Jerusalem IS Israel's Capital

Why is Jerusalem our capital? 18 reasons

Dr. Yitschak Ben-Gad - UCI Exclusive,  May 7th, 2013

[Yitschak Ben-Gad, Former Consul General of Israel to the US Midwest, Florida and Puerto Rico. Author of Politics, Lies and Videotape: 3,000 Questions and Answers on the Mideast Crisis. Find out more about Yitschak on our UCI Speaker's Bureau page here.]

1. The Jewish people are the only nation in the world to declare a day of mourning and fast to perpetuate the memory of their Temple that was destroyed twice on the same day (Tisha B'Av):  the first destruction at the hands of the Babylonians, the second at the hands of the Romans.
2. King David reigned a total of 40 years, 33 of which were from Jerusalem, also known as the City of David.
3. Jerusalem is mentioned thousands of times in our sources:  the Bible, Mishnah, Talmud, etc., yet it is not mentioned even once in the Koran.
4. Jerusalem has been mentioned for thousands of years every day in prayers by Jews around the world:  morning, afternoon and evening and in the Grace after the Meal.
5. Jerusalem was never the capital city of any other nation in history besides the Jews.
6. Jerusalem is remembered even on a Jew's happiest day – his wedding day.  At the end of the marriage ceremony, the groom recites the following:  ”If I forget thee Oh Jerusalem let my right hand lose its cunning…. “. Then, the groom breaks a glass to remember that there can be no completely joyous occasion until the Temple is rebuilt.
7. Since the destruction of the Temple and throughout history, Jews have always resided in Jerusalem, most of the time as the majority of its populace.
8. Throughout the generations, Jews the world over remember Jerusalem each Passover holiday.  At the conclusion of the Hagadah reading they sing:  ”Next year in Jerusalem.”
9. Our sages have said:  ”Ten drops of beauty were given to the world, nine of which were given to Jerusalem.”
10. The name of the Almighty, G-d of the Hebrews, appears in the word “Jerusalem”.  One of His names is “Peace” (“Shalom”), which is found in the world “Jerusalem” (“Yerushalaim”).
11. 800 years ago, Rabbi Yehuda HaLevy, the renowned poet, expressed the Jews' longing for Jerusalem thusly:  ”My heart is in the east (Jerusalem), while I am in the far west (Spain).”
12. The prophet of Islam never once visited Jerusalem.  There is only a Moslem legend that claims that Mohammed was brought to Jerusalem in the dark of night by the angel Gabriel.
13. All Jews the world over pray in the direction of Jerusalem, while Moslems pray in the direction of Mecca, Saudi Arabia.
14.  According to Islam, the city of Jerusalem is only third in religious importance after the cities of Mecca and Medina.
15. The Western Wall, the only remains of the Temple destroyed by the Romans about 2000 years ago, is a testimony to the Jewish nation's connection to Jerusalem.
16. During Jordanian rule over Jerusalem (1948 – 1967) the city was gravely neglected and closed to Jews.  Today, the city flourishes and is open to all religions.
17. Until 1967, the Palestinians considered themselves to be an integral part of the Arab world and not as a separate nationality.  Moreover, they never before claimed that Jerusalem was their capital.
18. The Iranian president, Ahmedinejad, has not done his “homework” about the history of his own nation.  The last sentence of the Bible, in the Book of Chronicles II, 36:23, reads:  ”The Lord of heaven has given me (Koresh, King of Iran) the kingdoms of the earth; and he has charged me to build him a house in Jerusalem, which is Yehuda.  Whoever is among you of all his people (the Jewish nation) – the Lord his G-d be with him, and let him go up (to Jerusalem)!”

Here is an interesting story:  Winston Churchill, British Minister of the Commonwealth, later to become prime minister, said the following to Chaim Weizmann, later to become Israel's first president:  Why do you stubbornly insist on the Land of Israel as your people's state?  Why not take another country in Africa (Uganda)?  Weizmann answered this way:  Why do you, mister minister, insist on travelling every Sunday to visit your mother who lives a three hour's drive away?  There are plenty of old women in your neighborhood.  Why not take one and make her your mother?

Take note:  Even the name of the United States appears in the word “Jerusalem”.  JerU.S.A.lem