What is Yom Yerushalayim? (This coming Thursday night & Friday)

“Our eyes and hearts are always directed towards Jerusalem.”

Not only is the amidah directed toward Jerusalem, but the whole prayer service is too, even when we are not facing Jerusalem.

Something to Stand Up For

It is not a coincidence that Jerusalem Day falls on the eve of the Torah reading of Bemidbar.

Yom Yerushalayim: First Kingdom, Then Temple

Let us discuss, once again, the connection between the Torah aspects of Jewish life, and the national aspects thereof – expressed only in an independent Jewish state. This topic can be intriguingly analyzed in terms of the actions of the founders of the first Jewish commonwealth, Kings David and Shlomo, father and son.

Dreams Of The Kotel

I don’t know what the medical name for it IS, but as I stood at the Kotel, my heart began to beat rapidly & my mind went blank.

The Unification of Yerushalayim and the Desert

For over a half-century, around the time of Yom Yerushalayim and soon before Shavuot, we get to read Parashat Bamidbar. Let us take a look at the connection between Yerushalayim and the desert.

Remembering the 6 Day War- Yom Yerushalayim & Declaring New Holidays

It sounds complicated to declare new holidays, but it's actually not at all. Similarly to allow haircuts and music during the Omer also is simple. Just declaring Hallel with a bracha is more complicated, but an historic return to the forgotten background of the "6 Day War" helps clarify that, as well.

Jerusalem Day: Some Stones Are Hearts

Translated by Hillel Fendel

The Western Wall looks simply like a big and menacing block of rocks. One must look with penetrating eyes to sense what it really expresses: the longing of dozens of generations, the prayers of our forefathers and foremothers, and the joy of all those who commemorated their happy occasions there over the course of centuries.

A Tale of Two Mountains

This Shabbat, we find ourselves between two staggering events: the tragedy at Har Meron last Friday, and Yom Yerushalayim this Sunday night and Monday. Two mountains, steeped in Jewish history, associated with the most significant personalities and pathos: Avraham, Yitzchak and Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai.

Y'rushalayim: Uniting Religious-Zionist-Humanist- The 3 Ideologies of Mankind

When Jerusalem is built in her glory, and even already today, it's the religious, national and universal capitol of Israel. God placed the "checks and balance" system, comprised by this Triumvirate of the king (national leader), Nasi haSenhedrin (religious leader) and Kohen Gadol ("Lover of Peace"- the humanist/universal leader) on one mountain forcing them to unite and work together. Rav Kook analyzes that all human ideologies are either right-wing (natl.), left (humanist), or religious (all the above are religious, but here, in the limited sense), who are all necessary, and also limit each other from going extreme. As long as each stress the positive & compliments the others, and isn't "anti", we will reveal the Unity of God and Israel.

“All the Congregation of Bnei Yisrael” – for Yom Yerushalayim

What Upset the Kadis in Cyprus?

Memories and regrets

The Six Day War brought to the Jewish world a sense of unity and solidarity that since then has never been matched. The stark divisions in the Jewish world have since then been magnified and intensified

The Torah and the Joy of Jerusalem

“Rejoice with Jerusalem and be glad with her, all of you who love her” (Isaiah 66:10). When we rejoice over the restoration of Jerusalem, we must also pray that the city not fall again. This is done via the Torah, which sustains and strengthens us.

Selections from a Diary of Jerusalem's Liberation

When I finished the memorial service we all stood at attention and sang "Ha-Tikvah." After this, I kissed the Regional Headquarters Commanding General and other soldiers and officers, and then I began singing, "This year in the restored Jerusalem!"

The Big Jewish Af?

We thank Hashem that we personally have found solace and refuge in our true home and hope that the entire nation in exile will move from the exile to Eretz Yisrael.

Jerusalem - Seek Her Out and Find Her

The Torah refers to Jerusalem as “the place which God shall choose,” but does not inform us as to where this place is or what its name is. By concealing the Holy City from us and forcing us to seek her out, God aimed at endearing Jerusalem to us.

“Ascribe Strength to God”

King David, the King of Israel, turns to the Nation of Israel and entreats them to “ascribe strength to God.” You, the Jewish People, must ascribe strength to God, for “His majesty is dependent upon Israel” (Psalm 68:35).

From Zion to Jerusalem and Back Again

Jerusalem Day

Jerusalem Day

The Crowns of Jerusalem

Jerusalem’s eminence stems from its being the city of the Holy Temple, the home of the kingdom of Israel, and the Torah center of the world. In liberating Jerusalem we merited advancing toward the full revelation of the greatness of the Holy City.