(VIDEO AND PHOTOS IN EXTENDED ARTICLE)

A premier event took place this past Sunday at the Kosel Plaza in which hundreds of Jewish students from countries around the world pledged their allegiance to the Jewish nation. Since the reunification of Jerusalem, the Kosel Plaza has been a popular site for induction ceremonies for new soldiers joining the Israel Defense Force after completing basic training.

This new ceremony is the collaborative brainchild of the Ministry of Diaspora Affairs and several non-profit organizations including Olami, Afikim Foundation, and Orot which actively promote Jewish education in Israel and Diaspora countries. The students who participated in the ceremony are affiliated with the Wolfson Foundation’s organization Olami, and they draw from many countries around the world including the USA, France, Great Britain, and more.

In the course of the ceremony, the 300 participating students read the statement of the pledge aloud: “On this day, honoring the liberation of Jerusalem, I connect to the Kosel in order to join myriad generations, and to forge a covenant with Jerusalem, just as the leaders of our nation and entire nation of Israel did upon the nation’s return to their Land.”

The master of ceremonies also proclaimed the famous verse, “If I forget thee, Jerusalem, I shall forget my right hand.” In response, in place of the customary “Ani nishba! I swear!” shouted at military induction ceremonies; the students responded, “Ose shalom bimromav… He who makes peace in the heavens shall make peace upon us and all of Israel.” Following the example of military induction ceremonies, every student received a copy of Tanach in Hebrew and English.

The event was attended by Minister of Education and Diaspora Affairs Naftali Bennett, who expressed to the youths, “You are all part of the chain of our generations. We are all one nation. Jerusalem, Har Habayis, and the Kosel all escort the history of the Jewish nation from its inception and until the present. Just like each one of you are here today, so you were all present at the time when Abraham sought to sacrifice Isaac, at the time of the Destruction of the Temple, and also 50 years ago when Israeli paratroopers liberated and reunified our capital.”

Also in attendance were philanthropist Mr. Aaron Wolfson, who is a generous supporter of Olami’s projects; the Rabbi of the Kosel and sacred sites Rabbi Shmuel Rabinowitz; Executive Director of the Kosel Heritage Foundation Mr. Mordechai (Solly) Eliav; and Executive Director of Orot Rabbi Yehuda Polishuk.

Chairman of Olami Rabbi Raphael Butler noted in his address that, “The unique connection between a Torah scroll that was written from 300,000 good deeds that culminated this week in a special landmark event and the Kosel is one that symbolizes self-sacrifice. This is the same self-sacrifice, as expressed when Abraham sought to sacrifice Isaac; during the battles of King David; and even in our times through the self-sacrifice of paratroopers who captured the Kosel.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem/Photo Credit: Yechezkel Itkin)