Israel's Parliament and most of the governmental offices. The U.S. only accepts Tel Aviv as the capital, so the U-S. has two Consulates in East and New Jerusalem and an Embassy in Tel Aviv.
* In mystical thought there are two Jerusalems: Jerusalem on earth and Jerusalem above. When the Messianic age arrives, the two Jerusalems will combine.
* Jerusalem has so many names: Jerusalem of Gold, The Holy City, the City of Peace, the Heart of the World and many more.

WHAT CAN YOU READ?

Your encounter with Jerusalem and Israel requires preparation. Previous Marchers will tell you that.
Here is a short list a some books which might help you understand Israel and Jerusalem a little better:

1. The Source by James Michener, an historical novel.
2. A Beggar in Jerusalem by Elie Wiesel a mystical visit to Jerusalem
3. Genesis 48, an historical novel.

Reading # 3

" The Kotel Hamaravi"
"It is just a simple wall.."
" It is what you see in every film about Israel"
"It is so imposing."
" You have seen pictures of it."
"It sometimes seems that it is bigger than life."
"But isn't it just a wall?"
"It is not a ghetto wall. It is not the "Shooting Wall."
"It is the KOTEL"
"It is just a simple wall.."

The Kotel Hamaravi is the western retaining wall of the Temple Mount of the Second Temple in Jerusalem, which was destroyed by the Romans in the year 70 AD. It is the only remnant of the Second Temple. There are those who have called it the Wailing Wall because for generation Jews have cried at the Wall in remembrance of the glory of the Temple, and in the hope that one day the Temple will be rebuilt.

The stones you will see represent only one-eighth of the length of the actual Western Wall which exists today.

- The nine bottom rows just above the ground level are from the 1st and second Temple (Herod's stones);
- The next four rows were added either by Bar Kochba or Hadrian.
- The next eleven rows of ordinary stones are from Arab times.
- There are nineteen rows of stones buried beneath the level of the plaza, set by King Solomon.
- The total height of the Wall above ground is 59 1/2 feet.

QUESTIONS:

1. What are some of the names of the Kotel, and why?

2. What exactly is the Kotel?

3. Why do some people call it the "Wailing Wall?"

4. In 1992, one of the Marchers, Dara Horn called the Wall 'G-d's mailbox. Why?

Reading #4

Why The Temple in Jerusalem On Mount Moriah?

There are many Biblical references to Jerusalem. In fact Jerusalem is mentioned no less than 656 times. There are many other references which the Rabbis tell us predicted the location of Jerusalem and the Holy Temple:

The dust to create Adam: Genesis 2:7 (from the place where the Temple was to be built.)

Cain and Abel's sacrifices: Genesis 4:3 (on what was to be the Temple Mount.)

Noah's altar when he came down from the Ark: Genesis 8:20 (built on the place where the Temple was to be built.)

Abraham and Isaac: Abraham was to sacrifice his son Isaac on that spot. (Genesis 22:2)

And there is the great story:

The Two Brothers and the Field: Hear the story in Israel ...

Why the Kotel Survived:

• The Poor Built It:
  • Legend says that when the Temple was being built, the greatest architects, engineers, artisans and craftsmen volunteered their time. The wealthy donated money, gold and silver. What was left for the poor to do? They came to the King and demanded the opportunity to help build the Holy Temple. Finally, they were allowed to build the Western retaining wall, which interestingly, is the only wall which still stands.
• The Four Roman Generals:
  • Vespasian ordered each of his four generals to tear down a different side of the Temple and Mount. One of the generals questioned the wisdom of destroying the entire Temple complex. How would future generations know of the greatness of the Temple which Titus had destroyed unless there was something of the grandeur still remaining. Vespasian agreed and allowed one wall to remain: The Western Wall. (Eccles. Rabbah 1: 3 1)

How we mourn for the Temple:

• The Mizrach: We pray facing east, towards the Temple.
• >Tisha B'Av: A fast day, with the prior nine days of not eating meat.
• Wedding: A glass is broken at the end of the ceremony, and two of the Seven Blessings deal with Jerusalem.
• Next Year in Jerusalem: Said at the end of the Passover Seder and the end of Yom Kippur.
• During our prayers:
  • Blowing the Shofar
  • Blessing of the Kohanim
  • Use of the Lulav and Etrog on Sukkot.
• Jewelry: Women are not allowed to wear all their jewelry at one time.
• Banquets: One course of a banquet must be left uneaten.

Questions:

1. Why so much concern for "just another wall?"

2. Why do we mourn for the Temple?

Reading # 5

Great Stories

• The Dove and the Weeping Wall: Legend says that every year on the eve of Tisha B'Av a white dove lands on the Kotel and keens and spreads its wings as a sign of mourning. In the mourning the Wall glistens with dewdrops as if it has been weeping all night.
• Discovery of the Kotel By Sultan Suleiman: In 1517, in the days of King Suleiman, nobody knew the location of the Temple, so he ordered a search of Jerusalem to find it.

One day the man in charge of the search who had already given up hope, saw a woman coming and on her head was a basket full of garbage and filth.
"What is that on your head?" he asked.
"Garbage," she said.
"Where are you taking it?"
"To such-and-such a place."
"Where are you from?"
"Bethlehem."
"And between Bethlehem and this place there are no garbage dumps?"
"We have a tradition that anyone who brings garbage and dumps it here is performing a meritorious deed because this was where Israel's House of G-d was located."
When told of this the Sultan discovered that there were many other women who told his servants the same story.
The Sultan that night went with a bag of gold and silver and a hoe to the dung heap, and spread the riches around the heap. The next morning he made a proclamation:
"All who love the Sultan and want to bring him satisfaction, should watch and follow suit."
He then went to the garbage heap and immediately discovered a gold coin. The poor began searching for other coins, and for the next 30 days, 10,000 people cleared away garbage until the Western Wall was revealed once again
(Story written by Eliezer Nahman Poa, 17th century.)

Two Stories from "The Seventh Day" (written after the Six-Day War):

"On our way out of Gaza on the bus, we listened on the radio. Suddenly, the announcer interrupted the broadcast and read an announcement from the military spokesman: The Old City of Jerusalem was in our hands. He repeated it, and afterwards, they played "Jerusalem of Gold." We were so overcome that the whole battalion began singing the song. I remember that there in the buses people wept and weren't ashamed of their tears although they were grown men. I'm sure this will always be the high point of the war for me."
Shai, Kibbutz Hulda
"When we broke into the Old City and I went up to the Temple Mount and later to the Western Wall, I looked searchingly at the officers and the other soldiers. I saw their tears, their wordless prayers, and I knew they felt as I did: a deep feeling for the Temple Mount where the Temple once stood, and a love for the Wall on whose stones so many generations had wept. I understood that it wasn't only I and my religious friends who sensed its greatness and sanctity; the others felt it too, no less deeply and strongly."

EliezerShefer

Epilogue

The "March of the Living" takes us through a turbulent period in Jewish history. The past fifty-one years for the Jewish people and Israel has been like riding a roller coaster, with tragic lows and incredible highs. The two weeks you will spend on the March will also seem like a roller coaster ride. You will see. feel and touch many of the places we have mentioned in this study. When you trace the footsteps of the six million you will say, "Aha, I remember reading that." When you soar through the incredible emotions of Israel, you will say, "A-ha. now I know what they meant!"

In Geometry we learn that two parallel lines never intersect. This Study Guide has followed two parallel lines - the Holocaust and Israel. These two parallel lines come so close to each other, but truly do not intersect. Yet their close proximity has shaped world history.

Holocaust and Israel - two words, each so different. One represents evil and indifference; the other represents love and hope, and home.

For the world, the message has not yet been learned. Elie Wiesel has said, "The opposite of love is not hate. The opposite of love is indifference."

For Israel, the message has been clear: survival. From the earliest settler to today's citizen of Israel, all have wanted to live safely behind secure borders in peace.

For you, the Marcher, the message has not yet been formulated. Each of you will take from the March your own message, because each of you brings to the March your own experience. We hope you have been challenged and that you have been enhanced by your reading and understanding of the Study Guide. We hope you are continuing to read our suggestions from the Reading List.

Once we leave for the March, keep your eves and ears open. Let your heart and mind feel deeply.. If you do. then the "March of the Living" will be 'the incredible experience it has already been for over five thousand Jewish teenagers.

In just a few short days we will all be together in Poland, and then... Israel. L'hitraot!!

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Source list

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