Yom Yerushalyim

Today is a really special day in Jewish History because it was on this day in the 1967 War when we recaptured Yerushalayim and we were able to daven at the Kotel for the first time in years. Now, thank Gd, there are so many Jews living in and visiting Yerushalayim, who can all go to the Kotel whenever they want! Thousands of Jews go to the Kotel today to sing and dance in gratitude for having Yerushalayim. 

Here is a video showing the Kotel throughout the years:

(Stories taken from Aish.com)

When the Western Wall was liberated in 1967, Jews from all over the World felt an electrifying excitement, as once again the Wall was in our hands.

The following two stories of Israeli soldiers, who participated in the liberation, exemplify how the Wall has touched the hearts of Jews throughout the ages.

Moshe Amirav, a paratrooper, describes his first minutes at the Wall:

We ran there, a group of panting soldiers, lost on the plaza of the Temple Mount, searching for a giant stone wall. We did not stop to look at the Mosque of Omar even though this was the first time we had seen it close up. Forward! Forward! Hurriedly, we pushed our way through the Magreb Gate and suddenly we stopped, thunderstruck. There it was before our eyes! Gray and massive, silent and restrained. The Western Wall!

Slowly, slowly I began to approach the Wall in fear and trembling like a pious cantor going to the lectern to lead the prayers. I approached it as the messenger of my father and my grandfather, of my great-grandfather and of all the generations in all the exiles who had never merited seeing it ― and so they had sent me to represent them. Somebody recited the festive blessing: "Blessed are You, O Lord our God, King of the Universe who has kept us alive, and maintained us and brought us to this time." But I could not answer "Amen." I put my hand on the stones and the tears that started to flow were not my tears. They were the tears of all Israel, tears of hope and prayer, tears of Chasidic tunes, tears of Jewish dances, tears which scorched and burned the heavy gray stone.

Abraham Duvdevani also describes his first encounter with the Wall:

"Narrow alleys, filthy passageways, garbage at the entrances of shuttered shops, the stench of dead legionnaires ― but we paid no attention. Our eyes were fixed on the golden dome which could be seen from a distance. There, more or less, it had to be! We marched faster to keep up with the beating of our hearts. We were almost running. We met a soldier from one of the forward units and asked him the way and hurried on. We went through a gate and down some steps. I looked to the right and stopped dead. There was the Wall in all its grandeur and glory! I had never seen it before, but it was an old friend, impossible to mistake. Then I thought that I should not be there because the Wall belongs in the world of dreams and legends and I am real.

Reality and legend, dream and deed, all unite here. I went down and approached the Wall and stretched out my hand towards the huge, hewn stones. But my hand was afraid to touch and of itself returned to me. I closed my eyes, took a small, hesitant step forward, and brought my lips to the Wall. The touch of my lips opened the gates of my emotions and the tears burst forth. A Jewish soldier in the State of Israel is kissing history with his lips.

Past, present and future all in one kiss There will be no more destruction and the Wall will never again be deserted. It was taken with young Jewish blood and the worth of that blood is eternity. The body is coupled to the rows of stones, the face is pushed into the spaces between them and the hands try to reach its heart. A soldier near me mumbles in disbelief, 'We are at the Wall, at the Wall...' "

Remembering Our Soldiers

Right now in Israel it is Yom Hazikaron, a memorial day for the fallen Israeli soldiers.

We should never forget how appreciative and be grateful we should be for the soldiers who are risking their lives for our safety and the safety of Eretz Yisrael.

These videos are about two incredibly heroic soldiers who gave their lives protecting what was so special to them.

Courtesy of Aish.com

"You can't fulfill your dreams, unless you dare to risk it all."

- Michael Levin

Life Changing Moment

Having a Bar Mitzvah at the Wall in Israel is a life changing event because it helps increase understanding of one's heritage and Judaism. 
I had my Bar Mitzvah at the Wall in Israel, and it changed my life. I was able to have it in Israel, my homeland, and in the most holy place in world. It takes me back to the summer of 2012 on my trip to Israel with NCSY and JSU (two Jewish groups that I belong to). 
The trip was called TJJ (The Jerusalem Journey). This was the best summer of my life and I had lots of friends on my bus and in other programs in Israel too. I was fortunate enough to have my Rabbi, Rabbi Gershie, as the head of Bus 2 . There were nine buses filled with teens from all across the world and my bus had teens from all of the Midwest. While I knew the whole time that the time would come to have by Bar Mitzvah at the Wall, I slowly prepared with Rabbi Gershie for it. The more I prepared, the more nervous I got. The day came and I could not stop thinking about what was to take place in a few hours. My life would change forever!

One hour before my Bar Mitzvah my NCSY adviser, Michael Kahn, joined me from another program and brought two of my good friends with him, Ricardo and Joey. I ran up to them and gave them a hug and said “Thanks so much for coming.” They replied, “We would not miss it for the world.” Then unexpectedly I ran into NCSY’s National President from two years ago, Amanda Esraelilian. This was so much fun to see her because I have not seen her in a year. Unfortunately, she could not make it to my Bar Mitzvah because she was interning with the OU ( Orthodox Union). I also had another special treat. One of the greatest Rabbis that I know, Rabbi Nissel, came to the celebration with me. I knew at this time that soon I would be Bar Mitzvahed and was once again very nervous.

Everyone walked over to the Wall through the Old City. When we approached the Kotel I heard whispering others praying. At that point the only thing running through my head was this is really happening. As we approached the Wall, I eagerly started preparing for the day that changed my life. As I put on my Tefillin, with the help of Joey and Michael, I felt a feeling of belonging and also felt a welcoming as it was an opening to a new journey. The service started. I was clueless when I was going to go up but then I got the cue. I approached the altar and was sweating and nervous. We called my parents so they could hear me recite some of the Torah. This was the time. I grabbed the tzitzis from my side, pulled them up and touched them with my lips and placed them on the Torah. This was the moment that it all came down to. Then, from the place I touched with the tzitzis I recited the Torah after Rabbi Gershie, “Barchu et Hashem hamevorach (Bless G-d who is the Blessed).” When I finished reciting the Torah I pulled my Tallis over my head everyone threw candy. I smiled and I started to dance as I heard some music beginning to play. Then I danced around the Torah with my friends, This was the start of my new journey.

Post by, Lee Goodman

Ki Va Moed - The Time Has Come

The following was written by a friend of mine who is in Israel for the year. I found it to be incredibly inspiring, and thought it might have the same effect on you.



As we all know it is not an uncommon phenomenon for Israel to be met by threats and danger by her vicious enemies. In an expression of concern we find ourselves perusing news channels, papers and websites for information and facts about the situation. Whilst facts are important, people are more so and it is for this reason that I am writi

ng this.

Being in Israel at this time is nothing short of a privilege. Whilst the threats are immanent and the people weary; there is an undeniable spirit of resilience and unity that presides, one that no journalist or report will ever capture. The sirens drone and rockets fly, yet I have found myself truly memorized by the morale of the people, pressed to find someone void of courage, hope and faith. I am not for one moment trying to negate the great danger and tragedy of the situation that faces Am Yisrael here in Israel, but rather wish to try and demonstrate the true heroism of our people, for whom this is but normal. Ironically all too many “out of towners” have said they feel safer here than they ever have in Chutz La Aretz, the answer, as to why is quite simple. In Israel fellow Jews, not hostile strangers, surrounds us. Media stations do not try and vilify the IDF, but rather send out the names of the wounded so people can daven for them. Jews do not feel vulnerable, but united, empowered as a people in our land. Perhaps the most reassuring of all is the people’s faith. Named operation “Amud Anan” by secular army officials, after the pillar of smoke that guided Bnei Yisrael out of Mizrayim in the Torah, it is impossible to think that Hashem is not with His people at this dire time. On the contrary, we join together and sing… “Atah Takum, T'rachem Tsiyon, ki et l'chenanah ki va moed.” “Rise up, comfort Zion, because it is time to be gracious to her, because her time has come!”

The time has indeed come. The time has come for Am Yisrael to defend itself. The time has come to end the ongoing terrorism that plagues our people. The time has come for Am Yisrael to live in peace.
Ki Va Moed.

How can I do something?

Throughout the past few days, we have been hearing about the tough situation that has been going on in Israel. We have all been going through many emotions. One of them being distance. I feel that this is a very present emotion for myself and many others. We all feel for our brothers and sisters in Israel, but we are at a loss of what to do.  I came across something that looks to me like an amazing opportunity.

On this site, you can fill out a very simple form about yourself, and in return you get a name of a solider or resident who is in need of your help. This is your special partner. You can do anything you want, in his merit, to help him through this time. Acts of kindness, learning, davening, saying brachos etc... are all acceptable!

By having this one name become a part of you- I think that we will all be able to feel a little bit closer, and hopefully with HaShem's help we will be able to accomplish GREAT things! 

Here is the link:
http://www.shmiraproject.com/SignUp.aspx

We Are Unlike Any Other Nation

And Eretz Yisrael Is Unlike Any Other Land

"Eretz Yisrael is not something apart from the soul of the Jewish people, it is no mere national possession, serving as a means of unifying our people and buttressing its material or even its spiritual survival. Eretz Yisrael is part of the very essence of our nationhood; it is bound organically to its very life and inner being. Human reason, even at its most sublime, cannot begin to understand the unique holiness of Eretz Yisrael; it cannot stir the depths of love that are dormant within our people. - Rav Avraham Yitzchak HaKohen Kook ztl

We Will Stand With Israel Forever

“Courage is... the knowledge of how to fear what ought to be feared and how not to fear what ought not to be feared.”
-David Ben-Gurion, Israel's first Prime Minister

As we keep Israel in our thoughts and prayers, we must remember that life in Israel continues. Although times can be devastating- too much time spent in bomb shelters, too many sounds of rockets- we cannot live in fear. We must remember that as we unite, we become stronger. Together, we ignite the beautiful flame that is the worldwide Jewish community. Together, from wherever we are in the world, we support Israel.

Prayer for Israeli Soldiers - Remy Kaskel

Please pray for the Israeli soldiers fighting in Gaza right now.


מִי שֶׁבֵּרַךְ אֲבוֹתֵינוּ אַבְרָהָם יִצְחָק וְיַעֲקֹב הוּא יְבָרֵךְ אֶת חַיָּלֵי צְבָא הֲגַנָּה לְיִשְׂרָאֵל, הָעוֹמְדִים עַל מִשְׁמַר אַרְצֵנוּ וְעָרֵי אֱלהֵינוּ מִגְּבוּל הַלְּבָנוֹן וְעַד מִדְבַּר מִצְרַיִם וּמִן הַיָּם הַגָּדוֹל עַד לְבוֹא הָעֲרָבָה בַּיַּבָּשָׁה בָּאֲוִיר וּבַיָּם. יִתֵּן ה' אֶת אוֹיְבֵינוּ הַקָּמִים עָלֵינוּ נִגָּפִים לִפְנֵיהֶם. הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא יִשְׁמֹר וְיַצִּיל אֶת חַיָלֵינוּ מִכָּל צָרָה וְצוּקָה וּמִכָּל נֶגַע וּמַחְלָה וְיִשְׁלַח בְּרָכָה וְהַצְלָחָה בְּכָל מַעֲשֵׂה יְדֵיהֶם. יַדְבֵּר שׂוֹנְאֵינוּ תַּחְתֵּיהֶם וִיעַטְרֵם בְּכֶתֶר יְשׁוּעָה וּבְעֲטֶרֶת נִצָּחוֹן. וִיקֻיַּם בָּהֶם הַכָּתוּב: כִּי ה' אֱלֹהֵיכֶם הַהֹלֵךְ עִמָּכֶם לְהִלָּחֵם לָכֶם עִם איבֵיכֶם לְהוֹשִׁיעַ אֶתְכֶם: וְנאמַר אָמֵן

He Who blessed our forefathers Abraham, Isaac and Jacob -- may He bless the fighters of the Israel Defense Forces, who stand guard over our land and the cities of our God, from the border of the Lebanon to the desert of Egypt, and from the Great Sea unto the approach of the Aravah, on the land, in the air, and on the sea.

May the Almighty cause the enemies who rise up against us to be struck down before them. May the Holy One, Blessed is He, preserve and rescue our fighters from every trouble and distress and from every plague and illness, and may He send blessing and success in their every endeavor.

May He lead our enemies under our soldiers’ sway and may He grant them salvation and crown them with victory. And may there be fulfilled for them the verse: For it is the Lord your God, Who goes with you to battle your enemies for you to save you.

Jewish Unity for Israel

Over 100 rockets from Gaza have hit Southern Israel in the past 24 hours. Situations like this should remind us that no matter who we are or where we stand, we are all one family!

Our hearts and our prayers are with our brothers and sisters in Israel.