The Denver Jewish news. [volume] (Denver, Colo.) 1915-1925, 1922-05-24

Har1Slng MS Impressions OF his recent
visit to Palestine, and which we are
able to reprint by special arrange
ment with the Jewish Telegraphie
Agency.-EditOr.
l have described Jerusalem else
where. and so in this article ] am to
say nothing about streets, crowds,
sights, holy places, and the feelings
Jerusalem l met the leaders of the
New Return" the leaders of the
Present Occupation" and the lead
ers of our Government So found in
the Holy City of the Holy Land not
only walls that We're ruined and pal
aces that are shrines, but ideas. move
mcnts, conflicts that belong to the
future, and these l discussed with
many who mayhap will be spoken of i'll
long days to come because of the work
they have in hand in these times.
Jerusalem was essentially place of
defence. Perched 1900 feet on hills.
itself out by the valley between Mount
Moriah and Mount Zion, defended on
three sides by deep river beds, it drew
within its walls warriors rather than
worshippers. but being upon a road
that led trade north nnd south. and
on one that went east and west it
also became market. Thus is also
became a capital. and the sight of the
great national temple. None of the
older traditions of Jerusalem were
sncrcd. 1t remained Canaani;e city
after the surrounding country was con-
quered. because its strength deiied the
Israelites. The places where the Ark
had been laid like Shiloh. had already
become sacred and other spots had
become associated with the lives Of TIE
patriarchs But so soon as Jerusalem
fell its physical geography detcrmin-
ed that it should be the capital OF
tle united Jewish State. and the holy
place of Jewish patriotic devotion and
faith. 1t is cold place and bleak
gorating place. When the people on
the plains were being softcned, Je-
rusalem remained tile lair of the lion
of Judah" 1t symbolized in itself the
fact that the Israelite nation was TO
takc upon itself the character of a
hill people. In the poetry and spirit
,ml thought of the Israelitcs. the hllis
are constant inspiration. and their
minds seeking symbols by which to
express their ideals always found them
in the hills. If You stand on Mount
Olive and survey the mass of heights
which gather round Jerusalem. and
see Jerusalem itself standing on ITS
high perch. you understand the his
tory of the people whose political and
religious capit;fA it was. Here. you
gain II conception of the jew as
warrior. not as molcy-lcnder or pet
ty trader; Il wild, untamable noun
tuineer living in fortified towns: II
patriot. not n cosmopolitan: one who
would fight to the last hilltop. and
then surrender only to fight again.
But when one has taken the hills in
to ones heart and felt how much they
meant to the people, one has then 10
think how the strength supplied by
nature only partly explains the his
tory of the tribe of Judah and the
capital of Israel Physical geography
IL much. but not all. Jewish leaders
knew that their land could he CON
uuercd. and whilst they cxtolled its
strength and translated its hills into
moral values. these values themselves
lecame independent inspiration.
His circumstances playing upon the
mind of man create forces that are
cutie different in their modej of ac-
ton from the circumstances them
selves. So. whilst the physical sur
roundings of the people had an in
fuencc upon their religious mentality.
that mantality made food the weak
ncsses of their surroundings. Prais-
ing Jerusalem for its beauty and
strength. Il Jewish singer nevertheless
sees hostile kings gathered around
her, but They SAW it and 50 they
marvelled: they were troubled and
hasted away" because God is known
i'll her palaces for a refuge There
was spirit in the hearts as well rs
weapons in the hands of the soldiers
of Israel, and without the former the
luttcr would never have made Jewish
history. The Jewish religion was it,
self II strength equal to the hills, Civ
ing assurance when their hills failed
them and their enemies We're AT their
gates.
O. FROM, that stuuIpniut on Mpuu.