"Ten measures of beauty descended to the world, nine were taken by Jerusalem."

-Talmud, Kiddushin 49b

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Many could argue that no other city in the world has a more significant history than Jerusalem. Now the capital of Israel, it has been the prize of countless wars. The Holy City has served Jews for 3,000 years and is also where the Crucifixion and Resurrection of Jesus Christ took place, and it is where the Muslim prophet Muhammad ascended to Heaven. A new book takes a close look and a unique approach at what Jerusalem means to world leaders, through essays and photographs, capturing the significance of a 50-square mile strip of land on the 50th anniversary of its reunification.

 

“My Jerusalem: The Eternal City (Gefen Publishing, House, cloth, 170 pages, $50, ISBN: 9789652299079) is the most important and monumental book that I have published in my 36 years of publishing,” says Ilan Greenfield, the book’s editor and publisher.

 

Greenfield collected dozens of stirring and insightful essays from those who understand the political, religious, and humanitarian importance of a stable Jerusalem. “As you read the different stories, I hope that you will think of your own Jerusalem story and consider your relationship of this unique and amazing city – and what Jerusalem means to you,” Greenfield says.

 

My Jerusalem is completed by the award-winning photographs of Tel Aviv-based photographer Ziv Koren, who has had his work shared in 15 books and at exhibits across the globe, including the Metropolitan Museum of Tokyo, the Memorial Museum in Spain, the War Museum in Croatia, and the Museum of Fine Arts in Houston. His work has been published in Time magazine, Newsweek, The Sunday New bel, Times Magazine, Stern, der Spiegel, Paris Match, Le Figaro, and other prominent publication across the globe.

 

The list of contributors is impressive. It includes heavyweight politicians, activists, philanthropists, academicians, artists and leaders from Israel and the United States, including:

 

• Renowned legal expert Alan M. Dershowitz

• Preeminent sex therapist, talk show host and Holocaust survivor Dr. Ruth Westheimer

• Israel’s 10th president, Reuven Rivlin

• Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu

• Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat

• Speaker of Israel Knesset, Yuli-Yoel Edelstein

• National Defense Emeritus, Anti-Defamation league, Abraham H. Foreman

• National President of Hadassah, Ellen Hershkin

• World Jewish Congress President Ronald S. Lauder 

• Founder of the Simon Wiesenthal Center, Rabbi Marvin Hier

 

Many submissions are from non-Jews, including Reverend Samuel Rodriguez, president of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference, Pastor John Hager, founder and national chairman of Christians United for Israel, and U.S. presidential candidate Mike Huckabee.

 

Readers will come to discover the following:

• Why a free and open Jerusalem is imperative to peace – now!

• What the Holy City has meant to countless millions of people.

• Why Jerusalem is like no other place on the planet

• Why support for Jerusalem must never wane – ever!

• How Jerusalem survived after thousands of years of wars, revolts, and persecutions.

• How one location inspired the lives of great leaders and thinkers.

 

This book is filled with deeply personal stories that come through loud and clearly, with emotion and spirit. “When reviewing the idea of publishing a book celebrating the 50th anniversary of the reunification of Jerusalem after the Six Day War, I wanted to publish something different, something that has never been done in this way before,” says Greenfield. “I wanted to tell the human story of Jerusalem, and so I started asking interesting people around the globe to write their unique stories. They readily agreed to contribute their personal stories of connection to the eternal city.”

 

Ever since King Solomon built the Holy Temple on Jerusalem’s Temple Mount, Jews from around the world have seen the Holy City as the core of their lives. Jews from every continent on the globe have always prayed three times a day facing Jerusalem. Jews from Yemen, Ethiopia, and Lithuania, Jews from Morocco, Spain, India, Poland, and Russia. No matter where they were born, or where they will die, all Jews share Jerusalem.

 

2017 marks 50 years since the Six Day War ended and the reunification of Jerusalem took place. This historic event in 1967 allowed worshippers of all religions to freely pray in the holy places for the first time in hundreds of years. In honor of this important anniversary, this unique photo-essay book brings together the thoughts and reminiscences of those who love and treasure the Holy City.