This past Friday while visiting the Holy City of Jerusalem, I passed Damascus Gate on my way to the Kotel in the Jewish Quarter. Unfortunately, after the Arab prayer time on the Temple Mount, the sheer volume of people walking was a hindrance, and I could not continue on my way through the Muslim Quarter. To resume my journey, I entered by way of the Arab Market near Jaffa Gate as a shortcut, as well as to show a Jewish presence in the area.
While walking through the market filled with Arabs and tourists, I chanced upon a strange site out of the corner of my eye: A tiny shop filled with flags – and in that passing moment they seemed to be Israeli flags. I took a closer look; indeed, I had found a small Jewish-owned store. In order to show gratitude to the creator of the world, the owner had hung Israeli flags on all of the store’s walls. It clearly portrayed that the people of Israel have returned to its homeland.
I must say that my heart filled with happiness and faith in Hashem. The people of Israel returned to Zion, even in the most difficult of places. May Hashem see that we haven’t forgotten him and that we want to return and build all the marketplaces of Jerusalem, all the land of Israel, and of course our Holy Temple.
When I spoke with the righteous Jew who owned the store, he shared the lengthy and detailed purchasing process done by another righteous Jew, this one in America, to procure the location for my new friend. The storeowner said that G-d willing he will be opening this small shop in the near future (I had gone before the store was open to the public). Furthermore, the storeowner hopes to expand and to continue the settlement of the area.
When I asked him how he was doing with the challenges with his new neighbors – and with any other technical problems, he told me an answer that empowered me: Hashem has helped us until now, against all odds, he said. How could I doubt he will help us now?
Now I turn to you, my dear readers. If this story touched your hearts and you want to help in the process of the spiritual freeing of Jerusalem’s Old City, we’ll be happy to receive any donations that you can give to help that same Jew and others in the expansion of Jewish presence in that area, and in his aspirations to purchase more shops from Arabs in the marketplace; or you can simply tell your friends about this shop so they can come show support by visiting.
It should be G-d’s will that we’ll be fortunate enough to settle our land and quickly return to the Holy City of Jerusalem.