Jerusalem Day: thousands at the Western Wall • "regret for controversies"
Tens of thousands took to the Kotel on Jerusalem Day • Western Wall Rabbi Shmuel Rabinowitz: "Alongside the great joy there is deep regret for the disputes. Allow the Wall to be a place of traditional prayer"
- Nachman Gur, B'Chadrei Charedim
- כ"ט אייר התשע"ג
Tens of thousands flocked during the day (Wednesday) to the Western Wall to mark the reunification of Jerusalem and the return of the Jewish people to pray and cling to the stones of the Western Wall.
As of yesterday evening thousands of youth marched to the Wall, through the night and this morning, when the peak will take place during Thanksgiving rally events which will be held in the traditional 'flag dance' departing from central Jerusalem towards the Western Wall. Participated in the rally: The Western Wall rabbi, Rabbi Shmuel Rabinowitz, Rabbi Shai Piron Education Minister, Housing Minister Uri Ariel, rabbis and public figures and tens of thousands of teenagers.
Western Wall Rabbi said, "This rally expresses a clear message to the world that Jerusalem is the heart of the Jewish people since being a city before more than three thousand years. Wailing Wall stands firm against the storms of time for two thousand years. It waited for us to cry upon its stones and to mourn the destruction of the temple; here and now we will let the world know: we will never abandon it! We have no negotiations with anyone who wants to take away our heart.
"On this day alongside the great joy there is also deep sorrow - sorrow for the controversy which has darkened the Kottel plaza. There are those seeking to describe the Jewish people as torn and divided between the streams. However, I will say that from the window of my room which overlooks the Western Wall I see one people, which has something which unites them rather than divides; A people who has one past, one present and one future. A people with a rich and glorious heritage which they can take pride in, imbued with a sense of mission to repair the world and opposite these stones we must minimize the differences, and discover the Jewish people in its full glory and strength."
Rabbi Rabinowitz finished with a request: "I urge this day of celebration of Jerusalem - let the Wall be what it is, a place of deep intimacy and traditional prayer, as customary for generations. Do not let this Wall be a place of gapping and highlighted gaps and differences between Jews. 'We are brothers.'
As of yesterday evening thousands of youth marched to the Wall, through the night and this morning, when the peak will take place during Thanksgiving rally events which will be held in the traditional 'flag dance' departing from central Jerusalem towards the Western Wall. Participated in the rally: The Western Wall rabbi, Rabbi Shmuel Rabinowitz, Rabbi Shai Piron Education Minister, Housing Minister Uri Ariel, rabbis and public figures and tens of thousands of teenagers.
Western Wall Rabbi said, "This rally expresses a clear message to the world that Jerusalem is the heart of the Jewish people since being a city before more than three thousand years. Wailing Wall stands firm against the storms of time for two thousand years. It waited for us to cry upon its stones and to mourn the destruction of the temple; here and now we will let the world know: we will never abandon it! We have no negotiations with anyone who wants to take away our heart.
"On this day alongside the great joy there is also deep sorrow - sorrow for the controversy which has darkened the Kottel plaza. There are those seeking to describe the Jewish people as torn and divided between the streams. However, I will say that from the window of my room which overlooks the Western Wall I see one people, which has something which unites them rather than divides; A people who has one past, one present and one future. A people with a rich and glorious heritage which they can take pride in, imbued with a sense of mission to repair the world and opposite these stones we must minimize the differences, and discover the Jewish people in its full glory and strength."
Rabbi Rabinowitz finished with a request: "I urge this day of celebration of Jerusalem - let the Wall be what it is, a place of deep intimacy and traditional prayer, as customary for generations. Do not let this Wall be a place of gapping and highlighted gaps and differences between Jews. 'We are brothers.'