Rav Aharon Bina the Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshivat Netiv Aryeh in the Old City of Jerusalem, the Capital of Israel, had the following remarks to say regarding President Trump’s proclamation recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel:
David Ben Gurion, Israel’s first Prime Minister, zecher tzaddik livracha, used to say that Israel without Jerusalem has no meaning, but Jerusalem without Israel has meaning.
Even he, a secular Jew, understand that it all begins in Yerushalayim – this is the foundation, this is where G-d created the world, this is where the Akeida took place, the covenant with Avraham, Yitzchak, and Yaakov, it all begins and ends here.
As children, and I’m now 70 years old, they took Yerushalayim from us and no one thought we would ever get it back. I still remember my father taking me to Har HaTzofim (Mount Scopus) and pointing to the Kotel from there.
Then came the miracle of 1967. The world disagreed, they screamed, the Arabs screamed even more as well as protesting and killed people. In the words of the Ohr Hachaim, they want to drink our blood.
I must say I’m very excited about what President Trump is doing – he’s not Jewish but he’s a good person who loves our people – his father was like that as well. It’s nice to know we have friends.
You may wonder, does it really matter whether he recognizes Jerusalem? It’s enough that I think it’s important. Just like if Trump would say that he’s impressed with Rav Nebenzahl, it would have no meaning for us. But it still gives us a good feeling.
Thank you Mr. Trump, G-d bless you to continue to be a great President, for us, and for Yerushalayim forever and ever.
The Chassidishe Seforim teach us that Chanukah is a time of miracles. May we merit Hashem’s continued Divine Providence, and I would like to wish everyone a Chanukah Sameach.