I am not a creature from another planet as you seem to believe, I am a Jerusalemite - like yourselves, a man of flesh and blood. I am a citizen of my city, an integral part of the Jewish people.
I have a few things to get off my chest. Because I am not a diplomat, I do not have to mince words. I do not have to please you or even persuade you. I owe you nothing. You did not build this city; you do not live in it; you did not defend it when the Arabs came to destroy it. And we will be damned if we let you take it all away.
There was a Jerusalem before there was a New York. When Berlin, Moscow, London and Paris were nothing more than forest swamp, there was a thriving Jewish community here. It gave something to the world, which your nations have rejected ever since you established for yourselves - a humane moral code.
Here the prophets walked, their words flashing like forked lightning. Here a people who wanted nothing more than to be left alone, fought off waves of heathen would-be conquerors, bled and died on the battlements, hurled themselves into the flames of their burning temples rather than surrender; and when finally overwhelmed by sheer numbers and led away into captivity, swore that before they forgot Jerusalem, they would see their tongues cleave to their palates, and their right arm wither.
For two pain filled millennia, while we were unwelcome guests, we prayed to return to this city. Three times a day, we petitioned the Almighty: "Gather us from the four corners of the world, bring us upright to our land; return us in mercy to Jerusalem, Thy city, and dwell in it as Thou promised ... Next year in Jerusalem".
On every Yom Kippur and Passover, we fervently voiced the hope that next year would find us in Jerusalem. Your inquisitions, pogroms, expulsions, the ghettos into which you jammed us, our forced baptisms, your quota systems, your genteel anti-Semitism and the final, unspeakable horror, the Holocaust (and worse, your terrifying disinterest in it) - all these have not broken us. They may have sapped what little moral strength you still possessed, but they forged us into steel. Do you really believe that after Dachau and Auschwitz we are frightened by your threats of blockades and other obscene U.N. sanctions? We have been to Hell and back - a Hell of your making. What more could you possibly have in your arsenal that could scare us?
I have watched this city bombarded twice by nations calling themselves civilized. In 1948, while you looked on apathetically, I saw women and children blown to smithereens, this after we had agreed to your request to internationalize the city. It was a deadly combination that did the job: British officers, Arab gunners and American-made cannons. Today again I have seen Jews blown to bits and all you can say is the peace process must go on. How little has changed. For too long we have been your victims, your moral vision is still non-existent.
And in 1948 the savage sacking of the Old city; the willful slaughter, the wanton destruction of every synagogue and religious school; the destruction of Jewish cemeteries; the sale by ghoulish Jordanian government of tombstones for building materials, for poultry runs, army camps - even latrines. And you never said a word.
You never breathed the slightest protest when Jordanians shut off the holiest of holy places, the Western Wall, in violation of pledges they made after the war - a war they waged, incidentally, against a decision of the U.N. Not a murmur came from you whenever the legionnaires with the spiked helmets casually opened fire upon our citizens, from behind the walls.
Your hearts bled when Berlin came under siege. You rushed your airlift "to save the gallant Berliners". But you did not send one ounce of food when Jews starved in besieged Jerusalem. And when the same thing happened 19 years later, and the Arabs again unleashed a savage, unprovoked bombardment of the Holy City, did any of you do anything? The only time you came to life was when the city was at last liberated by a Jewish army and reunited. Then you wrung your hands and spoke loftily of "justice" and held out the charade of peace ... but for the Jews of Israel, unless they are dead there is no talk of justice.
The truth is - and you know it deep inside your gut - you would prefer the city destroyed rather than have it governed by Jews. No matter how diplomatically you phrase it, the age-old prejudices seep out of every word.
If our return to Jerusalem has tied your theology in knots; perhaps you had better re-examine your catechisms. After what we have been through, we are not passively going to accommodate ourselves to the twisted idea that we are to suffer eternal homelessness, until we accept your demands.
For the first time since the year 70, there is now complete religious freedom for all in Jerusalem. For the first time since the Romans put the torch to the Temple, everyone has equal rights. (You preferred to have some more equal than others). We loathe the sword - but we are not going back to the peace of 1948, as you would like us to. In your heart of hearts you now know that this peace process of 1993 is just another charade to try to once again drive us out of our Land and our City. It is time for you to make atonement for your sins and acknowledge that land for peace is fraud, chaver.
We are home. It has a lovely sound for a nation you have willed to wander for 2000 years over the face of the globe, and we are not leaving nor giving up one centimeter. We have redeemed the pledge made by our forefathers; Jerusalem, the Jerusalem of the Jewish people, is being rebuilt. All of Jerusalem, east and west, north and south, our Jerusalem. "Next year" - and the year after, and the year after, until the end of time. - "Next year in Jerusalem."
on an unrelated note, I tried the link
http://www.onejerusalem.org/blog/map.asp
that shows the range of different armaments if Jerusalem is divided. It shows 4 items, two of which are labeled the same (82 mm mortar, Range:1.8Km)(82 mm mortar, Range:4-6 Km). why are there two ranges for the same item?
Posted by: BurtB at May 12, 2008 10:34 PM
Very well stated - you spoke for us all!!!
Posted by: marc at May 12, 2008 8:09 PM
This is an old letter. I remember it from the 70's But it still rings true. It is aimed at all those who blame us for the ills of the world. It is aimed at those who say that in defending ourselves we are being unfair to the aggressor. It is aimed at those who do not understand that we are coming home to our spiritual homeland. It is aimed at those who find Jewish life cheap compared to political gain. It is aimed at the appeasers of terror.
May we, one day be allowed to live in peace with our neighbors.
Posted by: Reb Bahir at May 12, 2008 5:29 PM
Dear writer of the "Letter to the World from Jerusalem"
I stand behind you, and your nation with all my heart, also in my prayers.
Martin Siegwart
Switzerland
Posted by: Martin Siegwart at May 11, 2008 10:47 AM
I was moved very much by this excellent letter by Eliezer ben Yisrael. The message it gives is timeless and although it does not point the finger at anyone in particular , all those people who one way or another failed to act with compassion towards Israel, will surely recognise themselves in it.
I also like to join others in congratulating Israel on her 60th Anniversary!
May G-d bless her people to overcome her enemies.
Posted by: Matti of Finland at May 11, 2008 7:01 AM
If the arabs had agreed on Partition back in 1947 they too would be celebrating 60 years as a state. Instead they chose the course of destruction & murder. They seem to have money for bombs & bullets, but not for food? Interesting.
Posted by: Fran Chesler at May 11, 2008 1:05 AM
Bravo! Bravo! Who wrote this devastating declaration. It sings. So perfect for Yom Ha'atzmaut. Bravo, again. Next year indeed....
Posted by: Rachel at May 10, 2008 9:59 PM
Hail Israel!! I for one will never forget, God Bless Israel.
Posted by: Steve Robinson at May 10, 2008 6:55 PM
Here is one Gentile Christian with a Jewish heart that agrees with what the writer says. From boyhood I grew up with Biblical Jewish characters as my heroes. I was taught that Jerusalem was given to the Jews for ever - period, end of question. Their God and my God gave the land from the Nile river to the Euphrates River to the Jews, NOT to the Arabs. I stand with them and against their current President who wants give the Golan Heights and East Jerusalem to the Arabs. There is room for only one Capitol in Jerusalem, that of the Jewish Israel.
I was born in 1943 in the USA and was too young to be a part of all the terrible things done to the Jewish people in the past. I will do what I can for them both now and in the future. Long live the Jewish Jerusalem and Israel.
Posted by: Bruce at May 10, 2008 5:25 PM
The world dislikes Isreal for a good reason. The existence of Israel reminds that we all have Jewish blood on our hands. Rather than try to atone and make up for our actions, we would rather remove the evidence .....Israel.
It is written: none is righteous, no not one. This is certainly true where the world is concerned . Every nation has blood-stained hands.
Posted by: cactus at May 10, 2008 2:09 PM
Dear Chaim and all Jews,
I am writing to ask you forgiveness for not knowing all of the horrors that you have endured over the years. I am just learning how very much you have suffered as a nation and individuals.
Please know that there are many who are supporting Israel fully in her fight for full sovereignty of Israel and especially Jerusalem.
My prayers are with you every day.
Cyndy
Posted by: Cyndy at May 10, 2008 12:11 PM
I pray daily for the peace of Jerusalem! Psalm 122:6
Posted by: William Leonard at May 10, 2008 11:41 AM
The writer is quite emotional and rightfully so. America has always supported Israel. Am not sure why Busg supports dividing Jerusalem. My dad fought Hitler from a U>S> battleship. My son is in Iraq fighting JIHADIS. Bush has pledged to hold back IRAN from harming you.I will agree Jerusalem is a place of many inconsistencies. I see by your article you are a biblbe believer.. You know that bible says the final war of this world will be the war at Jerusalem. ZECHARIAH 12. I seriously believe we are in that last battle as we speak. Yime for everyone to get right with their GOD>
Posted by: dean at May 10, 2008 11:09 AM
I have been to your Beautiful City 4 times. I love it. I think of Jersalem and pray for you each day. Don't give up an inch--it belongs and always has to the Jewish People. May God protect and Bless you Always.
Posted by: Joyce Gautschi at May 10, 2008 10:41 AM
Well said. This should be read to every political leader, George Bush, the senate, the house, the Knessett, the House of Parliment, and especially Condi Rice. I come to Israel every year and I agree Jerusaelm united, under Jewish authority, today, tomorrow and forever.
Posted by: Peggy Green at May 10, 2008 7:39 AM
I first saw this wonderful piece more than 25 years ago, and it appears to have been updated. I fear we will have to re-ssue this from time to time, each with its update. But there is nothing new under the sun.
Posted by: Lowell at May 10, 2008 7:17 AM
Yes, indeed, "Next year in Jerusalem."
Jerusalem was, is and will always be the undivided, eternal, holy capital of Israel.
No diplomat or world leader can negate this fact.
"Land for peace" to placate the demands of enemies and self serving leaders in the west has always been fraudulent.
"Gather us from the four corners of the world, bring us upright to our land; return us in mercy to Jerusalem, Thy city, and dwell in it as Thou promised ... Next year in Jerusalem".
No man can stop the divine work of G-d!
Posted by: Eric Voogd at May 10, 2008 5:49 AM
Who in the hell are you talking to? All non-Jews? All non-Jerusalemites? If so, then you are wrong. You sound like one of those people that need to find an individual identity.
Posted by: jeff leach at May 10, 2008 4:25 AM
This is a stirring letter, one that reveals a deep resentment toward someone, everyone? It is a beautiful declaration of a true Jew, an Israelite, a declaration of love and patriotism, an abhorrence of the phlegmatic, callous inattention of ---the world in general? , the US, France, Germany, Russia?, Olmert, the Israeli Government? All the above? I pray to HaShem that we will not play the role of the victim, although we have been victimized, we have been brutalized, but hopefully I hear the sound of the warrior King, David the shepherd, David the uniter of Israel, the peacemaker and wise general that withstood the powers of darkness and gathered all the tribes of Israel to him. I hear this in this letter, and this brings shouts of rejoicing and elation, the process of total restoration is already under way!! Soon the sons of Joseph and Judah will shout together on the mountains and in the valleys of the Nation of ISRAEL
Posted by: eliyahu at May 10, 2008 3:37 AM
This is one American Christian in TOTAL agreement. Well said. I can't wait to visit your eternal city, given to you by G-d. May you always dwell in Jerusalem in peace of HaShem's making.
Posted by: Don at May 10, 2008 2:16 AM
This letter is the heart of Isreal speaking and I confess the sins of my ancesters who failed you....I stand with you today with hand extended in friendship as a gentile who will help rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. In repentance of the sins of those who stood silent, I say, never again. Thank you for saying it so well.....
Posted by: Joseph at May 10, 2008 12:07 AM
On November 24, 2006, at the age of 92, a man named Stanley Goldfoot passed away. He is remembered by family and friends for his love for and devotion to Israel and the Jewish people. He was born in Johannesburg , South Africa. Subsequent to his hearing a speech about the Zionist vision by Ze'ev Jabotinsky, he headed for Palestine where, at the age of 18, he joined a HaShomer HaTzair kibbutz. After the rebirth of the Jewish State of Israel his main goal, which he eventually realized, was to establish a Zionist English newspaper, "The Times of Israel ." In the very first issue, Stanley Goldfoot wrote his famous and controversial "Letter to the World from Jerusalem ", which caused quite a stir. The article is still relevant and is definitively Jewish. Mr.Goldfoot took the name of Eliezer ben Yisrael and, indeed, portrayed the very essensce of a Jewish soul.
Posted by: Ron Ruthfield at May 9, 2008 8:26 PM
Could not have said it better! Get rid of Olmert, keep Condi in Washington, and hang on to the land you were given as a birthright!!!
Posted by: Ag Sip at May 9, 2008 7:52 PM
This is probably the most eloquent statement for the cause of modern Israel that I have ever read. Israel's enemies should be humbled by it, and her friends, greatly inspired.
Posted by: Photon at May 9, 2008 12:07 AM
Just so you'll know, I posted this on my blog, but I didn't write it. Apparently it was published in about 2000, and I'm sorry, but I don't know the author's name.
Posted by: Anne at May 8, 2008 5:53 PM
Yerushalayim--The City of Peace
Yerushalayim--Where Rests the Shekhina
Yerushalayim--The Jewish Hope
Yerushalayim--The Jewish Dream
Yerushalayim--For Now and Forever
Yerushalayim--My Love to You...Tamid
Yerushalayim--One City Undivided
Yerushalayim--One City Indivisible
Yerushalayim: L'shanah Haba'ah uL'netzach!
Posted by: Yoel Nitzarim at May 8, 2008 12:41 PM
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