Page 2 - HaMizrachi 2 Chicago Edition

Rabbi Leonard Matanky

Jerusalem

of Gold and Iron

There were two songs composed about How can we explain the draw of both Yerushalayim, the city “of gold, of copper
Jerusalem in 1967. The first was Naomi the darkness of ב ָה ָז ל ֶשׁ ם ִי ַל ָשׁוּר ְי and the and of light” is the center of Jewish
Shemer’s immortal ב ָה ָז ל ֶשׁ ם ִי ַל ָשׁוּרְי – dream-like ל ֶז ְ ר ַבּ ל ֶשׁ ם ִי ַל ָשׁוּר ְי? national life that we celebrate this week.
Jerusalem of Gold. The second is nearly And that light and beauty became stronger
forgotten, but debuted immediately after The answer is found in the Ramban’s through the sacrifices of the many, during
the war in the amphitheater on Mount (Nachmanides) commentary to the the battle for the eternal capital of the
Scopus, at a concert for soldiers of the litany of curses contained in this week’s Jewish nation.
55th Paratroop Brigade. parsha.
Next Year in Jerusalem!
At that event, Rivka Michaeli, an Near the end of his comments, the
Israeli actress, announced, “There is a Ramban notes there is one curse
soldier here who is invited to come up which is actually a blessing in disguise:
on stage.” She then called upon Meir “And I will lay to waste the Land, and
Ariel, a reserve paratrooper destined to your enemies who dwell there will be
become one of Israel’s great poets. desolate.”

He didn’t want to get up, but at the Wrote the Ramban – this is good news.
urging of his friends, he slowly rose from Because it means that Eretz Yisrael will
the audience. Once on stage, he sang his never be hospitable to our enemies
own version of Shemer’s song, a version and therefore no nation will ever
he had written in the midst of battle with thrive in the Land – not the Romans,
a melody, rhythm and meter identical the Byzantines, the Moslems, the
to the original, but with one exception. Ottomans, the British… no one, except
His song was about the Jerusalem he and for us!
his friends had encountered in battle,
ל ֶז ְ ר ַבּ ל ֶשׁ ם ִי ַל ָשׁוּרְי – Jerusalem of Iron… Why is that “good news”? Because
of lead, blood and darkness; of fierce it proves God’s promises will also
fighting and of mothers who lost their come true. Just as Rabbi Akiva – who
sons in the war. witnessed a destroyed Yerushalayim –
told his colleagues that Uriah’s curses
The next morning, Michaeli broadcasted coming true was proof that Zechariah’s
a recording of that song on Israeli radio, blessings of a rebuilt Temple will come
and Meir Ariel became an instant national true as well.
hero. The traditional “Dance of the Flags” March in
And his colleagues replied, “You Jerusalem on Yom Yerushalayim
ב ָה ָז ל ֶשׁ םִי ַל ָשׁוּרְי and ל ֶז ְ ר ַבּ ל ֶשׁ םִי ַל ָשׁוּרְי – two have comforted us Akiva. You have
songs, one which described a beautiful comforted us.” 51 years ago our Rabbi Leonard A. Matanky Ph.D.
dream and the other a nightmare. Two world changed forever as the IDF is Co-President of Religious
songs which still coexist in Yerushalayim liberated Yerushalayim in a costly Zionists of America – Mizrachi
today. A city of great beauty, depth war… a Jerusalem of Iron. Yet despite USA, Rabbi of Congregation
and meaning; a city of families and so the losses, the hopes and dreams of K.I.N.S. of West Rogers Park,
many wondrous things; but also a city generations, Jerusalem of Gold, have and Dean of the Ida Crown
repeatedly desecrated by terror and fear. been greater. Jewish Academy

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