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Last update - 12:44 24/01/2008 An American Jew to Olmert: Listen to Israelis, not us, on J'lem's fate By Jason Gitlin Tags: Yeshiva  Dear Mr. Prime Minister (Ehud), Having just returned from a half-year of study in Jerusalem, I thought I would take advantage of your recent call to hear from the voices of American Jews on the issue of Jerusalem's future. My most recent stay in the holy city was the latest in a long, and sometimes stormy, life-long love affair with the city. Despite growing up in a home that was not particularly observant or Zionist, the very name and symbol of Jerusalem (almost like the Holocaust) somehow transcended all boundaries. When my family finally first visited Israel, in celebration of my sister becoming a bat mitzvah, we all, but particularly me, fell in love with the history, hills and character of the city. Advertisement Years later the impact of that experience contributed to my spending a semester abroad at Hebrew University, working professionally in the Jewish community and subsequently making both personal and professional trips to Jerusalem. And upon determining that becoming a rabbi was my calling, I headed straight to Jerusalem where for the past six months I studied, considered and further clarified this path. Reciting the blessing for Jerusalem three times a day as part of the Amidah during this time took on special significance. Not only because my yeshiva on Agron Street was located down the block from the Old City and Western Wall, but because I could see how much Jerusalem needs, as our liturgy calls for, God's presence to dwell there. A God that can help bring prosperity to one of Israel's poorest cities and lessen the growing economic inequality among its population. A God that embraces diversity and can help stem the exodus of its non-observant residents and cultural life. A God that can ease the divisions of one of Israel's most ethnically divided cities; or what is in reality, and plain to see for anyone who travels throughout, two separate cities with their own economies, transportation systems and languages. For many of its residents, and for someone like me, who values both Jewish tradition and cosmopolitanism, Jerusalem has become an increasingly challenging city to both live and take pride in. And yet, a visit to the inspiring, if politically sensitive, excavations of Jerusalem's Jewish beginnings at the City of David, experiencing the spirituality of a Jerusalem Shabbat or enjoying a beer and jazz at the venerable hangout Birman are all reasons why we the Jewish people both in and outside of Israel can never forget our historical roots or eternal commitment to what Jerusalem means. According to a recent B'nai Brith poll poll reported on in Ha'aretz, 54.1% of Jerusalemites want to hear what American Jews have to say about the future of their city. My answer to them is I agree with the 31.7% of your secular countrymen who believe we should generally mind our own business and let you and your government determine the political future of Jerusalem (a new Shalem Center poll said only 16% of Israelis back Diaspora input on the city's fate). But since you did ask, I at least encourage you to walk around Jabel Mukaber, Sheikh Jarrah and the other East Jerusalem Arab neighborhoods I rarely, if ever, saw you in when I was there before you make up your own minds. As for the 62.1% of observant (Orthodox) and 54.2% of the ultra-Orthodox Israelis who, according to the same poll, want the involvement of Jewish Americans I have another message. Just as our tradition and esteemed rabbis transformed our connection to the Temple and God through prayer and study, let's pray and work together so that our commitment to Jerusalem is more about building a city where the spiritual, moral and ethical presence of God dwells for all who live there than about the city's official borders. Mr. Olmert, as the democratically elected prime minister of the State of Israel, whose declaration of independence and Basic Laws hold you to the equality of all Israelis, the voice you were appointed to listen to far above all others is that of your own citizens ? be they Jews, Arabs, Muslims or Christians. These are the people who will have to live each and every day with the decisions you and the government will make. Whatever you decide and wherever Jerusalem ends or begins, I can assure you that world Jewry will continue to face toward the site of our ancient temple to pray each day and will be willing partners in helping to build a city that more accurately reflects our spiritual longings. Jason Gitlin, a graduate of NYU's Center for Near Eastern Studies and the Muehlstein Institute for Jewish Professional Leadership, recently returned to Brooklyn after six months at Jerusalem's Conservative Yeshiva. Bookmark to del.icio.us   Show me the money European Jews would do well to look to U.S. Jews for lessons on renewal. A tale of two mothers Israeli documentary 'To Die in Jerusalem' earns three Emmy nominations.   1.   My Heart is full of Agony 23:17  |  Yechiel 24/01/08   2.   i hope you`re not a liberal you`re too good to be a liberal 23:47  |  teary palestinian 24/01/08   3.   A Lot If Fancy Words Without Practicality At All 00:40  |  Ben 25/01/08   4.   MAKE JERUSALEM GOD`S CITY:BUILD MORE JEWISH HOMES,WIPE TERROR OUT 03:07  |  VOICE of MOSHIACH))) 25/01/08   5.   Why did you delete "Mastubating Moron"? 04:06  |  Yechiel Haredi 25/01/08   6.   Come On!! 04:12  |  Nahum 25/01/08   7.   Holocaust happened but not as we thought 06:48  |  Lisa 25/01/08   8.   An American Jew to Olmert: Listen to Israelis, not us, on J`lem`s 08:00  |  Mezzie 25/01/08   9.   such a maven! 10:56  |  sptz 25/01/08   10.   Misleading Header-The Writer is Not Orthodox 11:52  |  Ben Israel 25/01/08   11.   jerusalem 13:07  |  benadam 25/01/08   12.   Jerusalemites and New Yorkers 14:26  |  Dov Ber 25/01/08   13.   From Your Mouth to God`s Ear, Jason 15:03  |  Yaakov Sullivan 25/01/08   14.   Myths have failed humanity 15:40  |  sde sdsdgegkuieur 25/01/08   15.   Yeshiva???? 17:03  |  Former Yeshiva Stude 25/01/08   16.   Lisa 19:07  |  leon 25/01/08   17.   ALL YERUSHALAYIM FOR JEWS FOREVER!! 20:00  |  Bilam`s Ass 25/01/08   18.   Wrong 21:58  |  Mark Katzman 25/01/08   19.   conservative JTS is anti zionist 21:51  |  zody 27/01/08   20.   What division? 04:09  |  Art Vandelay 28/01/08   21.   Jazz and Beer!? 13:56  |  Mojshe 14/02/08   22.   Half a year and still too much to learn... 15:55  |  Moshiko 14/02/08   23.   Lisa 19:31  |  David 18/07/08

Read & React Samir Kuntar: I'm yearning more than ever to confront Israel Responses: 191 Shalit talks hit impasse as Hamas hangs on to 'asset' Responses: 91 Marco Greenberg: The real story of anti-Semitism in the U.S. Responses: 80 Akiva Eldar: Assad was right - now is not the time for talks Responses: 16 David Landau: Olmert has walked right into Nasrallah's trap Responses: 30 Rosner's Domain Is there a crisis in U.S.-Lebanon relations? (WTR) Do U.S. Jews really support 'necessary compromises' for peace? Why does Israel keep agreeing to prisoner swaps? Talansky threatened to use a bomb - a long time ago (WTR) More Headlines 13:44 Six arrested in Israel for allegedly plotting attack on Bush 18:33 VIDEO: Talansky in court; begs to cut short cross-examination 08:36 Shalit talks deadlocked as Hamas hangs on to 'asset' 19:54 Report: Obama's planned visit to Mideast raises serious security concerns 13:38 Israeli film on mothers of suicide bomber, victim tapped for 3 Emmys 16:50 Teva to buy U.S. drug giant for $7.5B in biggest ever purchase by Israeli company 09:15 This hyphenated life, post two / Jew me down 00:47 Samir Kuntar: I'm yearning more than ever to confront Israel 05:55 ANALYSIS / What does Nasrallah mean by 'defense strategy'? 07:25 Rabbis felt emotional difficulty in identifying remains 18:37 Even the Arab envoys came to bid farewell to Israel's UN ambassador 17:20 Interfaith meet signals thaw in Saudi hostility toward Israel 12:44 Serbia setting up case against alleged Nazi unit member living in U.S. 11:46 Girl, 16, arrested for pimping out 13-year-old neighbor Previous Editions Select Day 17 jul 16 jul 15 jul 14 jul 13 jul 11 jul 10 jul 09 jul 08 jul 07 jul 06 jul 04 jul

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