Editorial:
Significance of Israel's 20th Anniversary Year
A major factor in the vitally needed strength
for the preservation of the partnership between
Israel and the United States is the retention of
intimacy, the extension of the deep and genuine
interest in what is transpiring in the Holy Land
and how the peace of the Mediterranean area can
be assured and perpetuated.
Naturally, the Jews of America must provide
leadership in the retention of that great coopera-
tive spirit between the two peoples, and one of
the chief means of guaranteeing the friendships
and the sense of cooperation is by the closest ex-
change of mutual interests.
Tourism is not only a means of assuring un-
derstanding through acquisition of knowledge
about friendly nations: it also is the way of ex-
tending the avenues of exchange of commerce and
of learning one from another.
The 20th anniversary of Israel's rebirth, soon
to be observed by the Jewries of Israel and the
entire world, will, hopefully, be marked by an in-
crease in tourism, by a growth in the number of
Americans who will visit the ancient Land of Israel
and become intimately acquainted with it, its peo-
ple, its traditions.
The importance of Israel's 20th anniversary,
linking it with Israel's kinsmen everywhere, was
outlined in the proclamation that was issued by
President Zalman Shazar of Israel. It declares:
By authority of the Government of Israel, the
Knesset and the Chief Rabbinate in the Land and
of the Zionist Organization throughout the world,
here in the House of the President in reunified
Jerusalem, the Holy and Kingly City, it is my great
privilege to inaugurate the celebrations marking
the twentieth year of the renewed sovereignty of
the State of Israel.
May the year now opening auspiciously before
us, the year 5728, in the calendar of our people,
be consecrated both in the Land and in the entire
Diaspora, to deepening, solidifying, enriching the
living relationship between the people of Israel,
wherever it is dispersed, and its eternal Father-
land which two decades ago became free and in-
dependent once again.
Having risen to such exalted heights in the
great and heroic days of the past year; being con-
fronted with such historic tasks in the year to
come our people is all the more prepared to cele-
brate the completion of Israel's second decade with
the elevation of spirit, the heartfelt thanksgiving,
the far-reaching constructive activity befitting such
grave times and such high hopes. Let us revive this
year the ancient custom of pilgrimage to Jerusa-
lem, city of our glory, and to all our Holy Land—
pilgrimage from all Jewry's communities in the
world, following in the footsteps of those of our
brothers and sisters who have streamed here in
great numbers during this Festival of Succot.
Let this year, this festive year, be the time of
realization for every one of our people who has
determined to settle in the Land; for every one
who plans to give of his means and strength to
its rebuilding. And those who are not ready or able
to do so, let them and their households come this
year to witness the wonders that have been
wrought in this Land of our fathers and our future.
And thus it will become clear to all the nations of
the world that the relationship of our people to its
Land is no matter of lip-service but a living and
everlasting love: that the soul of our people is
bound up forever with this Land, now, as in the
days of old, and forever.
As in the first days of the return to Zion from
Babylonian exile, let the great and heartening call
ring out in all the countries of our dispersion:
"Whoever there is among you of all His people—
the Lord his God be with him—let him go up!"
Israel has much to teach its visitors. The ins-
that stem from ancient phophecies are in
evidence again. For world Jewry Israel is an inspi-
ration that leads to the continuation of Jewish
ideals which endlessly link our generation with the
past. For peoples of all other faiths the Holy Land
which is Israel serves to strengthen confidence in
the greater power of good will over the challeng-
ing threats that have turned many parts of the
world into battlefields.
pirations
Growing Interest in the 'New' Sites of the Holy Land
return to Zion. (see WESTERN and Medina, Haram Esh-Sharif- to the side is the Al-Aqsa Mosque.
* *
WALL) The rock on Mount Moriah as the area is known, meaning the
CHURCH OF THE HOLY SEP-
is also sacred to Moslems, who Venerable Sanctuary—is the holiest
venerate Abraham (Ibrahim) as site in Islam. In the center of the ULCHRE, Jerusalem. This is the
the "Friend of God." Islam also plaza, on the reputed site of Abra- holiest sanctuary in Christiandom,
associates the rock with Moham- ham's sacrifice, stands the Dome erected upon the traditional site
e
THE WESTERN WALL, Jam -
med, who is said to have ascended of the Rock, the beautiful sanc- of the crucifixion, burial and the
salem. Also known as the Wailing once more erected a building add- to heaven from here. After Mecca tuary built in 691 CE, while more
(Continued on Page 26)
Wall, is the holiest of Jewish sites. ing the minaret which gives the
It is the only remnant of the walls complex its characteristic appear-
surrounding the Temple Mount. ance until this day. In the 16th
The site of the Temple is on Mount Century the Ottoman Sultan, Sulei-
Moriah, where Abraham prepared man the Magnificent, incorporated
the sacrifice of his son Isaac. When the Citadel in the walls he con-
King David conquered Jerusalem structed around the city. The name
11 April Eichmann trial opens in Jerusalem.
1948
about 1000 BCE and built the "Tower of David" is based on the 14 May Proclamation of State.
June $500,000,000 mark passed in sale of Is-
City of David in the vicinity of Moslem tradition that King David 15 May British withdraw—invasion by Arab
rael Bonds.
Israel launches her first meteorological
Mount Moriah, he purchased the (who is a prophet in Islam) had
5 July
armies—large-scale immigration begins.
his
prayer
cell
here.
The
Citadel
site, which was then a threshing
space rocket.
1949
floor, from Oman, the Jebusite, stands next to the Jaffa Gate, 25 Jan. Elections to first Knesset.
30 July Construction of deep-sea port of Ashdod
and erected an altar there. King which was known to the Crusaders 16 Feb. Dr. Chaim Weizmann elected president.
begins. Millionth newcomer since re-estab-
Solomon built the First Temple as David's Gate.
lishment begins.
10 Mar. First regular government, under David
• • *
on the spot, which was destroyed
Aug.-Sept. First Israel Music Festival.
Ben-Gurion.
in 586 BCE by Nebuchadnezzar,
1962
11 May Israel admitted to United Nations.
THE JEWISH QUARTER OF
who drove the Jews -into exile in
31 May Adolf Eichman executed.
20 Nov. Jewish population reaches first million.
Babylon. On their return from ex- THE OLD CITY. The Jewish quar-
5 June Near East Fair opens in Tel Aviv.
1950
ter
used
to
stretch
from
the
West-
ile, about 50 years later, the Sec-
5 July Law of Return passed, confirming right to 30 June United States Operations Missions in Is-
ond Temple was built, on a more ern Wall to the Armenian quarter
rael, no longer necessary in view of Is-
Jew to dwell in Israel.
every
modest scale than previously. In to the West, and included scores
rael's progress, wound up.
Sept. Airlift of 45,000 Jews from Yemen ends.
about 10 BCE Herod expanded of synagogues, the more important 29 Nov. 500,000 immigrants since 1948.
30 Oct. Ben-Zvi re-elected for third presidential
and rebuilt the Second Temple, but of which were the Hurva, Tiferet
inaugurated.
1951
this, too, was destroyed, this time Israel, Etz Hayim. The quarter
1963
July Airlift of 110,000 Jews from Iraq.
by the Romans in 70 CE. The low- was heavily damaged as a result
23
April
Death
of President Ben-Zvi.
1952
er tiers of the wall date from the of the Israel War of Independence
21 May Zalman Shazar elected as third president.
9 Nov. Death of Dr. Weizmann.
Second Temple. A lower stratum, (1948-49), while the synagogues
16 June New government takes office, with Levi
8 Dec. Izhak Ben-Zvi elected president.
which in the course of time has were systematically destroyed dur-
Eshkol as prime minister.
1953
ing
the
ensuing
years.
been covered by debris and is now
7 Dec. Ben-Gurion retires to Sde Boker in the 13 Oct. Start of excavations of Masada, under
• • •
underground, is believed to date
Professor
Yigael Yadin.
Negev.
back to the First Temple of Solo-
1964
THE TEMPLE AREA—HARAM
1954
mon. At night the stones are cov- ESH-SHARIF, Old City of Jeru- 26 Jan. Moshe Sharett becomes premier.
5 Jan. Pope Paul VI on pilgrimage to Christian
ered with drops of dew, which salem. When King David captured
Holy Sites in Israel.
2 June Hebrew University dedicates new campus
popular belief alleges to be the Jerusalem from the Jebusites
1964
in Jerusalem.
tears the Wailing Wall sheds while around 1000 BCE, he purchased
17
Mar.
Rabbi
Yitzhak Nissim re-elected, and Rab-
1955
weeping for the dispersion of Is- from them a plot on Mount Moriah 21 Feb. Ben-Gurion rejoins cabinet as minister of
bi 'scar Yehuda Unterman elected, as
rael. Excavations are now under- which, at that time, was outside
chief Rabbis.
defense.
way to expose further tiers of the the city. This was traditionally the 24 May Lachish regional development plan
2 June Johnson-Eshkol joint communique, an-
wall.
nouncing agreement on desalination proj-
spot where Abraham had brought
inaugurated.
• • •
ect, at end of Prime Minister Eshkol's
his son Isaac in order to sacrifice 19 July Yarkon-Negev pipeline, to water 25,000
visit to U.S.
acres, opened.
TOWER OF DAVID, Jerusalem. him at the Lord's command, and
4 June Trade agreement signed between Israel
The Citadel stands on the site of it became a sanctuary for Jews, 22 Sept. Oil struck at Heletz, in Negev.
and
later
also
for
Moslems.
In
960
and European Common Market
3 Nov. Ben-Gurion again becomes premier.
three towers built by Herod near
9 July Zeev Jabotincky reburied in Jerusalem.
1956
his palace in 24 BCE, but some BCE, King Solomon completed
of the foundations date back at the Temple he built here, which 25 Oct. Egypt, Syria and Jordan unify military 29 Oct New Town of Carmiel inaugurated.
1965
commands to attack Israel
least 100 years earlier. When Titus surpassed in splendor any build-
captured Jerusalem in 70 CE and ing previously constructed in Jeru- 29 Oct. Israel moves in sew-protection against 11 May Israel Museum in Jerusalem inaugurated.
the
focal
point
was
salem,
and
this
12
May Israel and West Germany agree to estab-
Egyptian guerrilla bases and regular
destroyed most of the city, he or-
lish diplomatic relations.
troop concentrations in Sinai.
dered the towers and part of the of the Jewish religion until it was
destroyed
by
Nebuchadnezzar
in
13 June Death of Martin Buber.
Western Wall to be preserved in
1957
586
BCE
and
the
Jews
were
driven
7
July
Death
of Moshe Sharett, first foreign
order to serve as camp for the
25 Mar. First ship arrives at Eilat port.
minister, and second prime minister of
garrison of his Tenth Legion Fre- into exile in Babylon. In 558 B.C.E.,
1958
the
Jews
returned
to
Jerusalem
and
Israel.
tensis, as attested by tiles, pipes
16 Jan. Opening of Beersheba-Eilat highway,
19 Aug. First German ambassador presents cre-
and stones bearing the well known started to build the Second Temple
Israel's dry-land Suez Canal.
dential.
stamp "LXF," which have been in 520 BCE, albeit on a more
4 Dec. Cornerstone laid for new Knesset building.
21 Nov. First ship arrives at new Ashdod Port.
found in the Citadel. The towers modest scale than Solomon's im-
1959
1966
were razed when Emperor Hadrian posing edifice. Towards the begin- 30 Nov. Cultural agreement signed with France.
ning
of
the
common
era,
Herod
12 May Economic agreement between Israel and
built Aelia Capitolina on the site
1960
Germany signed.
of Jerusalem and called the city restored some of the Temple's 11 May Letters written by Bar-Kochba, leader of
by that name. In the Middle Ages former magnificence, but in the
2nd Century rising against Rome, found 30 Aug. New Knesset building opened in Jeru-
year
70
CE
it
was
destroyed
again,
salem.
local
landowner
built
his
resi-
a
in Judean t.
dence here, which also served as this time by the Romans. Only the 23 May
10 Dec. Shmuel Yosef Agnon receives Nobel Prize
of Adolf
lf Eichmann announced.
Ado
refuge for the quarter's inhabitants Western Wall of the Temple Mount
for Literature.
4 July Atomic reactor, for research and medical
in case of invasion, and this struc- remained standing, and this has
1967
use, activated.
ture was in turn destroyed in 1239. ever since been the object of Jew-
5 June Six Day War begins.
1961
In the 14th Century Sultan Beybars ish prayers and of the longing to 21 Mar. Students graduate from first course of
7 June Jerusalem reunited.
Syria agrees to cease-fire.
10 June
Afro-Asian Institute in Tel Aviv.
Friday, February 9, 1968--23
The list of places which have been closed to Jewish travelers for
many years is a long one. Now that Jewish access to these places
is possible, interest in them has grown considerably. The large number
of American Jews who will be visiting Israel during its 20th year may
find the following list a help in planning a tour of the "new" areas.
Twenty Years of Israel History
THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS