m
The Canadian Jewish News, Rosh Hashanah Supplemeni, September 12,1985-Page 43
Much written
„ By SIMON GRIVER
JERUSALEM (W'ZPS)-
,Throughout {he centuries many of the world's great
■scribes, poets, writers and
. "artists have included images of Jerusalem in their works At the same tinie leaders, politicians and other eminent figures have rcferi'ed
.to Jerusalem in their speeches,;
Thus Jerusalem, is quite literally a remarkable city. in so far as so many people have tell, compelled .to remark about it.
A comprehensive collection of such comments about Jerusalem would comf^ortably filf several fat volumes, the following brief selection reflects not only the Holy City "scolor-ful and "chequered history
■but also 'the romantic esteem, religious ecsta.sy andJewish faithfulness thai have always been associated with Jerusalem.
Perhaps the most fa-rrious praise of Jerusalem was penned back ii) biblical times in these immortal words from Psalms 137: "If I forget thee, O Jerusalem let my right hand wither! Let my tongue cleave to my mouth If I remember thee not, if I prize not Jerusalem above all mv
joys." '
Of course Jerusalem was also.to become .sacrc;d to' both Christianity and Islam. . For the Christians the city
.was always to have an atmosphere of awe which could not be separated from .
■■ the crucifixion of Jesus, as;.
: this verse" from the New . Testament book of Matthew, reveals: "'O Jerusalem. O Jeru.salerti, thou that killest thepropHets and stonestthern whicK are. sent to thee."
.As the Jewish people endured centuries of exile.the image of Jerusalem and its centraiity within Judaism was faithfully' and assiduously adhered to. Much was writt-en in the Talmud about . Jeru.salemof which this line in the Qiddushin is amongst the most famoijs. "Ten measures of beauty.were ■ given the world, nine were ; taken by Jerusalem and one by all the rest."  .   . '
While Christian Europe adopted Judaism's ardor for Jerusalem, Christiani- , ty did not pine for an exiled return to the Holy City but envisaged Jerusalem as a metaphor for Paradiseand strove to rebuild Jerusalem, thus recapturing a past glory in another place and another time.
:  William Blake, theJ8th century-English poet, cap- ■ turesthis' fervent dream m. the folknving stan/a:
'"I will not cease from'
mental fight, ■"Nor shall my sword sleep
■i.n niy hand. ■'Till we have built
Jerusalem. .' "In England's green and
pleasant land.",
Islam too came to re\ ere Jeru.saletn and after the Prophet Mohammed ascended to heaven from the Temple Mount*^the city became known in Arabic as Al Kuds — the holy. In the wordsof . Mohammed himself, "ihe^. dew which descends upon
Paul & Phyllis Rosengarten
/^e.s7 wishes t(j our chilclreii;.. :grandcliildrcn\frknids and rdiitives y for a happy, healthy & peaceful Sew. Year.y
Mr. & Mrs. Larry Rachlin Adam & Karen
wish their relatives <nul. friends ■.. d happy and healthy New Year.: ,
Wishing all our family and friend^ a happy and healthy New Year.
Jacqueline & Meyer Rotblott
yVishinii airnur family and frietids ■ a happy and healthy Xcw Year. .
Leo & Bunny Rpsenbaum and JBernard Burns
Toronto, Ont.
Thefaces of Jerusalem are vibrant and richly expressive and nowhere more so than In the Mahane Yehuda market.
Jerusalem is a remedy tor every.sickness becau.se it is -from the gardens of paradise.", ,
However, while Jierus-aiem was theoretically sacred to Islam, in practice the city was allowed to , decay by its Mo.slem masters. In particular, during four centuries of Turkish rule commencing in 1516, Jerusalem declined into a crumbling Levantine village. ■ Visiting Western pilgrims were disappointed when confronted by the .sordid realitv of a city that once
was synonymous with paradise. As Mark Twain wrote in Innocents Abroad, ■ 'Jerusa 1 em is. niournfuI, dreary and lifeless." A fellow 19th Century novelist. Gustave Flaubert was even inore derogatory; ■■Everything in it is rot-ling," he wrote, ' "the dead dogs in the streets, the religions in the churches.'.' . Biil if Jerusalem disappointed itinerarit Chri.stian.s it remained a .source of inspiration for Jews despite its ostensibte.squalpr. The city had always retained a Jewish rnajgrity and .with'
the birth ol mcKlern political Zionism the founding' fathers of the planned Jewish State were .enchanted by their future capital.
David Ben-Gurion, the first Prime Minister of I.'^rael, was characteristical-: ly succinct when as.serting that Jerusalem miist be the countr\''s capital. ■ 'If a land has a soul,"" he said, '"then Jeru.salem i.s the souf of the Land of Lsrael." .
Contemporary Israeli writers like Yehuda Amichai, viho has made his home in Jerusalem,
have captured in words the historical meaning of the return to Zion: —
"All the previous generations contributed to me
"Piece by piece that I might be built here in : Jerusalem, .
"All at once, like a synagogue or poor house,
"It obligates one. My name is the name of my donors,
"It obligates one."
Henry, Bella, & Murray Rosenbaum and Family
wish- their relatives and friends .  ii happy and healthyXew- Year.
Mr. & Mrs. Jack & Ray Ross & Family
/10 Majestic Court
W.ish their relatives, friends & neighbors. a happy and healthy New Year.
Joe & Helen Redlick and Perry
wish, their relatives and friends a.happy.and healthy Sew: Year.
Mn & Mrs. A / Reinstein and Family
\ .25 Maxwell Street; ■
' It,7:v// their relatives. Jriends.y^ neighlv.trs ' \   a happy,a}id l\edh.h.v Scw Year.
,x- , ■F>est,-d:isbesft)rayear:'ofy.
■| peace \uid- serenity j.\ealth and happiness
\- to our children, grandchildren^ „'
) ',            relatives aiidfriejids'. .■
f llahhi Doctor S: AU's. .V/. Bi/rak S: family, :
i '         afidall niernhers of the
J Beth Jacob.Congregatu)}!.,'
1 '. ■     and the people of Israel
I Mr. & Mrs. Robert Rosen
§        31 Brockington Cres.
Best wishes for a year of y peace and serenity, health and happiness .     to our relatives and friends and the people of Israel
Wally Reinstein
8 ..
■\-\'isl!inxaU i)ur Janiifv d') 1 jn.oul^-. II happy and heaii:i\y\.yw Year. ■
The Rosenberg Family
56 Barksdale Avenue. Downsvie.w
■ ■■Hcstwisliesforayearof 'peai e and'serenity. liealih and luippiness' tom'ir relatives and friends and the pec>pk'<.)f Israel:.-■
Mr. & Mrs. Jack Rosen (Sporn)
I    Dr. & Mrs. Sandy Shulman ? Andrea; David, Michael & Tara
) . ' wisliihcir relatives and frioids, \ : '  ■ :i I'.appy and lu\dlh:\ .\'cw )'ein:.'
Murray & Sylvia Rumack and Family
Wish their relatives, frioids & neighbors a happy and healthy .\'cwYedr: