Introducing Jerusalem Moments

If you haven't yet discovered it, I want to share with you the new blog of my friend Rachel Sharansky Danziger. This true labor of love was born when Rachel wanted to find a special way to honor the 50th celebration of the reunification of Jerusalem, which we will observe this year on May 24. Like all Jewish holidays, the observance will begin the night before, and continue throughout the day. But for Rachel and her readers, Jerusalem Moments began to capture the spirit of the celebration of the miracle that is Jerusalem 50 days before, on April 5, as Rachel knew that there is so much about Jerusalem to celebrate. From the lofty achievements to the daily grind, from the holy to the incidental, from the tragic to the joyous, Jerusalem is truly the City at the heart of our people's love affair with Israel.

Each day, Rachel spends time formatting the prose or poetry or snippets of commentary and remarkable photographs she has solicited from contributors throughout Israel. Each day, there are new treats for the eyes and souls of those who choose to pop in for a visit. If you begin to peruse the archives of this beautiful blog, you may as well put off doing the dishes or writing that report for a later hour: there is so much of value here to anyone who wants to celebrate our precious and holy Jerusalem. From knitting soldiers to talking pipes, from the heartbreak of Yom HaShoah and Yom HaZikaron to the boundless gladness of Yom HaAtzmaut, from even beneath the streets to the colorful mass of idiosyncrasies that is Mahane Yehuda shuk, you can get a taste of our Jerusalem.

Jerusalem Moments is about geography and history -- but it is mostly about the people that have made and continue to make up this most glorious of cities.

Rachel invites you to participate with your moments, your memories, your photographs of this grand City. Send your submissions to her at jerusalemmoments@gmail.com with a short bio and a headshot, and add your words and pictures to this delightfully diverse collection of viewpoints of Jerusalem's rebirth.

Jerusalem Moments can be viewed at http://www.jerusalem-moments.com/, and you can follow on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/JLMmoments/

Reunited and it feels so good...

Yom revi'i, 28 Iyar 5771, Yom Yerushalayim.

Kol isha alert:  Ofra Haza sings "Jerusalem of Gold."  Besides its beauty, this version is especially nice, as it gives translation and Hebrew subtitles; so it makes a good learning tool.

What else needs to be said than is stated so clearly and poignantly by the great Naomi Shemer?

יום ירושלים שמח לכולם

When G-d gave out the vocal gifts, He gave an extra portion to the Leviim (Levites), I am told.  I would not be surprised to learn that Ofra Haza, a"h, is a descendant of the family of Levi.


Glossary:
Kol isha: Various interpretations exist regarding the subject of men listening to the singing of women.  Check with your own posek (rabbi who answers questions of Jewish Law).

Contrasts

Yom chamishi, 27 Iyar 5769.  Yom Yerushalayim mukdam (early, so as not to conflict with erev Shabbat).

"US Sec'y of State Hillary Clinton reiterated on Tuesday the US stance that Israel must halt its settlement activity on the West Bank:  'We want to see a stop to settlement construction -- additions, natural growth -- any kind of settlement activity.  That is what the President has called for.'" (quote transcribed from the broadcast of  JerusalemOnline news for 20 May 2009)

Just to put this in perspective, this means that the US government demands requests that Israel force my neighbor to stop building the house he has already paid for and received permits to build; that Israel prevent my landlord from adding an addition onto his house; that Israel mandate that my children not live in my community when they grow up and move out on their own.  I am guessing that -- temporarily, at least -- Barack Hussein and Hillary would not mind if we do these things in Tel Aviv.  Just not out here in the Judean Hills (from the same shoresh as "Jew"), or in the Shomron, or in certain parts of Jerusalem...

Aize chutzpah!

In contrast, a little recent history, a reminder of why we don't have the right to give up this precious moresha:


Hat tip:  Tsila Kahane

And because laughing is better than crying, and perspective (especially set to music) is important, please drop by Walt Handelsman's blog for a little animated "Recession Sing-A-Long" here. Hat tip to the Israel White House.

"And don't forget: finances can be a worry back in America as well! I think it more sensible to live in the land about which is said 'the Eyes of God are upon it' since He's the One who holds the purse strings anyway."  (Riva Pomerantz, from her article "Aliyah without Regrets," published at Aish.com) Hat tip to Rebbetzin Doctor Rivkah Lambert Adler

Look, mamaleh...  If it's bad there, and it's crazy here...  Why not be crazy with your family?

Daniella Tikva says, "Come Home!  It's a great place for kids!  And don't forget to say 'Tefilat Ha-Shelah Ha-Kadosh' for me and my dor!"

Glossary:
Mukdam:  early
West Bank:  a silly, made-up term that has caught on in the MSM that refers to Yehuda and Shomron and 'Aza, Biblically-recognized as having been bequeathed to the children of Israel from Hashem
Aize chutzpah!  "What cheek!" is as close as I can get.  Remind me to tell you the best definition for chutzpah sometime.
Moresha:  inheritance
Mamaleh:  a term of endearment -- "little mother" --  used for females mostly, but sometimes for males as well
Tefilat Ha-Shelah Ha-Kadosh:  a prayer made by a very great man, said (especially) at this time of year, that one's children should cleave to Hashem and to Torah
Dor:  generation