rylah
Gold Member
- Jun 10, 2015
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I was reading a lengthy proposal for a peace agreement today. Mostly the same old same old. Whatever.
But! One intriguing idea which was presented is a self-governing, self-determining. independent State of Holy City Jerusalem. The proposal itself was rather messy in that it suggested that the Old City be "run by G-d", which I hope we all agree is ... well, *impractical* at best.
The idea is worth visiting, imo. (Not saying I agree with it, just that its an interesting topic of discussion).
The Old City becomes a separate, sovereign, independent State. Constitutional principles would include absolute guarantee of equality for people of all religions (or none), ethnicities, nationalities, etc to freely visit, pray, live, travel, worship, shop. The interior spaces of each religious faith's monuments would be under the guidance of that particular religious faith: Al Aqsa Mosque and Dome of the Rock governed by Muslims and Islamic law; the Churches governed by Christians, the Kotel (partitioned areas considered "interior space") by Jewish law. All exterior spaces would be open to anyone. A multi-faith monument would be opened, creating an interior space which could be utilized by people of all faiths and governed by an multi-faith body. Official languages would be Hebrew and Arabic. Family law would be based on individual's preference: sharia, halakha or secular (all three would be provided).
Government representation is based on equal consideration for the Jewish and Arab peoples, with each peoples having a set number of seats in Parliament, regardless of proportional population (10 seats for Arabs, 10 seats for Jews).
All normal rights of States are assumed.
Neither Israel, nor an eventual Palestine has authority or sovereignty. Nor do any other international actors.
Thoughts?
Shusha, this hurts on so many levels.
The complete opposite of tikkun olam.
How so?
This is tikkun 'olam:
We therefore hope in thee, Hashem our God, that we may speedily behold the glory of thy might, when thou wilt remove the abominations from the earth, and the idols will be utterly cut off, when the world will be perfected under the kingdom of the Almighty, and all the children of flesh will call upon thy name, when thou wilt turn unto thyself all the wicked of the earth. Let all the inhabitants of the world perceive and know that unto thee every knee must bow, every tongue must swear. Before thee, O Lord our God, let them bow and fall; and unto thy glorious name let them give honor; let them all accept the yoke of thy kingdom, and do thou reign over them speedily, and for ever and ever. For the kingdom is thine, and to all eternity thou wilt reign in glory; as it is written in thy Law, the Lord shall reign for ever and ever. And it is said, And the Lord shall be King over all the earth: in that day shall the Lord be One, and His name One."
Sure. That is one way to express the concept of tikkun olam.
Tell me, how is a sovereign Old City of Jerusalem incompatible with this vision?
What does a repaired world look like? What should we be striving for in our work?
Separation is not compatible with "A city that was joined together"
Idols in the Hall are not compatible with "Remove the abominations from the earth"
Foreign rule is not compatible with ""Rule over us You Hashem alone in justice"
Haters of Hashem and His nation dwelling in Jerusalem are not compatible with "All Your enemies and all Your haters quickly be cut off, and evil kingdom quickly to be uprooted broken ceased and capitulated"
"Rejoice will Tzadik for seeing revenge" (King David's Psalms).