The Old City of Jerusalem

Today we toured the old city...

King David's Tomb:  David rested with his ancestors and was buried in the City of David. And David was king over Israel for forty years, he was king 7 years in Hevron and 33 years in Jerusalem... I Kings 2:10-11.

With the reading of Psalm 23, we entered a traditional burial place of King David on Mt. Zion.

...and entering the old city, we marveled at the reconstructed Ramban synagogue...

...made our way to the Davidson educational center and the Kotel HaMasorti where men and women can pray together in peace...

... and continued to the Israel Museum and the Shrine of the Book.  We finished at the Tower of David museum and walked back to the hotel through the new shopping district outside Jaffa Gate. Day 2 was a full day to be sure!

We learned that by walking on the ancient paving stones of our people's history, we could be taken back in time and join in common purpose with our ancestors in the land of Israel.  What a precious experience it is to walk where the great rabbis Hillel and Shammai walked, and to sing the songs of King David in the place where he ruled. How wonderful it is to read from a 2,000 year old scroll of Isaiah here in the city where he proclaimed his prophecy! Such moments change our lives and outlook forever.

On the modern political front, Prime Minister Netanyahu has announced serious escalation against Hamas in Gaza, and committed to continuing strong movements there until the rocket fire ceases. We great this news warmly, knowing that it is only because of the rockets from Gaza that this is happening.  This morning more missiles were aimed at Tel Aviv, though Jerusalem is quiet.  Our tour remains safe and smart, and we are shifting our "southern" itinerary for this Sunday and Monday to a Central/Coastal itinerary to stay out of the way of what needs to be done by the military in the south.  If only we could have continued to the south, as we had planned, but our new touring plan is also exciting and very worthwhile... more to come on this tomorrow.

...If I forget thee, Jerusalem, may my strength be also forgotten...

Tomorrow we travel to Masada and the Dead Sea... as we trace the path of the scrolls, and seek the mysteries of the desert. Stay tuned!

- Rabbi Tobin

B'nai Shalom Reaches Jerusalem

After 3 hours delayed on the airplane in Newark, we had an uneventful flight to Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion airport!

Our first stop was Yad VaShem, the museum of the Shoah - the murder of 6 million Jews in World War II.  Our question is "What is Zionism Today?" One answer is "The commitment to establish a safe haven for Jews in a Jewish State."

Justifying Israel with the Holocaust is a tricky business at best.  Is it a good enough reason?  Absolutely.  The Jewish people has a right to self defense, and to live in peace knowing that the other nations of the world have all eventually failed to protect us as citizens of those countries.

Yet the argument against the State of Israel is also empowered by the Holocaust as a rationale for establishing the State of Israel. After all, they say, it was Europe's sin - so Europe should pay the price and give up their own land for the Jews.  It is a strong argument, and impossible to debate, if the Holocaust is the justification for Israel.

The truth is that Zionism was alive and well long before Hitler, and while the world gained an added measure of sympathy for the Zionist cause in the wake of the Holocaust, that is not the main reason why Israel exists.... but more on that in the days to come.

Every time I travel to Israel, I am impressed by the ongoing building of infrastructure. From a new tower at the airport, to the renovation of the old railway station, to the cutting of new highway tunnels to the new city, the country is alive and growing in every direction.  It is encouraging and a source of pride.

Leaving Yad VaShem, we went to Talpiot to the Haas Promenade.  There we saw the city of Jerusalem for the first time from a beautiful vista.  Pausing to read from Psalms 48:12 "Walk about Zion and encircle her, count her towers. Consider well her ramparts and go through her citadels so that you may recount her to future generations," we lifted a cup of joy and said the shehechiyanu prayer.  Blessed are You oh Lord our God, master of the universe, who has sustained us, keeping us in life and bringing us to this sacred moment.

From Jerusalem with love,

  

B'nai Shalom on the bus. "Moving right along..."

  Overlooking the old city of Jerusalem, 5774.

 At Yad VaShem 5774

Rabbi Tobin

UPDATE:  Sirens in Jerusalem at 10:03 p.m., and all is safe. Not to worry in the least, as we continue our trip in the old city tomorrow. Later reports indicated that a missile fell in an open area near Ein Keren, outside of the main city.  Iron Dome tracks missiles and projects their trajectory.  Missiles aimed at open areas are allowed to land, as destroying missiles causes shrapnel to fall in a larger and less predictable area.  If the trajectory looks to be at or near developed land, the defense missiles are launched to intercept the incoming missiles. With an 85% success rate, and a very attentive population below, the system is miraculous.