A melody can be heard from Jerusalem's Bridge of Strings, and it resonates with the very roots of my soul. An ancient melody, thousands of years old, called Jerusalem, once played by the Levites on harps and violins on the way to the Temple. After the destruction of the Temple, the melody was planted in the hearts of all Jews wherever they dispersed. It celebrated their joy and it accompanied their sorrow. This melody did not cease for a moment – not in Yemen, South America, the Caucus Mountains, Europe, Morocco or any other place the Jews ended up in their wanderings.
The wish for peace in Jerusalem, just like the yearning and longing to return to it, gave the Jews hope that one day we will indeed return to Jerusalem, even if it takes thousands of years. And we waited to return home, redeem the land, rebuild its ruins and restore the glory of ancient days.
The love for Jerusalem was tucked into the belongings of every Jew, always on their lips, never forgotten. The land of Zion and Jerusalem were the heart's desire of the prophets, who prophesied today's reality. Anyone walking around the holy and sanctified city with a Bible in his hand will be thrilled to discover how accurate the prophets had been in their vision.
"When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dreamed" (Psalm 126:1). Indeed, sometimes dreams come true. Jerusalem, the city that was brought together, will be united forever and ever.
Next week, during the Shavuot holiday, hundreds of thousands of Israelis from all corners of the land, together with pilgrims and Jews from all over the world, will make a pilgrimage to Jerusalem to bask in the city's beauty and spiritual power and marvel at its foundations and chiseled stones. People will be flocking in droves to the Western Wall to declare in front of the world that Jerusalem is once again bound together forever and ever, creating camaraderie between all Jewish people.
Today, in a very impressive ceremony, the U.S. Embassy will open in Jerusalem. Such a natural step took years of tremendous diplomatic efforts to achieve. The promises made in the past were not fulfilled, as American presidents lacked the leadership and the courage to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, mainly for petty and pragmatic reasons, but also because of theological considerations.
Praise and thanks to U.S. President Donald Trump, who keeps promises, fulfills his vision and firmly sets aside ulterior motives.
I can see before my eyes a day when Jerusalem will house missions from all over the world. When the flags of all the nations will wave in the Jerusalem breeze. As the prophet Isaiah, said, "And many nations will go and say go rise to the mountain of the Lord. … The law will go out from Zion, the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. … They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore." (Isaiah 2:2-4)
May the world know that Jerusalem is the city of global peace and hope for a better future for all of humanity.
