Forty years ago today the Israeli Army fought their way into the Old City of Jerusalem and captured the Jewish Quarter which had been under Jordanian control since Israel's War of Independence in 1948. Early this morning I saw the Israeli soldiers and citizens gather in the streets of Jerusalem to celebrate their May 16, 1967 victory which resulted in the reunification of Jerusalem. No longer would the Old City and the Jewish Quarter be cut off from West (Israeli) Jerusalem. No longer would Jews be prevented from praying at their most sacred and revered Western Wall.
And the celebration took place as scheduled in spite of the unseasonal rain and hail storm. It was just after noon that the rain started. Within a half hour it was coming down in buckets! And then the hail began. The road leading to the Jaffa Gate became a river as the runoff poured down the street and into the Hinnom Valley. Several cars being driven up the street were flooded and stalled.
But wet and flooded streets couldn't dampen the Israeli spirit of celebration. The parade went on as planned. And the concert and fireworks scheduled for this evening have not been cancelled or postponed. This is typical of the spirit of determination that has characterized the Israeli people since the creation of the State of Israel in 1948. The Jewish people have experience the world's hatred and hostility in the Spanish Inquisition, Russian pogroms and Nazi holocaust. But they have decided to live. And live they will in spite of rain, hail and high water.
And the celebration took place as scheduled in spite of the unseasonal rain and hail storm. It was just after noon that the rain started. Within a half hour it was coming down in buckets! And then the hail began. The road leading to the Jaffa Gate became a river as the runoff poured down the street and into the Hinnom Valley. Several cars being driven up the street were flooded and stalled.
But wet and flooded streets couldn't dampen the Israeli spirit of celebration. The parade went on as planned. And the concert and fireworks scheduled for this evening have not been cancelled or postponed. This is typical of the spirit of determination that has characterized the Israeli people since the creation of the State of Israel in 1948. The Jewish people have experience the world's hatred and hostility in the Spanish Inquisition, Russian pogroms and Nazi holocaust. But they have decided to live. And live they will in spite of rain, hail and high water.
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