As the conflict and struggles around Jerusalem continue and intensify,
the vision to turn the city to a Capital of Peace seems especially
distorted. Nonetheless, if every person will act for this dream, it is
possible. In the context of all the associations that accompany the
name of Jerusalem in these tempestuous days—conflicts, crises,
problems—surely the one who will mention the identification of
Jerusalem as Ir Shalom, the City of Peace, will come across as a
hallucinator. But it is forbidden for us to allow the downward
spirals of current politics to blot out the true image of the city.
Jerusalem in the Jewish tradition is the city of G-d whose name is
Shalom, and therefore she is the Capital of Peace for all the nations.
Already in her first appearance in the Torah, she appears as the city
of Melchitzedek, king of Shalem, as he, the Priest to G-d on High,
blesses the first Jew, Abraham. Also, her ultimate end, according to
what is revealed in Isaiah, is to become a place in which “they will
blunt their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning
hooks—nation will not lift sword up against nation and they will no
longer learn war”.
It is important to remember that also in the Islamic sources,
Jerusalem holds a special place. From where comes the importance of
Jerusalem to 1.5 billion Muslims across the world? From the chapter in
the Koran called “The praise of G-d”, where G-d took his prophet on an
incredible journey to the Al-Aqsa Mosque and from there up to
“Jerusalem on High” in order that all the Divine messengers that came
before him—the prophets of Israel and amongst them Jesus of
Nazereth—would lay their hands upon him. And I have already found
modern Islamic interpretations (from the Muslim Brotherhood) that give
a real-life interpretation of this: Jerusalem is the outstretched hand
for peace from Islam to Judaism and Christianity.
Peace Begins Within Ourselves
From the perspective of the Jewish people, Jerusalem is described in
our sources also as a place of inner peace—the city that connects the
distinct tribes. As a Jew of the older generation, as one who merited
to be a soldier amongst the paratroopers who liberated the Old City of
Jerusalem, I remember with what tremendous feeling we would read the
words from psalm 132: “Our legs were standing in your gates,
Jerusalem. Jerusalem the rebuilt—like a city joined as one. For there
ascended the tribes, tribes of G-d.”
This psalm describes Jerusalem’s past, which is the basis for its future. But what is the city’s present condition? Does it in our time connect between the distinct elements of our nation? To an extent we must admit that the Jerusalem of today places starkly before our eyes the differences of opinion and sharp contrasts between the various cultural factions.
Behold “Jerusalem Day,” at whose entrance we stand: for the
National-Religious community it is one of the happiest days of the
year. In their synagogues they will sing the Hallel, a joyous service
of thanksgiving, and tens of thousands will make pilgrimage to the city and
celebrate with flag parades. In contradistinction, for the extreme
Left, this is their Tisha b’Av, “the Day of the Occupation”, which
brings to mind the low point of Zionism. And between these, for the
majority of Israelis it’s just another work day, where just the media
will mention something about Jerusalem.
Is it possible to restore Jerusalem’s ancient crown? Is there any
possibility that Jerusalem will become in reality the city of peace
between Israel and the nations? And the city of peace between the
various factions with the Jewish people? And if it’s possible to focus
the question on a specific time, today, Jerusalem Day, is it in our
hands to turn this new holiday, which the Master of History has placed
in the calendar, into an actuality for all factions of the Jewish
people?
To Liberate the City
The answer I wish to propose today, on Jerusalem Day, is based upon
the famous dispatch of my commander, Moti Gur: “The Temple Mount is in
our hands!” Jerusalem has been given again into our hands in order to
turn it into a City of Peace, between us and our neighbors and between
us and ourselves. “In our hands”—lifted up in prayer, “in our
hands”—through taking action.
Rebbe Nachman of Breslav sees in the clapping of hands—the joining
together of right hand and left—an expression of combining the
oppositions and polarizations that exist in reality. The movement of
bringing the two hands together to clap is a movement of peace.
If we should merit and our hands should succeed in transforming
Jerusalem into the cornerstone of peace between Israelis and
Palestinians, between religious and secular and between the Left and
the Right, it would give reality to our interpretation of this day.
And then Jerusalem Day will take its place in our consciousness as the
day upon which the walls fell and we liberated the city, the day on
which we transformed her to become the place of contact between all these
oppositions. Yom Yerushalayim, Yom YeruShalom. Today!
The day on which we celebrate the main inheritance of Judaism—the yearning for peace. And perhaps it’s beneficial to simply listen to the name of the city: YeruShaLayiM–a name with a built-in plurality (like bicycle) that expresses the hope for peace between the various dualities. In the words of our state’s visionary I would also like to proclaim– “If you will it, it is not a dream.” Each one can do what is appropriate to their own understanding and abilities to turn Jerusalem into the city of peace. Upon the Bible’s verse “Seek peace and chase after it,” our sages of blessed memory taught that “peace must be sought after in its place, and also pursued to somewhere else.” The ways to the peace of Jerusalem may pass through other places, such as Washington or Ankara. The multiple ways to Jerusalem’s peace may be different and quite varied, but all roads lead to Jerusalem.
“Ask for the peace of Jerusalem, serenity will come upon your lovers.”
