Israelis from Jerusalem and all around the country converged on their capital today to begin celebrations for Jerusalem Day - the 35th anniversary of the liberation and reunification of Jerusalem in the Six Day War of 1967. It will be recalled that Syria and Egypt spent the weeks before that conflict threatening Israel, and when it appeared that a clash was inevitable, Israel informed Jordan that it had no interest in attacking her. Jordan\'s King Hussein, however, could not resist entering the war against Israel, and lost control of eastern Jerusalem, Judea, and Samaria for his troubles. It should further be noted that his control over these areas in 1948-1967 was recognized by only two countries in the world - Britain and Pakistan - thus that Israel\'s reunification of Jerusalem was a manifestation of historic justice for the city. \"Photographs and paintings of Jerusalem from the mid-to-late 19th century,\" Arutz-7\'s Shai Ben-Tekoa says, \"show that what is now called \'Arab eastern Jerusalem\' never existed until after Zionism began.\"
Celebrations of the holiday today include the inauguration of the homes of the first two Jewish families to live on Mount of Olives in 2,000 years. Yesterday, two other families moved into their new-old homes in Nachalat Shimon, just 200 meters west of the Shimon HaTzaddik neighborhood. Yeshivat Beit Orot, a hesder yeshiva (combining Torah studies with army service) one kilometer northeast of the Old City, is one of the sponsors of these initiatives as the latest of its projects to redeem old Jewish neighborhoods in the capital. MK Rabbi Benny Elon, the former dean of the yeshiva, said that the purpose is to form Jewish \"territorial contiguity\" in the area, \"from Shmuel HaNavi neighborhood, through Shimon HaTzaddik, to the Hyatt Regency area, to Beit Orot.\"
Thousands of people of all ages will attend the annual Jerusalem Day celebrations at Beit Orot throughout tonight - singing, dancing, and marching to the Western Wall. Many congregations will recite special thanksgiving prayers tonight and tomorrow in honor of the day.
Celebrations of the holiday today include the inauguration of the homes of the first two Jewish families to live on Mount of Olives in 2,000 years. Yesterday, two other families moved into their new-old homes in Nachalat Shimon, just 200 meters west of the Shimon HaTzaddik neighborhood. Yeshivat Beit Orot, a hesder yeshiva (combining Torah studies with army service) one kilometer northeast of the Old City, is one of the sponsors of these initiatives as the latest of its projects to redeem old Jewish neighborhoods in the capital. MK Rabbi Benny Elon, the former dean of the yeshiva, said that the purpose is to form Jewish \"territorial contiguity\" in the area, \"from Shmuel HaNavi neighborhood, through Shimon HaTzaddik, to the Hyatt Regency area, to Beit Orot.\"
Thousands of people of all ages will attend the annual Jerusalem Day celebrations at Beit Orot throughout tonight - singing, dancing, and marching to the Western Wall. Many congregations will recite special thanksgiving prayers tonight and tomorrow in honor of the day.