Don’t Take Yerushalayim for Granted | Rav Yitzchak Berkovits

What’s said in this shiur

The opening of this shiur, in Rabbi Yitzchak Berkovits’s own words — taken from the captions, so names and Hebrew terms may be approximate.

There are a few different aspects to Yom Yerushalayim. I just want to begin by begging some forgiveness. Um I'm going to try not to, but it'll probably happen. Sound like one of these old-timers reminiscing. But you do have to have some kind of understanding of the background of what was going on to appreciate what Yom Yerushalayim is. And even from a perspective of Halakha to understand the significance. You know, the War of Independence ended with an armistice that left the State of Israel with uh indefensible borders. Devoid of so many of the Mekomos Hakdoshim. The Kotel HaMaaravi, the Old City altogether. Rachel's Tomb, Kever Rachel. Hebron. Like the big treat when you came to Eretz Yisrael, if you did, was to climb up on a fire escape somewhere at the edge of Mea Shearim to get a glimpse of the Dome on Har HaBayit. And it said those borders were indefensible. And historically, there was always skirmishes up north. Jerusalem, especially. The population lived on the border. The Jordanian snipers with the here there do some target practice on Jews. And all different things that happened. But '67, everyone knew the Arabs were planning a war. And their plan was and they openly said this, to push the Jewish population into the Mediterranean. They had built up an arm supply. Syria and Egypt had an air force. Israel was far outnumbered in terms of planes, ammunition. And as it became apparent that they were going to attack, most of the world declared neutrality and there was arms embargoes against Israel. I was in high school. I remember what it was like. Word was out, and by the way, it was later confirmed. What was the army involved in? Preparing mass graves for the victims in the center of the country. People were predicting another holocaust. There were to heal and rallies all over America.

Jump to a moment

1. 0:00There are a few different aspects to Yom Yerushalayim. I just want to begin by begging…
2. 3:45going to attack, most of the world declared neutrality and there was arms embargoes against Israel.…
3. 8:04on the ground. That's how it began. Something similar happened with Syria. The entire Syrian Air…
4. 12:12And the building was being shelled. Of course, they were saying tillim. The building was shaking.…
5. 15:58They didn't give up. They kept at it and eventually no one knows exactly what the…
6. 20:11over it. It was bought by El Al. The airport was filled with from Jews. Wherever…
7. 24:45Yisrael of Derech Hateva shouldn't have survived. It was Nisan and it was flawless. Not only…
8. 28:42surely those who were traditional, where in the beginning everyone was talking about miracles in the…
9. 33:05unheard of. You can do car every year. Clothing, forget about it. I remember I used…
10. 37:23Miraculous. Saving of the Jewish Yeshiva of Eretz Israel. And especially in Yerushalayim. And appreciate what…

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