Come to Jerusalem, to the Kotel, on Monday evening.  Join the dancing, the music, the celebrations of Yom Yerushalayim, Jerusalem Day.  If you can’t be here, join the festivities from home by watching live broadcasts from the Western Wall Plaza on this site.  Grab an Israeli flag and dance in front of your computer screen!

For on this day, 38 years ago, the Jewish people regained their national treasure.

Every year on the 28th of Iyar, the day on which Jerusalem was reunified, we celebrate its liberation.  Thousands upon thousands of Jews come up to Jerusalem. They march on its streets while singing, dancing, and waving flags – making their way to the Old City and the Kotel.  The Western Wall Plaza fills to capacity with revelers, throngs of celebrants waving Israeli flags, dancing to live music in circles as far as the eye can see. 

During the 19 years between the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948 and the Six Day War in 1967, Jerusalem – Israel’s capital – was divided in two.  One section was in Jewish hands, but the section that included the Western Wall and the Temple Mount remained in Jordanian hands.

At the end of the War of Independence, the nation found itself thrilled with the establishment of the Jewish state, but greatly distressed about the Wall being in enemy territory and out of reach.

Throughout those years, Jews would go up to Mount Zion just to be able to look out onto the Temple Mount and the ancient cemetery on Mount of Olives.

On June 5th, 1967, the Six Day War broke out.  The Jordanian Legion began bombarding Jerusalem and captured Armon HaNatziv.  The IDF managed to repel the Jordanian attack.

One of the many examples of heroism from this war is the battle fought by an IDF paratrooper brigade on Ammunition Hill.  The soldiers fought with courage and determination for many hours until the entire hill was captured.

This same indefatigable brigade continued on to the Old City of Jerusalem.  Then, on the third day of the war, these were the soldiers who burst into the Old City through The Lion’s Gate and excitedly made their way toward the Kotel and the Temple Mount. 

For the first time, an Israeli flag was hoisted over the Temple Mount.  The excitement was palpable.  Motta Gur, the commander of the paratroopers, announced, “The Temple Mount is in our hands!”  The exhausted soldiers that had been fighting tirelessly for days, reached the Wall, touched the stones, and did not even attempt to hide their tears.

Sounds of the soldiers’ cheers blended with the sounds of shofars.  The soldiers began spontaneously singing Naomi Shemer’s song, “Jerusalem of Gold".  Finally, the tired and excited soldiers joined in making the blessing, "She'hechiyanu Ve"kiymanu…" Blessed be You, O G-d our G-d, King of the Universe, Who has kept us in life and sustained us and enabled us to reach this moment.

Those who were privileged to touch the stones of the Kotel remembered their friends who fell in the battles of the previous days.  Rabbi Goren, the chief rabbi of the IDF, began a memorial prayer, El Maleh Rachamim, in their honor. 

After an incredibly emotional rendition of Israel’s national anthem, HaTikva, Rav Goren completed the impromptu service with the words, "This year in Jerusalem!"