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Children’s Yerushalayim David M. Weinberg
Corner Israel Why Jerusalem

Insight Must Remain Whole

Eternal Capital

The Center of the World Yerushalayim (Jerusalem) has always been at the center of Jewish united Jerusalem under Israeli Israel has developed the city from that eastern Jerusalem’s 350,000 Arab

Yerushalayim is referred to as the center for the rebuilding of Yerushalayim and yearned to see it with their sovereignty is the key, not an a backwater town to a truly radiant residents increasingly understand that
prayers. roughout history, Jews around the world have prayed
of the world. own eyes. A obstacle, to peace and security in international capital city sparkling with they will always be better off under
the city. The bisection of Jerusalem would energy and creativity – and open to all. Israeli administration, and they are slowly
1. Midrash Tanchuma, Kedoshim, Article 10 51 years ago, on the 28th of the Hebrew month of Iyar be patently unwise, exceedingly unfair to integrating.
e Land of Israel is located in the center of the world. at 10:15 am, an Israeli Army commander's voice was heard Jewish history, and an insult to Israel’s fine Let’s be even blunter: Israel has developed
Yerushalayim is located in the center of Israel, over the radio: “Har HaBayit (Temple Mount)* is in our hands! stewardship of the city. Jerusalem as an attractive city because it 5.
the Beit HaMikdash is located in the center of Yerushalayim, cares; because Jerusalem is the historic Which leads to one final irony. The notion
the Hall is located in the center of the Beit HaMikdash, On this day, God gave us the opportunity to return to Here are five reasons why: centerpiece of Jewish peoplehood. The of dividing Jerusalem into two capitals
the Ark is located in the center of the Hall and the Even HaShtiya, the Holy City of Yerushalayim – the Eternal Capital of Israel. 1. Arabs and Palestinians don’t really care with two governments has been around
1
2
from which the world was created, lies before the Ark. e Kotel (the outer Western Wall of the Temple) about Jerusalem; they never have. In for decades, leading Israeli governments
3 was under our control again! Full Israeli control over greater Jerusalem fact, they would consider it a triumph if to delay and deny eastern Jerusalem the
4 Explanations is the linchpin for the country’s grand Jerusalem were so wracked by conflict and development dollars it needs. After all, why
in the center – the most important part. security posture. Jerusalem anchors the poverty that it was ruined for 1,000 years – should Israel invest there if one day eastern
the Hall – the place where the Table and Altar were located. Because this event was so miraculous, the Chief Rabbis of Israel
Even HaShtiya – a holy foundation stone under the Holy of Holies. instructed us to sing the Hallel prayer on this day. critical west-east axis from the coastal just as long as it would be lost to the Jews. Jerusalem may be forked over to an Arab
the world was created – this stone was the rst object created. plain to the Jordan River. Israel’s long- regime?
e rest of the world was created from it. term hold of the strategic arc from Jaffa

to Jericho necessitates Israeli dominance
Anybody who looks at the map of Israel sees that * e Temple Mount is the place on which the Temple was built. and the reinforcement of Israel’s military " But now the Israeli government has

Yerushalayim is not in the center. What did our rabbis mean then? in and around Jerusalem. This should determined that Jerusalem must and will
be buttressed by settlement in E-1, the
remain whole under Israeli administration,
2. Based on Maharal, Agaddot, Rosh Hashanah, Page 23 Jerusalem Quiz expansion of Maale Adumim eastwards, Israel has and not just for security reasons; and that
e meaning is not that it is the geographical center of Israel… Israel has received important international
rather that it is always in a Jew's heart, which is the center of the body. 1. How many gates are there around the Old City Walls? and civilian presence maintaining a developed backing for this stance (Trump: “We have
defensible border in the Jordan Valley. taken Jerusalem off the table”) – Israel
e heart is so important that the entire body depends on it for survival. 2. What are they called? Jerusalem as an can no longer ignore its responsibilities to
So is the case with Yerushalayim, which is the central 2. develop the eastern half of the city.
and most important part of the Land of Israel. The shearing of the city into Arab
All Jews face it in prayer, wherever they are in the world. 3. How many names does Jerusalem have? and Jewish sovereignties would turn attractive city Which explains why it is davka the most

So Yerushalayim is the heart of the world, Jerusalem into Belfast at its worst. Any conservative administrations ever, led by
section under Palestinian sovereignty because it cares Prime Minister Netanyahu and Jerusalem
the heart of the Land of Israel and the heart of the Jewish nation. 4. Can you name 10 of them?
Just like the heart pumps blood throughout the entire body, will become Ground Zero for the fierce Mayor Barkat, that have finally begun to
so Yerushalayim “pumps” spiritual life into the Jewish people wars being waged within the Arab world, invest in the welfare of Jerusalemite Arabs.
and become a base of attack on Israel. Investment and good governance on the
and into the entire world. 5. What is the source of the expression “Jerusalem of Gold”? Thus a partitioned Jerusalem will lead 4. local level is the core of sovereign political
to violence that will suck the lifeblood However, effective rule is going to action that will keep Jerusalem whole and
from the city in every way – culturally, require massive investment by the Israeli make it prosperous for all.
religiously, economically and more. government and Jerusalem municipality,
6. What does the name “Yerushalayim” actually mean?
because eastern Jerusalem has been David M. Weinberg is the Vice-
3. neglected for decades. And only a generous President of the Jerusalem
The truth is that for the past 50 years Israeli approach can overcome the Institute for Strategic Studies
7. What sites or places in Jerusalem are named a er a. Saul b. Moses c. David?
Israel has managed the complicated suspicion and hostility that leads to www.davidmweinberg.com
Send your answers to:
city with sophistication and sensitivity. security problems. The good news is www.jiss.org.il
kids@mizrachi.org
and you could win a prize!

Prize winners from the last issue: Azariah Grogin (9), Chashmonaim,
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Israel, and Ya'akov Meir Tuman (9), Chicago, USA.