O Jerusalem

Throughout the centuries, Jews all over the world have turned towards the city of Jerusalem when praying. Jerusalem Day, the day which commemorates the re-unification of Jerusalem in 1967, begins at sundown on Thursday, 21 May 2009 (28th of Iyar, 5769).

Israel Harel writes in Haaretz in an article entitled, "Obama is dividing Jerusalem", "Today, Jerusalem Day, a state ceremony will be held marking 42 years since the liberation of Israel's capital. In his speech, Netanyahu can somewhat cool down Obama's messianic fervor and (politely) make clear to whom - exclusively - Jerusalem belongs. He can pledge that after the Paratroopers liberated the city in 1967, no foreign power will ever again pass through its gates."

Psalms:137:5 If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget her cunning.
Psalms:137:6 Let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth, if I remember thee not; if I set not Jerusalem above my highest joy.

At a Jewish wedding ceremony, a glass is placed on the floor and the groom shatters it with his foot. This act is an expression of sadness at the destruction of the Temple. Even at the moment of greatest rejoicing, the couple is mindful of the Psalmist's injunction to "set Jerusalem above my highest joy."

"Im eshkachech Yerushalaim tishkach yemini, tidabek l'shoni lechiki im lo ezkerechi. Im lo e'eleh Yerushalaim al rosh simchati."