For Paul, Deppen and Feroze: A Little History. The Liberation of Jerusalem

This one's for you, Deppen Webber. And for Paul Larudee, and Feroze Mithiborwala. Its also for all the other terribly misguided participants in the failed Global March to Jerusalem. You know who you are.

Jerusalem Day will be celebrated this year, 2012 on the eve of May 19. This holiday commemorates the 1967 liberation and reunification of Jerusalem, the sacred capital city of the Jewish people.

The day is marked by solemn government ceremonies, memorial services for soldiers who died in the battle for Jerusalem, parades as well as prayers. No Deppen- its not that we are trying to "Judaize " our eternal capital and the heart of Jewish life. That’s been accomplished long ago, by 3000+ years of love, and longing and sacrifice.

Read please the transcript of events leading up to this moment of liberation. Read the order "Protect every building, in every way. Do not touch anything, especially in the holy places"- realize that then as now, even under fire, the ethics of the Israeli army shined through. Read about the soldiers of the Israeli Defense Force- unbelievably tough men- largely secular, sobbing at the sight of our Kotel- the last remnant of Solomon's temple. How can you read this, Paul. Deppen. Feroze, and still deny the cultural, religious and emotional ties of the Jewish people towards Jerusalem?

From the Jewish Virtual library:

Colonel Motta Gur [on loudspeaker]: All company commanders, we’re sitting right now on the ridge and we’re seeing the Old City. Shortly we’re going to go in to the Old City of Jerusalem, that all generations have dreamed about. We will be the first to enter the Old City. Eitan’s tanks will advance on the left and will enter the Lion’s Gate. The final rendezvous will be on the open square above.
[The open square of the Temple Mount.]
[Sound of applause by the soldiers.]

Yossi Ronen: We are now walking on one of the main streets of Jerusalem towards the Old City. The head of the force is about to enter the Old City.
[Gunfire.]

Yossi Ronen: There is still shooting from all directions; we’re advancing towards the entrance of the Old City.

[Sound of gunfire and soldiers’ footsteps.]
[Yelling of commands to soldiers.]
[More soldiers’ footsteps.]
The soldiers are keeping a distance of approximately 5 meters between them. It’s still dangerous to walk around here; there is still sniper shooting here and there.
[Gunfire.]
We’re all told to stop; we’re advancing towards the mountainside; on our left is the Mount of Olives; we’re now in the Old City opposite the Russian church. I’m right now lowering my head; we’re running next to the mountainside. We can see the stone walls. They’re still shooting at us. The Israeli tanks are at the entrance to the Old City, and ahead we go, through the Lion’s Gate. I’m with the first unit to break through into the Old City. There is a Jordanian bus next to me, totally burnt; it is very hot here. We’re about to enter the Old City itself. We’re standing below the Lion’s Gate, the Gate is about to come crashing down, probably because of the previous shelling. Soldiers are taking cover next to the palm trees; I’m also staying close to one of the trees. We’re getting further and further into the City.
[Gunfire.]

Colonel Motta Gur announces on the army wireless: The Temple Mount is in our hands! I repeat, the Temple Mount is in our hands!
All forces, stop firing! This is the David Operations Room. All forces, stop firing! I repeat, all forces, stop firing! Over.
Commander eight-nine here, is this Motta (Gur) talking? Over.
[Inaudible response on the army wireless by Motta Gur.]

Uzi Narkiss: Motta, there isn’t anybody like you. You’re next to the Mosque of Omar.
Yossi Ronen: I’m driving fast through the Lion’s Gate all the way inside the Old City.
Command on the army wireless: Comb the area, discover the source of the firing. Protect every building, in every way. Do not touch anything, especially in the holy places.
[Lt.- Col. Uzi Eilam blows the Shofar. Soldiers are singing ‘Jerusalem of Gold’.]

Uzi Narkiss: Tell me, where is the Western Wall? How do we get there?

Yossi Ronen: I’m walking right now down the steps towards the Western Wall. I’m not a religious man, I never have been, but this is the Western Wall and I’m touching the stones of the Western Wall.

Soldiers: [reciting the ‘Shehechianu’ blessing]: Baruch ata Hashem, elokeinu melech haolam, she-hechianu ve-kiemanu ve-hegianu la-zman ha-zeh. [Translation: Blessed art Thou L-rd G-d King of the Universe who has sustained us and kept us and has brought us to this day]

Rabbi Shlomo Goren: Baruch ata Hashem, menachem tsion u-voneh Yerushalayim. [Translation: Blessed are thou, who comforts Zion and builds Jerusalem]

Soldiers: Amen!
[Soldiers sing ‘Hatikva’ next to the Western Wall.]

Rabbi Goren: We’re now going to recite the prayer for the fallen soldiers of this war against all of the enemies of Israel:
[Soldiers weeping]
El male rahamim, shohen ba-meromim. Hamtse menuha nahona al kanfei hashina, be-maalot kedoshim, giborim ve-tehorim, kezohar harakiya meirim u-mazhirim. Ve-nishmot halalei tsava hagana le-yisrael, she-naflu be-maaraha zot, neged oievei yisrael, ve-shnaflu al kedushat Hashem ha-am ve-ha’arets, ve-shichrur Beit Hamikdash, Har Habayit, Hakotel ha-ma’aravi veyerushalayim ir ha-elokim. Be-gan eden tehe menuhatam. Lahen ba’al ha-rahamim, yastirem beseter knafav le-olamim. Ve-yitsror be-tsror ha-hayim et nishmatam adoshem hu nahlatam, ve-yanuhu be-shalom al mishkavam [soldiers weeping loud]ve-ya’amdu le-goralam le-kets ha-yamim ve-nomar amen!
[Translation: Merciful G-d in heaven, may the heroes and the pure, be under thy Divine wings, among the holy and the pure who shine bright as the sky, and the souls of soldiers of the Israeli army who fell in this war against the enemies of Israel, who fell for their loyalty to G-d and the land of Israel, who fell for the liberation of the Temple, the Temple Mount, the Western Wall and Jerusalem the city of the Lord. May their place of rest be in paradise. Merciful One, O keep their souls forever alive under Thy protective wings. The Lord being their heritage, may they rest in peace, for they shalt rest and stand up for their allotted portion at the end of the days, and let us say, Amen.]

[Soldiers are weeping. Rabbi Goren sounds the shofar. Sound of gunfire in the background.]
Rabbi Goren: Le-shana HA-ZOT be-Yerushalayim ha-b’nuya, be-yerushalayim ha-atika! [Translation: This year in a rebuilt Jerusalem! In the Jerusalem of old!]

Roberto Carlos sings Jerusalem de Ouro ( Jerusalem of Gold )

Yerushalayim shel zahav
v'shel n'choshet v'shel or
halo l'chol shirayich ani kinor

Legendary Grammy Award-winning singer and composer Brazilian pop icon Roberto Carlos celebrated his 70th birthday in Jerusalem. One of the most famous Brazilian singers of all time, with a career spanning over 50 years Carlos has sold over 120 million albums.

Roberto Carlos gave a concert in the Old City of Jerusalem in front of thousands of Brazilian supporters of Israel, highlighted by his version of "Jerusalem of Gold", sung in Portuguese and Hebrew. This was filmed September 7th, 2011 at the Sultan Pool right outside the Walls of the Old City of Jerusalem. And yes, now that you've mentioned it, its yet another BDS fail.

The Ethnic Cleansing of Jerusalem

For Zion's sake I will not keep silent, for Jerusalem's sake I will not remain quiet.

Jerusalem has has played a central role in Jewish existence for over 3,000 years. Now our holy city is under attack, by those who deny our history and our heritage.

In May 1948, Jordan invaded and occupied east Jerusalem. For 19 years, the city was divided, with Israel establishing its capital in western Jerusalem and Jordan occupying the eastern section, which included the Old City and many holy sites. Thousands of Jews and Christians were ethnically cleansed from Jerusalem during this period.
During Jordanian occupation, the population of Christians in Jerusalem dwindled from 25,000 in 1949 to less than 13,000 in June 1967. Strict government controls were instituted on Christian schools, with restrictions on the opening of new schools. There were governmental controls over the hiring of teachers and school finances. Koran study was mandatory. Christian religious and charitable institutions were banned from purchasing land in Jerusalem. There were limits on the number of Christians allowed to visit the Old City and Bethlehem at Christmas and Easter

Jews were denied access to the Kotel, and to the cemetery on the Mount of Olives, where they had been burying their dead for 2,500 years. The Jordanians built a road through the cemetery, destroying hundreds of graves. The tombstones were used as paving stones. The ancient Jewish quarter of the Old City was ravaged. 58 synagogues- some centuries old- were ruined.



Before the ethnic cleansing of the Jews from Jerusalem



After the ethnic cleansing of the Jews from Jerusalem
Photos from Time Life


There is a new assault on our Holy city scheduled for March of 2012. The promotional brochure of the Global march on Jerusalem is now being distributed.






The Global March on Jerusalem represents a denial of Israeli sovereignty, and a denial of the Jewish bond to our holy city. The organizers, including Paul Larudee and Deppen Webber, both from California, and Feroze Mithiborwala of India represent an extremist fringe element closely associated with Iran and the Iranian client state of Gaza

I rejoiced when they said to me, “Let us go to the house of the Lord.”
And now our feet are standing within your gates, Jerusalem.
Jerusalem, built as a city, walled round about.
There the tribes go up, the tribes of the Lord,
As it was decreed for Israel, to give thanks to the name of the Lord.
There are the thrones of justice, the thrones of the house of David.

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem
“May those who love you prosper!
May peace be within your ramparts, prosperity within your towers.”
For the sake of my brothers and friends I say,
“Peace be with you.”
For the sake of the house of the Lord, our G-d,
I pray for your good.
Psalm 122


Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem.

Bus stop bombing in Jerusalem: Has the third Intifada begun?

A bomb exploded at a crowded bus stop Wednesday in central Jerusalem, next to the Egged bus 74. At least 25 people were wounded. The blast could be heard throughout Jerusalem and blew out the windows of two crowded buses.

The Palestinians have been threatening a "third intifada". Is this the begining?

More news as its available. I'm waiting for the Palestinians to blame "disgruntled Thai workers" for this one....

Israel matzav is live blogging

UPDATE 9:07 PST
From the J Post
One woman is dead, and fifty people were injured in the attack. Three were injured seriously from the explosion itself, four moderately from shrapnel packed into the explosive device and the remainder were in moderate to light condition.