Yom Yerushalayim! Happy holiday, Jerusalem Day!

By Shalom Pollack – used with permission.

This is a day of celebration, but not just one of common revelry, fireworks, and parties.

Anniversaries are a good time for reflection, both personal and especially
national, both Gentile and Jewish. The unique combination of Jewish and national separates the occasion from all others.

Why?

Because we are His Chosen people living in His Chosen Land and the holiest of cities.

There is no need to review the once-in-history relationship between the Jewish people and this particular land and city.

Historians still try to understand it.

When in 1948 the just-born Jewish state in its homeland fought for its survival, they managed to keep a part of Jerusalem - the lesser historic and holy parts. Those areas were conquered by the (British armed and led) Jordanian army.

During Jordanian occupation of parts of the holy city including the holiest site in the world, the Jordanians methodically destroyed and barbarically desecrated the holiest Jewish sites under their control including the oldest Jewish cemetery in the world and ancient synagogues which they turned into latrines.

Israel survived the massive onslaught from within and from within. This was the first national miracle that He bestowed upon His People upon their return home.

In 1967, the Arab world led this time not by Britain but the USSR, drew the noose around the neck of the tiny Jewish country. There was not one "expert" who thought that Israel could pull off yet another miracle and survive. The Arabs were going to have their Jihad this time and the Communist world joined the alliance of atheists and the followers of Muhammad in the common goal.

The despised Jews were goners this time.

Well, we all know the story.

What seemed a sure catastrophic defeat turned out to be an unprecedented victory.

For weeks prior to the beginning of the war, the Jewish world and Israel massed for prayers on behalf of the tiny Jewish community in the holy land. Only a mega miracle of biblical proportions could save them.

When the miracle of biblical proportions occurred and the prayers were answered, the Arab enemy and the world were in awe.

The Arabs who were certain that they would enjoy a huge pogrom were the next day fleeing for their lives in panic - just as they did in 1948.

This was the moment of destiny that hung in the balance of Jewish history.

The world held its breath.

Short history video on the miracle of the Six Day War

Would the Jews recognize the miracle? Would they recognize and thank the great God who performed it?

Would they accept the gift handed them on a silver platter and acknowledge their responsibility in furthering the redemption of the land and the world?

Would they remove the foreign abominations forced on the site of our holiest ground when we were in exile?

Rabbi Shlomo Goren, chief rabbi of the IDF, understood and offered thanks
publicly. When he entered our holy sites, the Arab occupiers fled as quickly as they could.

The Arabs understood.

He understood. However, he did not have the power to decide.

The anti-God leadership of the state, especially Moshe Dayan insisted that the great victory was of their own brilliant doing. By now they were convinced that the totally illogical victories of 1948 and now 1967 were the natural result of their own superman-like superiority.

The Arab enemy fled in panic. Dayan magnanimously called them back. He was kinder than God.

The keys to the Temple mount were given to the Israelis by quivering Arab hands, Dayan returned them to the panicked Arabs and soothed them.

Men like Rabbi Goren and Rabbi Kook were heartbroken as they saw the arrogant anti-God leadership scornfully kick the miracle on the silver platter back into the face of our loving Father who had pity on us once again. They understood that the unique moment was lost.

But God hates arrogance more than any other human vice.

And so, as the Israeli secular elites celebrated their invincibility, the Yom Kippur war was on its way.

On Yom Kippur, 1973 the combined Arab armies along with the might of the USSR attacked the self-congratulating Jewish state.

Israel was almost wiped out.

Dayan said it looked like the destruction of the Third Temple. He saw no way out.

This time it seemed, there were to be no miracles. The God of miracles had had enough.

But He is our merciful Father and remembers His pact with our forefathers. For their sake He intervened yet again. The Jewish people will not be destroyed, despite themselves.

The IDF eventually threw the combined Arab armies beyond the starting point and were poised to take their capital cities. There was never such a counterattack in history.

It was a very, very close call and victory came at a high cost.

This time Israel's arrogant leadership was humbled.

Since the Yom Kippur trauma, the country has not been the same.

Replacing the misplaced arrogance of pre-1973, there now settled over the land an unprecedented pessimism, fear and self-doubt.

Thus began a continuing string of retreats and appeasement policies that continue today.

Jerusalem day.

Do we dare carry the flag in certain parts of our capital city?

Will "Hamas" or "Islamic Jihad" or some other terror group that we helped prosper black mail the Israeli superpower?

Everyone is waiting to see what they will decide if the Jews "step over the line" in Jerusalem.

Before Yom Kippur Israel had its super arrogance stage.

The post Yom Kippur phase is of extreme lack of confidence and sense of justice.

How much further can this self-deprecating fearful psychoticism extend?

In the natural world, one would say it can extend to the bitter end - as our enemies from within and without grow bolder by the day. Nations have imploded time and again. It is not new.

That is in the normal world. However, we have a God that loves us and that is why there will be a happy ending.

Who will lead the nation to a happy ending?

The tens of thousands of beautiful young Torah Jews marching with flags to the Kotel today are the vanguard of our hope.

They are neither arrogant nor defeatist. And they believe in Him.

They are what our God wants.

Dutch Christian Zionists after joining the Flag March

  

SHORT VIDEO IMPRESSIONS OF THE FLAG MARCH AND JERUSALEM DAY 

Jerusalem Day  

Jerusalem Day overview

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ABOUT SHALOM POLLACK: 

More than 50 years ago, Shalom Pollack left New York for his Homeland: Israel.

He served in the IDF and did his reserve duty in Hebron. Since 1979, Shalom is a licensed tour guide who continues to share his love and enthusiasm for Eretz Israel with tourists from abroad and locals.

His book Jews, Israelis and Arabs Shalom includes 68 compelling articles commenting on events in Israel.

The staunch Zionist continues to share well written email articles about his beloved Israel.

“Israel, WHAT a country!”

************************************************

Contact information:  email:  shalompollack613@gmail.com 

 
https://www.amazon.com/Jews-Israelis-Arabs-Observers-Shifting/dp/1956381015

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Mazo Publishers (October 7, 2021)

Language ‏ : ‎ English

Paperback ‏ : ‎ 216 pages

ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1956381015

ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1956381016

 

 

Back in their own land

The ancient site of Ramat Rachel (Rachel’s Heights) is located high on a hilltop above the Rephaim Valley, midway between the Old City of Jerusalem and Bethlehem. 

It is strategically situated, overlooking the roads that in antiquity were the major arteries leading from Jerusalem to the south and the coastal plain in the west.

 

view of the Judean Desert

Overlooking the panorama of modern day Jerusalem’s Old City, the Dead Sea and the Judean Hills, kibbutz RAMAT RACHEL is a place with a rich history. Today, the kibbutz is within Jerusalem’s municipal boundaries. The kibbutz was established in 1926 by 10 pioneers of the Gdud haAvoda* labor brigade.  

The Battalion that built Ramat Rachel 

Joseph Trumpeldor

Gdud haAvoda, a socialist Zionist work group in Mandate Palestine, was founded in 1920 by pioneers from the Third Aliyah.The group had three work focuses: work, settlement and defense. In order to avoid antagonizing the British authorities, the "defense" part was dropped. The Brigade, initially consisting of 80 members, was named after Joseph Trumpeldor, who had been killed at Tel Hai by Arabs. The group drained swamps, paved roads, (like the Tzemach-Tiberias road), worked in agriculture and construction. In Jerusalem, they built the garden suburbs of Rehavia, Beit Hakerem and Talpiot and constructed the YMCA building and the King David Hotel. The Battalion established several kibbutzim, including Ein Harod, Kfar Giladi, Ramat Rachel and Tel Yosef. Later, many former members joined the Solel Boneh construction company after learning their trade in the battalion. Despite an ideological split, in 1925 the group had over 650 members. Gdud haAvodah was dissolved after several kibbutzim (Ramat Rachel amongst them) formed the HaKibbutz HaMeuhad movement. 

The stony plot of land, situated on a 803-meter high hill south of Jerusalem, had been purchased from the Greek Patriarchate of Jerusalem.

During the 1929 Arab Riots, Ramat Rachel was burned to the ground. The settlers returned a year later and rebuild the kibbutz, which began to flourish. They had a chicken coop, a dairy, bakery and laundry and even established a trucking company.

Ramat Rachel, 1944

When the 1948 War of Independence broke out, 200 members and 150 children made Ramat Rachel their home. 

During the heavy fighting, the kibbutz changed hands several times but eventually was conquered by a Palmach unit. 

The Arab Legion, comprising of Egyptian and Jordanian soldiers, had been based at the nearby Mar Elias Monastery.

After the war, only 42 kibbutzniks returned, among them a few war widows, who believed in the kibbutz’s future. The enclave was now located on the new border with Jordan and surrounded by Arab villages. Everything had been destroyed during the war, and the Israeli government offered no help – they were on their own.  

Ramat Rachel was now located directly on the new border with Jordan, surrounded by Arab villages, and completely cut off from any other Jewish settlement. 

Added to that, the dairy, bakery, laundry and chicken coops had all been destroyed by the enemy.

In 1967, during the Six Day War, Ramat Rachel was the target of intensive artillery shelling from Jordanian positions. On one side of the Kibbutz, the well-entrenched Jordanian Bell Outpost was strongly fortified. A small IDF force surprised the Jordanian Legionnaires. Presuming the post had been secured, they were killed by enemy soldiers who had been hiding out in one of the trenches. There is a monument to the fallen soldiers near the trenches of this outpost. 

Memorial to the fallen IDF soldiers at the Bell Outpost

After the Six Day war, the future of the kibbutz began to look brighter because they were now within the boundaries of the Jerusalem municipality. 

When the youth hostel proved successful, a big hotel and sports center was built. 

On the outskirts of the kibbutz, one still can visit the bunkers and trenches and a memorial to those who fell during the heavy fighting between 1948 and 1967.

Most tourists staying at the hotel, or those attending a convention, don’t realize the many other attractions Ramat Rachel has to offer. There are many.

• The Yair Overlook was named after a Yair Engel, who was killed in a military accident in 1966.
• Eyal’s Farm was created in memory of another kibbutznik, Eyal Yoel, who was killed during the 2002 Defensive Shield Operation. 
• Between 1931 and 2004, six archeological digs took place at Ramat Rachel. The archeological garden has finds dating from the Frist Temple period to the Byzantine era, spanning a period of 1,600 years.

And then there is art. Lots of it.

David Polus

David Polus immigrated to Eretz Israel at the end of the third wave of immigration and joined Yitzhak Sadeh's group of quarry workers in Migdal Zedek, near Petah Tikvah. Eventually, he became a sculptor. Each work depicted some heroic event in the history of the Jewish people from biblical times to the birth of Zionism. 

"Eretz Israel is a temple,

 I don't wish to bring just ordinary statues into it." 

David Polus 

The sculpture of mother Rachel was inaugurated in 1954 at Ramat Rachel. The matriarch Rachel holds a torch in one hand while sheltering two children.

“Thus says the Lord: “A voice is heard in Ramah, lamentation and bitter weeping. Rachel is weeping for her children; she refuses to be comforted for her children, because they are no more.” Thus says the Lord: “Keep your voice from weeping, and your eyes from tears, for there is a reward for your work, declares the Lord, and they shall come back from the land of the enemy. There is hope for your future, declares the Lord, and your children shall come back to their own country.” 

Jeremiah 31:115-17 (ESV)

Israeli artist Ran Morin is known for his art involving full-sized living trees and two of his creations can be found at Ramat Rachel.

Oak Tree at the Yair Overlook 

Ran Morin 

At the Yair Overlook, Ran Morin’s oak tree growing out of a large pile of stones is a ‘small’ piece of art compared to the majestic “Olive Columns” in the center of the Olive Park. The original plans were to place the statue in the Ramot neighborhood, but Morin wanted it to be in an open area. 

Ramat Rachel was a fitting place, as Morin’s grandfather, one of the kibbutz founders, is buried in the nearby kibbutz cemetery. 

Seventeen rows of olive trees lead to the central monument – three olive trees planted atop 15 meters high columns. The 80-year old trees are connected to a computerized built-in system that monitors the irrigation. Three paths lead away from the triangular base of the trees. 

This unique piece of art is full of symbolism:

The hidden roots of the olive trees, symbolizing the past, bring forth the tree standing in the present. This tree will continue to grow into the future. The artificial columns raising up the trees represent Nature which is controlled by man, who restricts its growth by the stone base. Three pillars; three olive trees; three steps from three directions; three times past, present and future.

Three, often used in ancient cultures, are the minimal elements needed to build either a physical or spiritual structure. This number is prevalent in the Jewish culture (three Patriarchs and Matriarchs) but also in Christianity: the Trinity – Father, Son and Holy Ghost.

The Olive tree, one of the seven species growing in Eretz Israel, represents beauty, freshness and fertility. This work of art symbolizes the return of the Jewish people to the land, whose roots again will be joined to the earth. 

Exactly like the Lord God promised:

“There is hope for your future, declares the Lord, 

and your children shall come back to their own country.”

Jerusalem of Gold and SIX DAYS OF MIRACLES in 1967

"Remember how the enemy has mocked you, O Lord… 

Rise up, O God, and defend your cause…" 

Psalm 74:18

In 1967, Egypt, Jordan, Syria and Iraq signed military alliances with each other. Egypt closed the Strait of Tiran to Israeli shipping, and told UN troops stationed in Gaza to get out. The young nation of Israel then knew it had to prepare and brace itself to fight another war.

June 5, 1967 – Deaf to Israel's entreaties not to engage in war, Jordan attacked Jerusalem from the east. At this time, Irene Levi (then Duce), was head mistress of the Carmel school in Haifa. She took on extra duties of teachers who had been called up by the IDF. Many believers flocked to the school to pray for God's intervention.

That first day was the beginning of many miracles: Israeli pilots destroyed the Egyptian air force on the ground; the Jordanian air force followed suit and two-thirds of the Iraqi Air Force were in shambles.

June 6: Irene kept the school open, and while telling the flannel graph story of David and Goliath, the radio news came on. 

""Israel has turned back the enemy at the Sinai Desert and has almost reached the Suez Canal". 

The children's mouths fell open. "The West Bank is now in Israeli hands", the announcer continued, "including Nablus, Ramallah, Jericho and Bethlehem."

June 7: With beaming face, a Bible School teacher hurried to the school to tell the great news: "All of Jerusalem is now united under Israel's rule!"

That morning, Motta Gur and his paratroopers broke through the Lion's Gate and liberated the Western Wall and the Temple Mount.

 "The Temple Mount is OURS!" Israelis would never forget those words coming over the radio. IDF Chief Rabbi Shlomo Goren had blown the Shofar. With tears in their eyes, the dust covered soldiers, for the firs time in their lives, touched the ancient walls. 

Many stood with head bowed, reciting Psalm 122,  "If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, may my right hand lose its cunning".

At the Haifa School, Irene (2nd from right) put up the Israeli flag with  "Jerusalem of Gold" -
 Naomi Shemer's song that became famous. 

Israelis found it hard to believe that after 19 years, all of Jerusalem was back in Israeli hands.

Irene knew that the war wasn't over yet, and continued to fast. She knew in her spirit that Adonai Tzva'ot (The Lord of Hosts) was fighting alongside and strengthening the soldiers on the Golan Heights.

June 8 – The Syrian positions on the Golan, which for so many years made life a living hell for the Israelis, because of their constant rocket barrages, had been conquered by Israeli soldiers.

June 9 – After the cease fire with Jordan, from all over the country people rushed to Jerusalem.

June 12 – After taken six days of heavy fighting, the war was over! Slowly, the magnitude of the Israeli victory dawned upon Israel and the rest of the world.

The "Six Day War" as it became known, had been a miracle from beginning to end.

Haya and Menahem Ben Haim had moved to Eilat in 1963, only to discover they were the first American couple to settle there. Despite the primitive living conditions, and the fact that in summer it felt like hell (as described in the Bible), they lived there for 14 years. With war imminent, the people in Eilat were also ordered to cover their windows (blackout) every night. Men prepared to be call up, and medics stocked up their supplies. The atmosphere was so tense you could cut it with a knife.

"Are we to live? Are we to die?" Haya and Menachem wondered.

Because most of the bomb shelters in Eilat were not yet finished, many left the town. All the hotels emptied out of tourists. The international press drove around in their vans, interviewing people at the airport and in the cities, Menahem one of them. Haya and Menahem decided to stay put in Eilat. It had been a wise decision, as those who fled to Jerusalem had to spend three days in a bomb shelter.

"A little one shall become a thousand, and a small one a strong nation. 

I, the LORD, will hasten it in its time." 

Isaiah 60:22

Little Israel had become a strong nation, as the Lord had promised.

"I will hasten" – achishana could be two Hebrew words: shana (year) and achi (my brother). The numerical value of these letters is nineteen – the years from Independence (1948) to 1967. It happened swiftly (in His time, in six days). Jerusalem had been united on June 6 and 7. Even the newspapers spoke about the meaning of that amazing date: 6-7-'67 and 'achishana'.

Yom Yerushalayim – Jerusalem Day.

Throughout the world, (including the USA), Zionist Jews mark Yom Yerushalayim - Jerusalem's reunification, with a range of events. These include: recitations of the Hallel prayer for praise and thanksgiving in synagogues; street parades, parties, singing and dancing; special meals; and lectures on the history and future of Jerusalem and Zionism. In Jerusalem, a public reception by the mayor of Jerusalem, state ceremonies and memorial services for those who died in the Six-Day War are also held.

The so-called "Parade of the Flags" usually begins at Sacher Park. Happy participants (mostly religious young people) sing and dance their way to the Old City, where the parade ends at the Kotel (Western Wall).

Precious Things

“And of Joseph he said, Blessed of the Lord be his land, for the precious things of heaven, for the dew, and for the deep that coucheth beneath, 14 And for the precious fruits brought forth by the sun, and for the precious things put forth by the moon, 15 And for the chief things of the ancient mountains, and for the precious things of the lasting hills…” Deuteronomy 33:13-15 KJV

The Hebrew word for “Precious things” (mentioned four times in these verses) is  מֶ֫גֶד ‘meged’ – meaning ‘goodness’, ‘quality’ and ‘tasting good’. Other translations use the word “choice”.

The “Ancient Mountains” and “Lasting Hills” mentioned in Deuteronomy 33 are Mount Gadur, Mount Seir, Mount Hermon and Jebel Mubarak.

1. Mount Gadur (Gilead), part of the tribe of Manasseh, is 1.250 meters high with 1,000 mm rain yearly. The rainwater fed the Jabbok and Yarmuk river.

2. Mount Seir (Southern Edom) is 1,700 meters high, with a yearly precipitation of 400 mm.

3. Mount Hermon, 2.224 meters high

4. Jebel Mubarak (‘Blessed Mountain) was part of Edom.

These mountains received more dew, rain and snow than any other mountains in eastern Israel.

Mount Hermon is known under different names:

a. Hermon – (Hebrew) – Sacred, holy mountain from early times. The Canaanites called it Baal Hermon (Judges  3:3)

b. Mountain of the Sheikh (Arabic)

c. Senir (Amorites)

d. Sirion (Phoenicians) – breastplate.

e. Snowy mountain

f. Gray-haired mountain

g. Mountain of Snow

e. Eye of the Nation – because of Israel’s military strategic early warning system

According to tradition, it was on Har Habtamim, on the slopes of Katef Sion (part of Mt. Hermon) that God promised Abraham to give the land to his descendants. An ancient tomb and oak tree were found at this spot. Hermon is also believed to be the mountain where Jesus’ transfiguration took place as Jesus was in the area of Caesarea Philippi with his disciples, which is near Mt. Hermon.

During the Six Day war of 1967, Israeli forces captured part of Mount Hermon and the Golan Heights. Israeli citizens were finally safe after having been harassed and murdered by Syrian snipers for 19 long years.

Mount Hermon, geographically separate from the Golan Heights, is the most northern and highest point in Israel (2800 meters above sea level). The only skiing site in Israel has a 620-meter vertical drop. Locals call it the only ‘real’ mountain in Israel – the others are seen as only high hills.

"Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity! It is like the precious oil on the head, running down on the beard, on the beard of Aaron, running down on the collar of his robes It is like the dew of Hermon,  which falls on the mountains of Zion! For there the Lord has commanded the blessing, life forevermore." Psalm 133 ESV

Mount Hermon has the honour of being THE mount of dew amongst Israel’s mountains. 

Because of its height, the difference in day and night temperatures create a high dew precipitation during the hot, dry summer months, while during the rainy season (November – April) there is a lot of rain and snowfall. And then, when the snow begins to melts, it will feed the springs and rivers merging into the Jordan River and the Sea of Galilee.

 Blessings and life, all year round!