The history of the city could be traced back than 5000 years; for centuries hundreds of rulers have waged wars for control over the Holy City, but today it, as before, has returned under Israeli protection. This day symbolizes the historical connection of the Jewish people to Jerusalem.
The cultural, spiritual, historical and civilizational heritage of Jerusalem is difficult to describe in words. For centuries Jerusalem has been the center of the world for millions of people. Its history is the history of the development of mankind. The unique city keeps the memory of the great warriors and rulers, reformers, spiritual leaders, who have lived in it; it has managed to combine East and West, ancient and modern: Jews, Romans, Byzantines, Arabs, Ottomans, knights, kings, and monks lived there.
Jerusalem is one of the main symbols of the Jewish state and its capital. Hope for the return to Jerusalem and the revival of their state was the goal of the Jews over the past two thousand years. There are the following words in the Hatikva - the national anthem of Israel: “Our hope is not yet lost, the hope two thousand years old, to be a free nation in our land, the land of Zion and Jerusalem.”
The Day of the city is celebrated on the 28th of Iyar, which falls on June, 5 this year. In 1967, after the Six Day War, Jews regained control over the Old City of Jerusalem, where there are the Western Wall and Temple Mount. The liberation of the city was the culmination of not only the Six Day War, but the initial period of the history of the State of Israel. For the first time in two thousand years, the most sacred place of Jews fell under Jewish control.
Today, Jerusalem, as well as it was thousands years ago, is the capital of Israel. Rapidly developing, the city is the administrative and political centre of Israel: the Knesset works here, the official residence of the President, government ministries and the Chief Rabbinate are located here. Between all political forces of Israel there is an agreement that neither the unity nor the sovereignty of Jerusalem will ever be a subject of negotiations.
Modern Jerusalem provides the access to religious sites of all religious faiths - Jews, Christians and Muslims. Every year hundreds of thousands of pilgrims visit Jerusalem to kneel in the holy places. Each time, passing through the gate of the ancient city, I have totally unique feelings. Mix of millennial history and modernity, tolerance and bloody wars, spirituality and devastation at the same time - all these feelings are evoked by the walls of Jerusalem. It is impossible to describe in words the greatness of one of the oldest cities of human civilization, this city should be definitely seen with your own eyes at least once in life.
I extend my warmest congratulations not only to the citizens of Jerusalem, but to all Israelis on the Day of the capital and wish your ancient and beautiful city to stay as much again, glorifying the Jewish people!
Via Dolorosa
Western Wall
Jewish cemetery on the Mount Olivet
Church of the Holy Sepulchrе
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