Erev Shabbat Jewish Blogging
May. 26th, 2006 06:25 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
gnomiThis week, Yom Yerushalayim.
Today is the 28th of the month of Iyar. On this day, we commemorate the reunification of the city of Jerusalem (Yerushalayim) following the Six-Day War.
From the time of the Israeli War of Independence in 1948 until June 1967, Jerusalem was a divided city. On 7 June 1967, the 28th of Iyar 5727, Israeli Defense Forces captuerd the eastern half of Jerusalem, leading to the reunification of the city.
Yom Yerushalayim is the most recent holiday added to the Jewish calendar. It is a day of minor religious observance:
(from MyJewishLearning.com)
Jerusalem has been central to Jewish belief and practice for much longer than 39 years, however. As far back as the time of King David, the city has been the focus of our prayers. It is remembered in song and story, in psalm and piyut. We remember the beauty of the city and we mourn its loss and the loss of the Beit HaMikdash.
Psalm 137 recalls Jerusalem after the beginning of the Babylonian Exile. From this psalm, we have the following, sung by many right before Birkat HaMazon (the blessing after a meal) on Shabbat afternoon:
Shabbat shalom.
Today is the 28th of the month of Iyar. On this day, we commemorate the reunification of the city of Jerusalem (Yerushalayim) following the Six-Day War.
From the time of the Israeli War of Independence in 1948 until June 1967, Jerusalem was a divided city. On 7 June 1967, the 28th of Iyar 5727, Israeli Defense Forces captuerd the eastern half of Jerusalem, leading to the reunification of the city.
Yom Yerushalayim is the most recent holiday added to the Jewish calendar. It is a day of minor religious observance:
Following the model of Yom Ha'atzmaut, the Chief Rabbinate of Israel has decided that this day should also be marked with the recital of Hallel (psalms of praise), and with the lengthier version of Psukei d'Zimra (the psalms in the earlier part of the morning service). It is quite clear that ultra-Orthodox Jews, in Israel and abroad, have not accepted Yom Yerushalayim, but it is not clear how many Orthodox Jews chant the Hallel psalms on this day.
(from MyJewishLearning.com)
Jerusalem has been central to Jewish belief and practice for much longer than 39 years, however. As far back as the time of King David, the city has been the focus of our prayers. It is remembered in song and story, in psalm and piyut. We remember the beauty of the city and we mourn its loss and the loss of the Beit HaMikdash.
Psalm 137 recalls Jerusalem after the beginning of the Babylonian Exile. From this psalm, we have the following, sung by many right before Birkat HaMazon (the blessing after a meal) on Shabbat afternoon:
Im eshkachech Yerushalayim
Tishkach yemini
Tidbak l'shoni l'chiki
Im lo ezkereichi
Im lo a'aleh et Yerushalayim
Al rosh simchati
If I forget you, oh Jerusalem
May my right hand forget [its skill]
Let my tongue stick to my mouth
If I do not raise you up
Above my greatest joy
Shabbat shalom.
