| . |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
B'nai Emet -> Messages -> Conservative Jewish Commitment -> 2005Through the Centuries: Quotes on JerusalemCompiled by Dorothy Opaz"Rejoice with Jerusalem, and be glad with her, all that love her; rejoice with her, all that mourn for her… For thus says the Lord, Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river, and the glory of the nations like a flowing stream…"(Isaiah 66:10-12) "Whoever mourns for Jerusalem will be privileged to see her rejoice."(Bava Batra 60b) "By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion. Upon the willows in the midst thereof we hanged up our harps. For there they that led us captive asked of us words of song, and our tormentors asked of us mirth: 'Sing us one of the songs of Zion.' How shall we sing the Lord's song in a foreign land?" (Psalms 137:1-4) DEDICATION TO THE TEMPLE (950 BCE) – II Chronicles, Ch. 6:3-6; Ch. 7:5"King Solomon turned his face, and blessed the whole congregation of Israel… and he said…the Lord God of Israel…since the day that I brought forth my people out of the land of Egypt, I chose no city among all the tribes of Israel to build a house in, that my name might be there; neither chose I any man to be a ruler over my people Israel: But I have chosen Jerusalem, that my name might be there… And King Solomon offered a sacrifice of twenty two thousand oxen, and a hundred and twenty thousand sheep; so the king and all the people dedicated the House of God." AL-MUKADDASI'S DESCRIPTION (10th century)When it comes to discernment and modesty, the people of Jerusalem are
unsurpassed… There are no drunkards in Jerusalem, nor are there houses of ill
repute – for the people of Jerusalem have kept faith with the Lord. Life in
Jerusalem is pleasant, its streets are clean, and its inhabitants are men of
good will from all walks of life. Hardly a day passes without some stranger
coming to visit the city. People find themselves drawn here – people from all
over the world – drawn here as if by some irresistible, intangible force. "MILK AND HONEY" – (1481)The buildings of Jerusalem are very fine and the stones are larger than in
the buildings of the other places that I have seen. The land flows with milk and
honey although it is hilly and ruined and desolate, and every thing is cheap;
its fruits are choice and very good. There is a carob honey… also a date honey,
and the honey of bees, and wheat and barley and pomegranates and all kinds of
fruits good and fine; and they have good olive oil, but they only eat sesame
oil, which is very fine. "INNOCENTS ABROAD" – (1867)Perched on its eternal hills, white and domes and solid, massed together and hooped with high gray walls, the venerable city gleamed in the sun. So small!… A fast walker could go outside the walls of Jerusalem and walk entirely around the city in an hour… The streets are roughly and badly paved with stone, and are tolerably crooked enough so as to make each street appear to close together constantly and come to an end about a hundred yards ahead… (Mark Twain) "LA FEMME DE CLAUDE" – (1873)We are living in an age in which each and every nation has decided to ask for the return of its own country, home, language, and sanctuary. For too long have the Children of Israel been deprived of all this… We are not prepared to remain a sect; we wish to be a people. More than that: a nation. A spiritual homeland no longer suffices us. A real, earthly homeland is becoming a vital necessity for us, and I shall go to demand it, and to obtain our legitimate birth certificate… Next year in Jerusalem! (Alexandre Dumas, fils) THEODORE HERZL'S DIARY – (1898)If Jerusalem is ever ours, and if I were still able to do anything about it, I would begin by cleaning it up. I would clear out everything that is not sacred, set up workers' houses beyond the city, empty and tear down the filthy rat-holes, burn down all the non-sacred ruins, and put the bazaars elsewhere. Then, retaining as much of the old architectural style as possible I would build an airy, comfortable, properly sewered, brand-new city around the Holy places.
|
|
