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Ruth and Nadia Matar are co-chairwomen of , a grassroots women's movement dedicated to the security and Jewish heritage of historic Israel. (Nadia pictured)
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By Ruth and Nadia Matar
August 11, 2003
Sadly, the massive turnout for the Walk around the Walls of the Old City was not deemed significant by the media and was deliberately ignored by television, radio and the press the following day. It is as if there is a deliberate effort on the part of the media not to report about any nationalistic events which will arouse in the Jewish People a sense of pride in their ancient heritage or homeland. Then too, there is a definite prejudice on the part of the media to report on anything that smacks religiously of Israel's or Judaism's deep roots in this Land. It is as if the media as a whole, and those who write for it locally, no longer possess any pride in being Jewish. As far as the foreign press, and for that matter the local press as well, they too avoid any positive reporting of things that would be considered promoting religious adherence.
It was the eighth such annual event which the Women in Green sponsor each year on the evening of Tisha B'Av. It was, as always, an exhilarating experience for all those tens of thousands of people who participated in this spiritual Event.
Many who were present thought that there was an even bigger turnout than the 80,000 that participated last year in the Walk. We suppose that when the figure gets up to 250,000 or 500,000, as it certainly will in the future, the media will no longer be able to ignore the tremendous implications of the statement made by the Jewish People about what Tisha B'Av still means to them.
The evening began at approximately 8 P.M. with the evening prayers, followed by a beautiful reading by Dr. David Matar, in Hebrew, of the Book of Lamentations (Eicha). The Municipal Safra Square, where the reading took place, was jam-packed with people; there were approximately 7,000 who heard the traditional reading of the Megillah and the Kinot (woeful poetic lamentations) which followed. Israel flags were sold at cost for the Walk.
The Walk itself commenced from Safra Square at about 9:30 P.M. and passed the New Gate, Damascus Gate, and the Flower Gate. These latter gates are located in predominantly Arab sectors of the City. Thus, they are rarely seen throughout the year by non-Arab Jerusalemites, who generally fear Arab violence and thus are afraid to see this integral part of Jerusalem where many of its historical sites are located. On Tisha B'Av evening, because of the permit Women in Green have obtained for the Walk, the police are out in force, and so is the Army, so that the whole eastern part of Jerusalem becomes perfectly safe to visit.
In effect, the Tisha B'Av Walk which Women in Green sponsors is a strong factor in keeping the City of Jerusalem unified and under Jewish control, as it has always been.
When the Walk arrived at the Lion's Gate, everyone sat down on the roadway and heard the evening speakers. The Minister of Tourism, Rav Benny Elon explained the significance of Tisha B'Av to the Jewish People today. Their Holy Temples were destroyed thousands of years ago, and while they mourn the spiritual loss of where the G-d of Israel resided, they remain resolute in their determination that the Third Temple will be rebuilt in the holy city of Jerusalem in the not too distant future. He thanked the Women in Green for their devotion to Israel, its people and its Torah, and reminded us that Jewish women have always been recognized as being responsible for the survival of the Jewish People.
Former Member of the Knesset Moshe Peled spoke next. He reminded us that it was through this Lion's Gate that the IDF and he, entered the Old City and recaptured the Temple Mount, the Western Wall and the Old City of Jerusalem. He pointed out that he has become convinced of late that it was vital and necessary to go back to our historical roots, and teach them to our youth so that they have a realistic understanding of our attachment to this Promised Land and our traditions.
Rabbi Shalom Gold spoke in English for the benefit of the many tourists that were participating in the Walk. He said that the magnificent turnout for this walk inspired him. It was a statement in itself that all who were here were making in behalf of Jerusalem, remaining unified and under complete Jewish control. He stressed the Biblical phrase of "If I forget O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget its cunning..."
Nadia Matar spoke in Hebrew and inspired everyone present with her recounting a similar march on Tisha B'Av in 1929, which she believe had an important message for all of us, and to the Arabs who live in our midst. There were many in the audience that were markedly moved by her stirring talk and applauded her courageous statement.
The Walk thereafter continued to the Gate of the Western Wall where it ended. Many took the opportunity to visit that ancient Wall of Hope and Prayer to bring to a conclusion a tremendously inspiring observance of this Holy Day of Tisha B'Av.
The Walk itself has an enormous potential that is waiting to be fulfilled. Think of the great importance that an enormous turnout would have for a worldwide television audience. In this natural observance of this historical day when more than 250,000 participate in this ancient tradition of Walking around the Walls of the Old City to commemorate the Destructions of the First and Second Temples on the same day of Tisha B'Av. It would show to the world that the People of Israel have always had ties to this Holy Land. That these ties are quite natural, as the Jewish People still mourn the loss of their Temples which occurred thousands of years ago. No better way to show the historical ties the Jewish People have to this Promised Land than by joining in the Walk around the Walls of the Old City on Tisha B'Av Evening.
Views expressed by the author do not
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