What Jerusalem Means to Us: Jewish Perspectives and Reflections

Jerusalem is a distinctive city for Judaism, Christianity, and Islam and their adherents. It is equally special for millions of Jews and Arabs worldwide, for Israelis and Palestinians, who revere it and regard it as a precious inheritance from their ancestors, spiritual or physical or both. For the Jewish connection to Jerusalem, the main subject of this volume, Jerusalem stands as the heart of Judaism and Jewish consciousness. Additionally, Jerusalem has ideological and political...
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Jerusalem is a distinctive city for Judaism, Christianity, and Islam and their adherents. It is equally special for millions of Jews and Arabs worldwide, for Israelis and Palestinians, who revere it and regard it as a precious inheritance from their ancestors, spiritual or physical or both. For the Jewish connection to Jerusalem, the main subject of this volume, Jerusalem stands as the heart of Judaism and Jewish consciousness. Additionally, Jerusalem has ideological and political significance to Jewish Israelis and to Jews worldwide. A symbol of self-determination and national independence, its possession and safety are paramount. This is anchored in the Zionist vision and program to establish for the Jewish people "a publicly and legally assured home in Palestine," especially in Zion or Jerusalem, as was decided at the First Zionist Congress, which met in Basel, Switzerland, in August 1897 and as was expressed in the Balfour Declaration in November 1917. The vision became a reality in May 1948, when the Zionist movement declared the creation of the Jewish state, Israel. It also accounts for Israel's policies and actions, mainly its constant efforts to Judaize Jerusalem and ensure Jewish dominant presence there.What Jerusalem Means to Us: Jewish Perspectives and Reflections addresses the intimate and unique connections among Jews, Judaism, and Jerusalem along a variety of dimensions - religious, spiritual, historical, cultural, political, psychological, and social. These are manifested through the perspectives and reflections of sixteen Jewish leaders representing different backgrounds. The resultant essays present a rich array of personal and professional transformations, extraordinary love and hope for Jerusalem, as well as an honest appraisal of some of the challenges of daily living. What follows provides glimpses or insights from each author's contribution.