YOM YERUSHALAYIM: The heart & soul of the Jewish people

Yom Yerushalayim is a monumental day in Jewish history. It is a celebration of the first time in 2,000 years that Jews regained sovereignty over the Kotel, the Western Wall, and the Temple Mount, which is Judaism’s holiest site. And it is a time to thank G-d for giving us the extraordinary gift that is Jerusalem.

We were overwhelmed and outnumbered by our enemies in 1967, yet the State of Israel and the Israel Defense Forces achieved a miraculous victory when they reclaimed and reunited Jerusalem in a defensive war after Jordan launched an attack against them. We salute and remember the brave Israeli soldiers who battled our antagonists and prevailed in just six days, retaking Jerusalem and the Kotel along the way.

Many of us, young and old, sometimes take it for granted that we have control over Jerusalem and unfettered access to our holy sites. However, it is important to always recall that there was a time, not that long ago, when Jerusalem was off limits to Jews.

Understandably, it is difficult for the younger generation, who did not experience a divided Jerusalem, to fathom that there was an era when Jerusalem was not under our purview. For those who lived through it, it was extremely painful and especially frustrating that we were precluded from visiting Israel’s capital. Jews throughout the world prayed that Jerusalem would once again be ours and we yearned for the time when we could once again bask in the holy glow of this righteous and radiant city. Now, years after Israeli forces achieved this remarkable feat, even the older generation can easily forget about the centuries that Jews were denied access to our most holy sites.

We must thank G-d on Yom Yerushalayim for restoring our connection to Jerusalem and for keeping His promise. It is a day to reflect and appreciate the great gift that He has given us. And it is the perfect occasion to focus on the vital role that a unified Jerusalem plays in the lives of the Jewish people.