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.
