Remembering and Archiving Jerusalem

Here is the story of the event I attended yesterday. It marked a unique archive collection to include some 50 video interviews with people who lived in Jerusalem before the State of Israel was founded.

The launch launch began with a short address by Minister Without Portfolio Benny Begin, son of the late Prime Minister Menachem Begin. He emphasized the importance of documenting the history of Jewish life in the Land of Israel in general, and in Jerusalem in particular.

He noted a historical remark that due to the oppression of Muslim rulers, who permitted Jews to come but once a year to Jerusalem - on Tisha B'Av to mourn the destroyed Temple - it was that the Jews even had to pay to cry tears.  He added that later, the non-Jews made Jews cry for free.
Also in attendance were Mrs. Cherna Moskowitz, the sponsor of the project and families of some of those participating in the “remember Jerusalem” project.

I didn't stay for the repaste as I had to return to work so as to go on to Tel Aviv for a meeting dealing with supporting new Hasbarah ideas and initiatives.

The great PR crew from Jaffe Strategies:

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A Prize for Zionism

I first met Cherna and Dr. Irving Moskowitz almost a quarter of a century ago when I accompanied Daniella Weiss and Tzvika Slonim on a trip to the United States on behalf of Gush Emunim. Their house in Florida was quite unique in that it was the longest house I had ever been in, excluding the Versailles Palace I visited in 1976. With 8 children, k'ein ahora (that's a Yiddish expression, not Spanish), they had purchased two adjacent lots and simply connected the two homes. Later, I was privileged to meet them many times in the Knesset and other places having worked with Geula Cohen and Techiya.

As I am a Hasbara person, that is, I explain but I don't build and contruct (although the Temple is indeed always on my mind), I did not develop a working relationship with them but always enjoyed the fruits of their generosity, one way or another (their Foundation has given, by now, some $85 million to charitable endeavors). Without exaggeration, the Moskowitz's are the preeminent builders in the private sector of the Land of Israel since the Rothschilds and Moshe Montefiore.

Last night, my wife and I attended the Moscowitz Zionism Prize ceremony at Ir David and enjoyed a wonderful performance by Shlomo Gronich, in addition to clapping heartily for Ron Pecker, Moshe Moshkowitz and Rabbi David Fendel (his uncle, Zechariah, was my high school rebbe at Chofetz Chaim way back when). Several hundreds of people came and I got to greet many old friends.

Here's Shlomo Gronich on stage:




And, of course, without a whining left-wing antizionist demo, we just can't get along here in Israel, so here's Rabbi Arik Ackerman and friends:



And again Gronich who really shook up the crowd with exciting musical sounds to Biblical texts:-



And I hope that this clip works (first time I'm uploading a video) to give you a taste of the sounds

I wish the Moskowitzs long and healthy lives for their family's sake, for the sake of the Jewish People and the Land of Israel.

They get a very special prize.

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My wife's blog post.