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Jerusalem Day ("Yom Yerushalayim") commemorates the re-unification of Jerusalem in 1967.
There are many places in the Bible where scripture reference is give to Jerusalem. It is a holy place and the site of Solomon's Temple. When the Bible talks about Jerusalem, people always go up to it or down from it. In Revelation 21:10, there is a "New Jerusalem that comes down from heaven."
The Six Day War began on June 6, 1967. On June 8th of the month of Iyar, according to the Hebrew Calendar, Israeli forces broke through Lions' Gate to the Old City. On June 28th, the Government of Israel proclaimed the Reunification of Jerusalem, the Capitol of Israel. The Chief Rabbinate recognized the 28th of Iyar as a religious holiday of thanksgiving.(1) It is believed that around 776 soldiers fell during the Six Day War in 1967. There were also around 182 soldiers killed in the battle for Jerusalem.
The 28th of Iyar is also the 43rd day of the Counting Of The Omer.
Perhaps more than anything else, Jerusalem Day helps us to remember that Jerusalem has served as the Jewish capital for more than 2000 years. Jerusalem has never been the capital of any other nation except for Israel.
On this day, thousands of people go to the Western Wall (Kotel) for special festive prayer services. Political dignitaries such as the mayor and military leaders
usually attend some type of event. Awards are handed out. It is common to hear the original version (sung by Shuli Natan) of the song "Yerushalayim Shel
Zahav" (Jerusalem of Gold) on the radio. This name is often given to Jerusalem because the late afternoon sun causes buildings and hills to glow gold.
There are also 18 torches that are lit at the Western Wall along with prayers and dances in remembrance of the soldiers who died regaining it. Sometimes, giant laser beams light up the sky with images representing peace such as a dove.
There are now traditional marches such as the Rikudgalim Flag Dance March from Downtown Jerusalem to the Western Wall.(2) On May 12th 2010 there were 100,000 participants in this march which is the largest number ever to participate in this event.(3) Another march is a march by the Temple Mount and Land of Israel Faithful Movement from Ammunition Hill in northern Jerusalem to the old city and the Temple Mount. This is to bring awareness of the coming rebuilding of the temple. It has also become popular to pray and study and the Kever Shmuel HaNavi (the Tomb of Samuel the Prophet) since it is believed that he died on the 28th of Iyar.
The Bible teaches that in the last days (end times), all the nations will surround and come against Jerusalem. (Ezekiel Chapters 38&39. Also Zechariah 12:3.)
The importance of Jerusalem, especially from God's perspective, should never be forgotten.
"If I forget you Jerusalem, let my right hand lose its strength. Let my tongue cling to my palate if I fail to recall you, if I fail to elevate Jerusalem above my highest joy." (Psalm 137:5-6)
Yom Yerushalayim – Jerusalem Unification Day – is the day Ethiopian immigrants memorialize the thousands who died or were killed on the their trek through the Sudan to reach the planes that would bring them to Israel in Operation Moses, the first aliyah from Ethiopia.(4)
Some 4,000 Ethiopian Jews died trying to reach the “Promised Land,” according to Avraham Edga, who in 2000 wrote (in Hebrew) a book called “The Journey to the Dream.” Edga himself was one of those who trudged through the desert sands to reach the mechanical silver birds that would wing them away to the city they always dreamed of.(4)
There is no other city in the world like Jerusalem. It was chosen by God as the holy city.
This is where the remaining western wall, also known as the Wailing Wall or Kotel, left from the temple still stands.
Gen. Uzi Narkiss then central commander of Israeli forces in Jerusalem has told what he believes to be the biggest miracle of the war. The Israeli government was communicating with Jordan's King Hussein, assuring him it had no intention of attacking the Old City. Hussein, however, was talked into action by Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser, who ordered that Israeli troops be fired upon. By believing Nasser's lie and firing upon the troops, Hussein gave Israel the opportunity to win the city.(5)
We are not told when God first considered Jerusalem to be His holy city, but He had a faithful priest king there during the time of Abraham. Many centuries before, Israel's priest ministered there or Israel's kings ruled there.(6)
(The king's name was Melchizedek, and it was he that Abraham recognized and gave tithes to in Genesis 14.)
I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go to the house of the Lord.”(Psalm 122:1)
Jesus visited Jerusalem many times and was crucified near there. This is the general area where the Messiah is to arrive at His second coming ( Mt. Zion
Revelation 14:1). Jewish tradition has it that He will enter the Golden Gate.
Jesus mourned for the people of Jerusalem and the city as a whole. He considered it a holy place. He went to the temple to which he referred to as his father's house to worship. Jesus longs for the day when he can open up his arms and embrace the people of Jerusalem. At this time, all will know Him. Someday Israel will cry out, "Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD (Psalm 118:26 and John 12:15)."
Matthew 23:37 "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing."
On June 27th, Israel officially annexed the Old City of Jerusalem, declaring its ancient capital as the undivided, eternal capital of Israel. This declaration was 40 years old on June 27, 2007. While not necessarily a birthday, it is the 40th anniversary of the reunification and a reason to celebrate that after thousands of years, Jerusalem is once again than capital of a sovereign Jewish State.
Wed. 5-12-2010 was the 43rd anniversary of the reunification of Jerusalem.
There are several organizations now involved in the process of preparation to rebuild the temple. It is true that there is still no solution to the geographical location of the rebuilding. Jew law requires it to be rebuilt on the same site as the previous two temples, the temple mount. Currently, there stands the Dome of the Rock, on or near the area of land needed for the temple so some type of solution must be found before construction can begin. There are groups already creating to Biblical specifications the necessary items to be used such as garments including the High Priest Robe and training for the priests.
Recently the San Hedrin Court has been re-established and is calling for blueprints to be drawn up for the Temple. Along with this they are calling for some parts of the temple to be prefabricated now and stored off site until the time comes to move them onto the temple mount.
For more on this please read Re-building The Temple.
Read about Temple Related Traditions.
Pray together for the peace of Jerusalem. Psalm 122:6
For a list of future holidays dates check the Master Calendar Table.
Jerusalem related articles of interest include:
There is a Midrash (folklore story) that Jerusalem is the mezuzah on the doorpost of Earth.
There is now an organization that is dedicated to keeping Jerusalem the undecided capital of Israel. For more information on this please visit OneJerusalem.org
Learn more about Israel.
1). Arutz-7@IsraelNationalNews.com 5/28,29/2003.
2). Arutz 7 News 5/26/06.
3). Israel Nation News (Gil Ronen and Yoni Kempinski).
4). Arutz Sheva News 5-12-2010 (Hana Levi Julian).
5). Elwood McQuaid with Israel My Glory, A Friend Of Israel Ministry Publication, (May-June 2007).
6). Book of Hebrews commentary by John MacArthur, p.176.
