The Jerusalem Day I dream of….

When I dream of the Yom Yerushalayim I yearn for, I reflect on a spiritual day of gratitude to G-d and those who fought for the liberation, and a day where Jews of all shades celebrate the unification of our eternal capital—the city King David made his capital.

The miraculous events of 1967 marked a historic moment for the Jewish People, who had been denied access to the Western Wall. Jerusalem holds a special place in my heart, where I sense the holiness of ages. Many foreign guests I’ve guided through the city have clearly felt this unique aura too.

Sadly, Yom Yerushalayim has become sectarian to an extent. Within the midst of genuine Israelis – many who fought for our safety- there are elements which can and have led to a minority chanting intolerant, extremist, and racist slogans. More broadly, it is seen as a festival for the “right” rather than a national day. Working in the Mercaz, you would hardly notice it. This overshadows the day’s true potential and wonder.

Jerusalem should be the light of our lives, the root of our dreams, and a symbol of unity, tolerance, modesty, and peace—reflecting its very name. It should not echo the baseless hatred that led to the Temple’s destruction and our Exile.

Sadly though, we see it and we feel it—between left and right, religious and secular, and many more fault lines. This has always been and will always be our biggest challenge, only that it is now more acute when we are no longer a minority dispersed amongst the nations but a nation that has to administer the wheels of . justice and the economy.

I firmly believe, as do the vast majority of Jews, that  Jerusalem should remain the unified capital of the Jewish State, the City of David for 3,000 years, where Jacob slept and Abraham brought Isaac for the Akeidah, and where the Holy Temple stood. Yet, it should also be a place where other nations feel safe, and all Jews—regardless of background—feel welcomed and spiritually uplifted. There is no contradiction—which is not how the city was run pre-’67, when Jews were effectively banned from praying at the Kotel.

I dream of a Jerusalem that truly embodies peace, living out Zechariah’s prophecy:

“Thus says the LORD: I am returned unto Zion and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and Jerusalem shall be called the city of truth, and the mountain of the LORD of hosts, the holy city. Old men and women shall dwell in the streets of Jerusalem, and the streets will be full of boys and girls playing.”

Despite the immense emotion surrounding Jerusalem in a world where enemies seek to displace us, we must hold and defend it. In the same breath, we should aspire to build a City of Peace,  a City of Truth, free from terrorism, division, and hatred—a city where children play joyfully in the streets.

Doing both is an almost impossible task. There is no magic wand or easy recipe . Nonetheless, that is the one I believe God has set for us, so we should just get on with it.

Yom Yerushalayim is my Hebrew birthday. We had the honor and blessing of having our third child born in a hospital in Jerusalem, and we named her Aliza. It means both ‘Joy’ and is one of the names of the City, Jerusalem (Isaiah 22:2). I hope we bring back joy and gladness to Jerusalem and end the bitter division between our people.