Where are we now?
Not in Babylon
Or Spain;
Not in Germany
Or even Russia.
We are back in JerusalemLit. City of peace From the time of David to the Roman destruction, Jerusalem was the capital of Israel and the spiritual and governmental center of the Jewish people. During the long exile, Jews longed to return to Jerusalem and wrote poems, prayers, and songs about the beloved city. In 1967, with the capture of the Old City, Jerusalem was reunited, becoming "the eternal capital of Israel." Still, the longing for peace is unfulfilled.
Not to rebuild
A past we can never recreate
Or to yearn for a time when
Animal sacrifice still had meaning.
What shall we build now?
Not a structure of stone
Cut with the implements of war;
Not a city where divisions tear us apart
And hatred burns away all the softness,
But a temple of justice
A tent of peace
A diversity of belonging
A home.
Not in Babylon
Or Spain;
Not in Germany
Or even Russia.
We are back in JerusalemLit. City of peace From the time of David to the Roman destruction, Jerusalem was the capital of Israel and the spiritual and governmental center of the Jewish people. During the long exile, Jews longed to return to Jerusalem and wrote poems, prayers, and songs about the beloved city. In 1967, with the capture of the Old City, Jerusalem was reunited, becoming "the eternal capital of Israel." Still, the longing for peace is unfulfilled.
Not to rebuild
A past we can never recreate
Or to yearn for a time when
Animal sacrifice still had meaning.
What shall we build now?
Not a structure of stone
Cut with the implements of war;
Not a city where divisions tear us apart
And hatred burns away all the softness,
But a temple of justice
A tent of peace
A diversity of belonging
A home.
