Holiday

I want to tell you a story that happened thousands of years ago. As thousands of Jews wound their way up to Jerusalem on aliyat haregel they would be greeted along the way by people selling food and trinkets, people making music. As you go up to Jerusalem, imagine: What did they see? How did those pilgrims feel as they made their sacred journey? What did they anticipate? Imagine their awe as they saw the walls of Jerusalem for the first time, imagine how stories they had heard as children now came alive.

Now imagine what it must have felt like for 2,000 years when it was impossible to ascend to Jerusalem except in our prayers. We could ascend to Jerusalem only with our inner eye, only as a conjured image. But now we can ascend again, our feet touching the ground. What we see with our eyes – this miracle, is not fantasy: it is real.

Once we prayed:

Baruch atah Hashem, boneh Yerushalayim.

We bless you God, builder of Jerusalem.

The creator of this blessing never imagined a Jerusalem that would be so built up! We, too, never imagined a Jerusalem like the one before us. We have out-performed the challenge of this blessing. What happens when the reality before us exceed the bracka? We need a new bracka which expresses our hopes that Jerusalem will continue to be built for many holy purposes; such as peace, pluralism, care, creativity and a home for Torah.

Ritual

As you look upon the lights of Jerusalem, close your eyes, just as you do when you light the Sabbath candles. Allow yourself to experience the transcendent power of your pilgrimage.

Meditation

Reflect: As you travel through Jerusalem, ask yourself:

How can I be a partner in realizing the Jerusalem that I pray for?

Blessing

Baruch atah Hashem, boneh Y’rushalayim l’….

We bless you God, who builds Jerusalem in order that….(To what end do you pray that Jerusalem will continue to be built? So that it will be a city of peace? So that it will be a model of pluralism? So that it will be a society based on tzedakah and mishpat - justice?)

Open your eyes and see that blessing with you inner eye.

Teaching

"They gathered throughout the towns and early in the morning, the leader proclaimed: ‘Arise and let us go up unto Zion.’ The flutes played before them; governors, chiefs and treasurers went out to meet them. All the artisans in Jerusalem greeted them. And the pilgrims would stand before the priest with their gifts and tell the story: ‘My father was a wandering Aramean who went down to Egypt.’"

(Aliyat HaRegel, Mishnah Bikurim)

Jerusalem of gold, of copper and of light, I am the harp for all your songs.

Yerushalayim shel zahav, v’shel n’choshet v’shel or, Ha-lo l’chol shirayich ani kinor.

(Naomi Shemer)