By Rabbi Lee Diamond. 3,000 years ago, King David chose to unite the kingdom of Israel by establishing a capital city for an otherwise divided nation. The ancient city of Jebus was chosen as this capital city, to be known as Jerusalem.
After conquering this city from the ancient Jebusites, King David decides to bring the Ark of the Covenant from its temporary resting place to a permanent home in his capital city.
Chagall: David bringing the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem
In so doing David transforms his physical capital into the spiritual capital of the nation for all time.
This site is rife with values that can be presented in the context of some of these questions:
Values for discussion:
*How has Jerusalem become a spiritual capital for us?
*How is this reflected in our prayers and vision as well as our actions and our focus?
*What is the concept of “Yerushayim shel Mata” and Yerushalayim shel Maaleh?” (Heavenly and Earthly Jerusalem)
*Jerusalem may be translated as a City of completion or a City of Hope:
*Has Jerusalem fulfilled its potential as a “City of Peace?”
*Has Jerusalem fulfilled itself as a “City of Completion?”
*Has the Jewish people allowed Jerusalem to achieve its meaning?
*How does the world relate to Jerusalem today?
As we address the history, and the value concepts contained in Jerusalem we formulate the question and attempt to provide the first answer to it: “Why Jews have always remembered Jerusalem and kept it above their highest joy?”’
We must also examine the myriad of customs related to Jerusalem including the direction of our prayers and synagogues, leaving a corner unpainted or incomplete in our homes, breaking of a glass at a wedding, the closure of the Yom Kippur prayer and the closure of the Passover Hagadda with the words: Next Year In Jerusalem. Clearly from these customs Jerusalem holds a vital place in the life of a Jew to this day. Our value goal here is to try to understand Jerusalem’s place in Jewish tradition and why it holds such an esteemed place.
Finally we raise the issue of David’s desire to build a House of God—a Bet Ha Mikdash and God’s rejection of his desire. Why the rejection and why does a universal God need a house?
Source on David’s conquest of Jerusalem: II Samuel 5:6-10
Source on David and bringing ark to Jerusalem: II Samuel 6-1-23
Source spiritual centrality of Jerusalem Israel and Jerusalem: Psalms 122 and Psalms
