Page 4 - Hamizrachi #30 USA 2021 Yom Yerushalayim - Shavuot

TORAT MIZRACHI

Israel should not attack. Eventually, Heaven and Earth Yom Yerushalyim, celebrated on this
Moshe Dayan’s decision was overruled Our Sages describe how Jerusalem is very day of our return to Jerusalem,
and the Cabinet gave the green light. the only city in the world that exists on 54 years ago on the 28 of Iyar, is a
th
It was time to return to Jerusalem for two planes, in Heaven and on Earth. wonderful opportunity to express our
the first time in 2,000 years… at any cost. Jerusalem on High and Jerusalem down appreciation for the miracles of our
At that very same time, another below. Nothing happens in Jerusalem on generation. Together with Shavuot, it is
dramatic decision was being made. The High unless it happens concurrently in the perfect time to reflect on our unique
commander of the Jordanian troops in Jerusalem below. One is a reflection mission in the world.
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the Old City, sensing the inevitable and of the other. The spiritual destiny of Yom Yerushalayim and Chag Shavuot
realizing he was surrounded, requested the city is inseparable from its physical Sameach!
permission to retreat over the Mount of reality.
Olives and back over the Jordan River. Perhaps, at the very moment the
General Riad gave his approval and the debates between the Rabbi and
Jordanians fled that same evening! Commander and within the Cabinet
When Motta Gur positioned himself were taking place in the city below,
on the Mount of Olives the next a similar debate was being held in 1
This was an expression used by Abba Eban,
morning, preparing for the battle of his the Heavenly Cabinet – between the Israel’s Foreign Minister, who actually said, “…
life, he was astounded. There was barely םירוגיטק, the prosecuting angels, and the The June map is for us equivalent to insecurity
a Jordanian soldier in sight. םירוגינס, the angels of mercy. and danger. I do not exaggerate when I say
After a few minor skirmishes and Were the Jewish people worthy of that it has for us something of a memory of
Auschwitz. We shudder when we think of what
mercifully with very little loss of life, returning to Yerushalayim Ir HaKodesh? would have awaited us in the circumstances of
Motta Gur proclaimed the iconic Was this the moment they’d been June, 1967, if we had been defeated; with Syrians
words, ונידיב תיבה רה, “The Temple waiting for for 2,000 years or would on the mountain and we in the valley, with the
Jordanian army in sight of the sea, with the
Mount is in our hands.” Israel had they have to wait 2,000 more? Egyptians who hold our throat in their hands in
accomplished what seemed impossible Would there be more devastating loss Gaza.”
with all the political predictions and of life in a battle on the Mountain of 2 A reference to Rav Soloveitchik’s famous
military assessments from just a few G-d or would there be a more merciful essay, Kol Dodi Dofek, in which the Rav uses
days before. outcome? the metaphoric imagery in Shir HaShirim, Song
The Jewish people had returned As we know, Divine mercy won the of Songs, to contextualize the establishment of
Israel and return to Zion as G-d knocking on
Home. day. Am Yisrael would not have to wait the door, so to speak, of Jewish destiny.
Motta Gur recounts a breathtaking any longer and little blood would be
Rabbi Bin-Nun recounts that Motta Gur
conversation between himself and spilt on that epic day in Jerusalem in 3 mentioned this in a radio interview following
Rabbi Shlomo Goren, the IDF’s Chief June 1967. Rav Goren’s passing in 1994. Another version
Rabbi at the time, which had taken This extraordinary turn of events – appears in Rav Goren’s autobiography, edited
place the evening before. While in and the entire Six-Day War – is another by Avi Rath and translated into English as With
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Might and Strength.
the Rockefeller Museum at the north powerful reminder of the meaning
eastern tip of the Old City, awaiting of Jewish life. Our collective journey 4 Ta’anit 5a.
orders, the Rabbi said to him, “Motta! on earth cannot be separated from
Jewish history obligates you to liberate our heavenly odyssey. Individual and
the Old City!” Motta replied that while national master plans cannot be severed This article is the basis of the script
he draws great inspiration from Jewish from the Master’s plan. The existence for Mizrachi’s special new video for Yom
history, he takes his orders from his of Israel and Jerusalem are a constant Yerushalayim, see page 17.
superiors. “Motta,” said Rabbi Goren, testimony to the inextricable bond
“Jewish history will not forgive a Jewish between human history and Divine
commander who had the opportunity to Providence; between Jewish destiny and Rabbi Doron Perez is Executive Chairman
reclaim Jerusalem and did not do so.” spiritual destination. of the Mizrachi World Movement.

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