OREN SAPIR Tri-Lingual Tour Guide and Historian

YOM YERUSHALAYIM

students that studied at the Hebrew Univer- I’m Coming sity at the time. These soldiers were able to reach their bases in a very short while, as Home… everyone was in the city, and didn’t need to come from afar. ne of the famous battles in Jerusa- Independence Day- 1967. lem during the Six Day War is the Oone at Ammunition Hill, where the During the celebrations, Independence Day reserves brigade fought their 1967, the Egyptian forces started moving way towards Eastern . More than into Sinai and most of the reserves units a day later, soldiers from the same brigade were called to their bases. The IDF com- entered the Lions Gate and arrived at the mand was mainly concerned with the Sinai and later the . front and couldn’t offer many soldiers to I want to take you to the southern half of the other fronts ( and the bor- the city and to a much-less known brigade der with ). The Jerusalem Brigade that fought its way into East Jerusalem- the got ready for war and they were stationed Jerusalem reserves brigade. along the border, to start a counter- attack if it will be needed. During the 19 years between the War of Independence and the Six Day War, the The War begins- Monday June 5th 1967 city of Jerusalem was divided in two- the The Jordanian forces attacked the Israeli eastern- Jordanian side and the western- side- gunshots, mortars and cannons. At Israeli side. The IDF was noon, soldiers attacked the Com- afraid the Jordanian forces might try to cut missioners Palace compound and captured off Jerusalem from the rest of the country it. The Jerusalem Brigade was mobilized- by crossing the narrow corridor leading to to capture the palace form the Jordanian Jerusalem from the west- from Nabi Sam- hands and further into eastern Jerusalem. uel, through Mevasseret and the Kastel and In the next day- the Abu Tor neighborhood joining the Jordanian held area to the south. was captured in a long afternoon battle Trying to avoid this frightening possibility a with many soldiers hit. They broke through huge reserves unit was founded in Jerusa- the border line in four locations, one of lem- the “Jerusalem Brigade”. It was built them was led by company commander Eli out of thousands of residents of the city and

58 TORAH TIDBITS / BEHAR BECHUKOTAI 5781 Keidar. He was a carpenter, mid 30’s in age, he will be able to walk again in the streets born and grew up in Jerusalem. At the end of the , back home. of the battle, he was ordered to continue in the next day (the third of the war) to Oren is a tri- lingual licensed tour Mount Zion, right next to the Old City, on guide (HEB-ENG-SPA) holding a the border. Masters degree in Jewish history. He was told that he will receive aid to cross leads tours, hikes and lectures on the Ben Hinnom Valley that is under Jorda- topics connected to its history, nian fire but he knew every secret in the archaeology and modern times. area, including an underground tunnel from the Montefiore neighborhood (Mish- kenot Shaananim) to the mountain across. Please note: Deadline for ads for He quickly took his men up through the the issue following Shavuot tunnel and didn’t need any help at all. He (Parshat Naso), May 21-22 is was afraid that the area of Zion Gate had Wednesday May 12 landmines all over so he led his men down towards Dung Gate (Shaar Haashpot) at Call Ita Rochel - 02 5609125 the time it was not more than a doorway. for advertising “Something is wrong”, he felt, “where are the Jordanians?” there was no one shoot- ing or trying to stop them. They entered the gate, the Western Wall was not far at all- just in sight, but they took the left and climbed up to the Jewish Quarter. There, Eli, tells his men to continue, appoints his deputy to take over the command, turned around and went out through the gate to the western city. He arrived at his fathers’ בס"ד house, dressed him in an army shirt, gave Huge Magnificent Villa for sale him a helmet and said- “Dad, we are going Yerushalayim - Har Nof Built home!” 350sqm on Half Dunam, three floors, 10 rooms, private entrances (suitable Eli grew up in the Old city, he was a teen- as seperate apartments), centrally ager in the War of Independence and located, quiet street, amazing fought in the Jewish Quarter, he was taken panoramic view private parkings, by the Jordanian army as a prisoner of war big Sukkah gardens - when the Quarter surrendered May 28th Nis 7,800,000 (See our Catalog on whatsapp) 1967. Months later he was released, with AW Real-Estate & Investments the other prisoners and lived his life like (972+) 052-9977704 anyone other, just waiting for the moment

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