King of Jerusalem – Lech L’cha
Malkitzedek was king of Shalem (Gen. 14:18). Targum Onkelos and various commentators identify Shalem with Jerusalem. They base this on Psalm 76:3, which says, “In Salem is set His tabernacle”.
The sages say Yerushalayim is built up of two words – ir shalom, the city of peace.
In the Midrash (Kohelet Rabba 1) the rabbis say that Jerusalem will always have enough room for everybody and it will be the centre of the world. According to the prophets, all peoples will go up to worship God in Jerusalem.
Elie Wiesel says Jerusalem is “the city which miraculously transforms man into pilgrim: no-one can enter it and go away unchanged.”
There are impractical dreams of sharing control of Jerusalem with other groups but how can Israel not be entitled to nominate its own capital like other nations do?
