JERUSALEM
ish People . “ This year we are here , but next year in the Land of Israel .”
We then proceed to tell the story of the Exodus from Egypt , the four stages of redemption , the Grace after meals , and finally , the thanksgiving prayer of Hallel . Amazingly , the Haggadah ends not only with the aspiration to return to Israel as the Haggadah began , but also with the return to Jerusalem itself . The final section of the Haggadah states :
“ The Passover Seder is concluded , as all its laws and rules are fulfilled . Just as we have merited to order it , so too may we merit to do it . Pure One dwelling in Ma ’ on , Creator of Congregation Who Can Count Them . Soon guide the new shoots of this people , Liberated to Zion with shouts of joy . Next year in rebuilt Jerusalem .” The final official word of the Haggadah – before the optional additional songs – is the prayer to return to Jerusalem .
We end the Haggadah with a reminder to ourselves , that we hope to experience a more complete redemption by not only returning to the Land of Israel , but also to our final spiritual destination – Yerushalayim and the Beit Hamikdash – reflecting our deep and ongoing spiritual odyssey .
How far we have come in this astounding era . Today , 50 years on , the city of Jerusalem is flourishing as it has never before . It covers the largest geographical space and size of population than it has in all of its 4 000-year history . There are over 800 000 people living in Jerusalem today , with around half a million Jews , and there are more yeshivot and synagogues – more Torah study and tefillah – than at any other time in history . Jerusalem is , as it should be , the Torah centre of Israel and the Jewish world , fulfilling Isaiah ’ s vision : “ For the Torah will come out of Zion and the Word of Hashem from Jerusalem .” ( Isaiah 2:3 )
The Jewish state continues to guarantee the protection of all holy sites and freedom of prayer for all . We somehow , through the infinite grace of G-d , have merited to experience what our ancestors dreamed of but couldn ’ t really believe they would see . We , though , step on a plane , land at Ben Gurion Airport , take a short taxi ride to the Old City , walk down to the spacious piazza , touch the stones of the Kotel – the outer wall of the Temple Mount , our holiest site , and daven heartfelt tefillot surrounded by thousands . It seems so natural – as if that ’ s the way it always was – yet from a historical point of view , it is one of the most supernatural occurrences in all of Jewish history .
FRONT AND CENTRE – THIS YEAR IN JERUSALEM
This momentous year of the 50th anniversary of the reunification of Jerusalem is a historic time to be together . It is a time to be front and centre in the making of Jewish history and the celebration of Jewish destiny .
To this end , The Mizrachi World Movement has initiated a Mega-Mission : “ This Year in Jerusalem ”, aiming to bring many hundreds from all over the Jewish world to be front and centre and to celebrate together at the very place and very time , exactly 50 years later , where these life-changing and remarkable events transpired .
Let us make every effort to transform the final note of the Haggadah of “ Next year in Jerusalem ” from an aspirational abstraction to a living reality . As Rav Goren said on his arrival at the Kotel 50 years ago : “ This year , at this time , in Jerusalem .” ■
With thanks to the various publications referenced in the article .
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