Mrs. M.
Man Feed Guest Writer
- Nov 2, 2015
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What is the meaning of, "Next year in Jerusalem?" Have you ever thought about it? A dear friend of mine who is a 95 year old published author recently sent me this letter. With his permission, I have decided to use it as the centerpiece of my Op-ed.
Here is his story:
When I was a little boy, about 11 years old and 50 pounds, I took mandolin lessons from a Mr. Crabtree who lived on uptown King Street, Charleston, S.C., more than a mile from our home downtown at various places but all south of Market street. For pocket change in those days I sold newspapers and sometimes magazine subscriptions. I could buy newspapers hot off the press on Queen Street east of Meeting, two for a nickel and sell them for five cents each. After a while, the press went up on the price to me, a straight three cents each, and that cut into my profit, but I survived the inflation.
Dad paid for the mandolin lessons, but it was up to me to make my way to Mr. Crabtree's house, more than a mile from home - at various places but all on King Street, south of Market Street. I could take a Belt Line trolley for 3 cents, but I preferred to trudge my way with my mandolin in a case up King Street and save the six cents, coming and going.
I don't recall exactly how it happened, but I made friends with a Mr. Pyrtownsky, who operated a retail establishment - no, not a pawn shop - on upper King Street. Every day I would stop in to talk with Mr. Prytownsky, and every day, when I left his shop he would say "next year in Jerusalem." Imagine that! That was the year 1932, 16 years before the re-founding of the State of Israel in 1948, a little even before the beginning of the rise of Adolph Hitler.
Imagine that! For 2,000 years the Jews had been removed from Jerusalem, and at that time, 1932, there was no realistic hope that they would ever return to Jerusalem, but it remained there for the 2,000 years in their hearts: "Next year in Jerusalem.”
For 2,000 years, although the Jews were physically driven from Jerusalem, it remained in their hearts and they vowed to return: "Next year in Jerusalem."
Israel was re-founded upon its ancient lands in 1948, and the Jews took no nonsense in their language, "Jerusalem, the eternal, undivided capitol of Israel." All of Jerusalem is part of Israel; others may live there in safety and freedom, but no other people may claim it as part of their homeland.
If the so-called "Palestinians" want to found a nation, they will have to look elsewhere for their capitol. What is it they wish for? Only this - a base from which to wage their war upon the Jews for the land.
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This is the meaning of, "Next Year in Jerusalem."
My mentor and friend once told me, "Israel was birthed out of the ovens of Auschwitz." There can be no price, too high to pay, to hold onto her.
How true!
The Jews living in Israel do not take for granted the prayers, the tears, the incomprehensible suffering and genocide of their ancestors, which paved the way for the ground upon which they stand today.
To the Jews living in America, Europe and throughout the world, Do not forget to remind your children:
"Next Year in Jerusalem!”
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