“Im eshkachech Yerushalayim, tishkach yemini” – “if I forget Jerusalem, may my right hand lose its skill”.

Yom Yerushalayim (Jerusalem Day) takes place on the 28th of Iyar (Hebrew date) which falls out this year on the evening of May 25th and on the 26th.

Unlike many other chagim, Yom Yerushalayim is not referenced in our Torah nor is it a date of significance prior to 1967.

Yom Yerushalayim is an Israeli national holiday which commemorates the “reunification” of Jerusalem following the Six Day War in June, 1967.

Jerusalem was reunited under Israeli control on June 7,  1967 –  during the Six Day War. Prior to the war, Jerusalem was a divided city. The western part of the city was controlled by Israel and the eastern parts, including the Old City and its holy sites including the Har Habayit were under Jordanian rule.

Due to the heroic efforts of the IDF who battled tirelessly to overtake the Jordanian enemy, the entire city of  Yerushalayim was once again reunited and eventually it became recognized as the official Capital of the State of Israel.

Although King David considered Yerushalayim the Capital of the Jewish nation, it wasn’t until decades later (December, 2017) did the world recognize the city as such. Indeed a very long time for Jerusalem to become the official sovereign capital of Israel.

As the holiest ancient city known to acheinu bnai yisrael, Jerusalem’s rich history is inspired and imbued with a level of kedusha due to its physical location including the two Batei Midrash that were destroyed.

Yerushalayim is indeed the spiritual and religious epicenter of our Jewish world – having weathered very difficult and harsh wars, destruction as well as occupation by our........

© The Times of Israel (Blogs)