Page 64 - Armon-T-Ulpan-Full-RG-061019

64

Herbert Samuel – First British Commissioner

On this trip you will see the building that was built for the British
Commissioner in Jerusalem. The neighborhood is today called for this
building: "Armon HaNatziv" (Palace of the Commissioner).
In 1917, at the time of World War I, the British arrived in Israel and
conquered it from the Turks. They sent here Herbert Samuel to be the British
governor – the High Commissioner.
Herbert Samuel was a Jew, and the Jews in England and in Israel rejoiced
greatly that he was chosen to be the Commissioner in Israel.
On the first Shabbat of the Commissioner in Israel, he prayed at a synagogue
in the Old City. That Shabbat was a special Shabbat – Shabbat "Nachamu"
(consolation). This is the first Shabbat after Tisha B'Av, the day of the
destruction of the Temple and Jerusalem and the beginning of the exile.

In the portion from the Prophets for this Shabbat, G-d promises the Children
of Israel that He will rebuild the Temple and Jerusalem.
And who read the portion from the Prophets on that Shabbat in the
synagogue?
The High Commissioner, who was the most important guest in the
synagogue.
All those who were praying there became very emotional from his reading.
Everyone had the feeling that finally there is someone who is really like a
Jewish king in Israel.

After the portion from the Prophets, there is a blessing where G-d promises
that there will be a Jewish king in Israel and we say "on his throne will not
sit a foreigner." The intention is that there will not be a foreign king on the
throne of the king of Israel.
When the Commissioner read those words, Rabbi Kook – the chief rabbi of
Israel – got up and repeated the words in a loud voice.
All of the congregation felt that this was truly the time of redemption! Here
was a Jewish king reading in Israel the promise that Jerusalem will be rebuilt
and that there will not be foreign kings in the land of Israel.
But not only those who were praying there were moved. Herbert Samuel
himself said years later that "It was the most moving ceremony of his life."

Copyrighted and owned by Ulpan-Or. Any usage, copying and distribution without express

.‫ העתקה והפצה אסורים‬,‫ כל שימוש‬.‫אור‬-‫ כל הזכויות שמורות לאולפן‬permission from Ulpan-Or is prohibited.