Jerusalem, I Pledge by Avital Sharansky
Dear All,
The following is the text of the speech delivered by
Avital Sharansky at the giant "Jerusalem - I Pledge!" rally
on Jan. 8th 2001. Mrs. Sharansky led a years-long international
struggle for the release of her husband - former refusenik
Natan (Anatoly) Sharansky, currently a Knesset Member and leader
of the Yisrael B'Aliyah party - from Soviet prison for his
Zionist activities.
Jerusalem - together with the Temple Mount and the
Western Wall - was not all that was liberated during the
Six Day War. Also liberated was the spirit of that part of
the People of Israel that was caught behind the Iron Wall of
the Soviet Union. During the Six Day War, this spirit was
revived and came to life, like a sleeping giant awakening
from his slumber. For the first time, we - millions of Jews
who had been distanced from their land and their legacy - felt
our Jewish identity. We felt Jewish brotherhood, we felt
Jewish pride. We dreamt of a return to Zion, of our return home.
This dream drew tens of thousands and millions back to Eretz
Yisrael, out of a feeling of great uplifting faith. This belief
is that which, in the end, knocked the Iron Wall to the ground,
and broke an international superpower into tiny pieces.
Sylva Zalmanson, during her trial in Soviet Russia, read aloud
to the judges the verse, "If I forget thee O Jerusalem, let my
right hand wither." My husband Natan, at the end of his trial
there, when he was in genuine danger to his life, declared in
unforgettable words, "Next year in Jerusalem." We always knew
that the liberty of Israel and that of Jerusalem are one and
the same.
What is the connection between Jerusalem and world Jewry?
What power does this city have to arouse the entire House of
Israel to new life?
Jerusalem has forever been the heart of the nation. When the
heart is healthy and strong, it streams life to the entire body,
even to the distant organs. "G-d is the builder of Jerusalem,
He will gather all the dispersed of Israel," is written in
Psalms. When Israel liberated Jerusalem with G-d's help,
vitality was restored to every corner of the Jewish nation;
the flow of Jewish oxygen was renewed to Jewish communities
in the Diaspora, to Jews in Moscow and Siberia, in New York
and Melbourne. The Jews of America, of Russia, of the entire
world now live more complete Jewish lives, and their Jewish
awareness is much stronger. All this in the merit of Jerusalem
- the heart of the nation, the heart that after 2,000 years of
exile is now beating strongly once again.
As we declared a generation ago, let us announce once again
all of us together here today: "Am Yisrael Chai" - the People
of Israel lives! A live nation does not allow anyone to harm
his heart!
Jerusalem: Thirty years ago, you restored to us our national
Jewish identity and awareness. You gave us a gift. Today,
thirty years later, we, appreciative of this kindness, gather
in the shadow of your walls to assure you: "We have not
forgotten, you have not abandoned us and we will not abandon
you."
When we worked for the freedom of our imprisoned brothers in
the Soviet Union, we felt that we were the mouthpiece of
hundreds of thousands who could not, or who were afraid to,
speak out. Today, too, there were people who wanted to
speak out - but were afraid. Jerusalem was defined by some
as a "political" issue. To our great disappointment, there
were those who surrendered and retreated.
But, "For Zion I will not be mute, and for Jerusalem's sake
I will not be silent." Just like thirty years ago, today
too we are willing to be a voice for the Jewry of Silence -
for all those who wished to be here but were not allowed to,
or who did not find within themselves the courage to come.
We speak for them, and through us their voices, too, will be
heard.
Honored audience:
You are expressing the silent cries of millions of
Jews in the Diaspora who were unable to be here tonight;
of millions of Jews in previous generations - our fathers
and mothers - who dreamt of Jerusalem but did not merit to
fulfill the dream; of millions of Jews - our children and
grandchildren - who have not yet been born.
I close my eyes and see with us in this rally - filling
the plaza without an extra inch of room - all the generations
of Israel. Here is Avraham Avinu, there is Sarah Imeinu,
here is David, King of Israel. We will not retreat. We will
not be deterred. We will build Jerusalem -- all of it, and we
will be built -- all of us, in Jerusalem.
Next year, and the year afterwards, and after that, and after
that - in Jerusalem, forever rebuilt!
