There is hope for a treee;
If it is cut down it will renew itself;
Its shoots will not cease
If its roots are deep in the earth.
-Kethuvim 14:3

This week, in class, I had a bit of a cultural lesson:

American exchange student, Katie: If all international embassies and major government buildings are in Tel Aviv, why is Israel's capital city Jerusalem?
Israel student, Avi: Because it's Jerusalem.
Katie: Yeah, but why not Tel Aviv? It makes more sense. All the buildings are there.
Avi: Jerusalem is the most important city. It has the Wall, and it's where King David made the capital.
Katie: King David? That was three thousand years ago. You built all the important buildings in Tel Aviv, but for some reason Jerusalem is your capital. And it's all controversial, now.
Avi: Jerusalem is ours. They took it, but we have it back. That's why it's important.
Katie: So it's all because of religion?
Avi: No. It's because Jerusalem is ours.

It is interesting, Katie's question, and this I have not so much thought about. For us, Jerusalem is the most important city. It is not so much that it is all about religion (our Temple was destroyed, and we're not allowed anywhere near their Mosques), because all we have is the Wailing Wall. Sure, there is much history and culture and religious importance, but there is something more, too.

I think it is this: for two millennia, no Jews could claim Jerusalem. Now, finally, we can. And to surrendor it now is a horrible thought. Is not so difficult, I think, to understand.

I had the best falafel today! I ate it on the boardwalk while reading a really good book. It was windy, though, so a little chilly.

New York in five days .