Thread: Before we dive in, letโs address a critical issue: There are some people around the world who perceive Jerusalem as an Arab area, including the ICJ, with some even advocating for it to be handed over to the Palestinians as the capital of their prospective terror state. This view overlooks the profound and unbroken Jewish connection to Jerusalem. Letโs review how Jerusalem is intrinsically Jewish and how its history has been hijacked and rewritten.
1/ ๐ Jerusalem: The Eternal Capital of the Jewish People ๐
Jerusalem has been the heart and soul of the Jewish people for over 3,500 years. Despite countless challenges and adversities, the Jewish presence in Jerusalem has remained unbroken, underscoring a deep-rooted and unwavering connection to this sacred city. From the days of Joshua and King David to the modern era, Jerusalem has been a constant in Jewish life, culture, and religion, symbolizing the enduring spirit and resilience of the Jewish people.
2/ ๐ฐ๏ธ Ancient Beginnings ๐ฐ๏ธ
The history of Jews in Jerusalem dates back to ancient times, even before King David. Joshua, the biblical leader who succeeded Moses, conquered the land of Israel, including Jerusalem, around the 13th century BCE. This marked the beginning of a significant Jewish presence in the city. Later, King David established Jerusalem as the capital of the Jewish nation around 1000 BCE. This monumental decision solidified Jerusalemโs status as not just a political center but also a spiritual and cultural heart for Jews. His son, King Solomon, built the First Temple, making Jerusalem the focal point of Jewish worship and pilgrimage. The Temple served as the epicenter of Jewish religious life, drawing Jews from all corners of the land to partake in rituals and festivals, thus embedding Jerusalem deeply in Jewish identity.
3/ ๐ Exile and Return ๐
Even after the destruction of the First Temple by the Babylonians in 586 BCE, the Jewish connection to Jerusalem did not wane. Jews returned to rebuild and renew their bond with the city, demonstrating their resilience and unyielding faith. The completion of the Second Temple in 516 BCE was a significant event, symbolizing a new era of Jewish religious and communal life. Despite subsequent invasions and occupations, the Jewish people continuously sought to restore and maintain their presence in Jerusalem, highlighting their enduring attachment to the city.
4/ ๐๏ธ Roman Destruction and Diaspora ๐๏ธ
The Roman destruction of the Second Temple in 70 CE marked a profound moment of loss for the Jewish people, yet their connection to Jerusalem endured. Even as Jews were scattered across the globe in the ensuing diaspora, Jerusalem remained at the core of Jewish religious life and longing. Daily prayers, rituals, and cultural practices consistently oriented towards Jerusalem, preserving its significance in Jewish consciousness. Throughout centuries of dispersion, Jews always yearned for their return to Jerusalem, keeping the cityโs memory alive in their hearts and minds.
5/ ๐ Medieval and Ottoman Eras๐
Throughout the Middle Ages and the Ottoman rule, Jewish communities in Jerusalem faced periods of hardship and revival. Despite various conquerors and shifting political landscapes, Jews never abandoned their spiritual and historical ties to the city. During the Ottoman era, from 1517 to 1917, Jewish life in Jerusalem experienced significant changes. The Ottomans, recognizing the historical Jewish connection to the land, allowed Jewish refugees from Spain and other regions to settle in the city. This period saw a revival of Jewish communal life, with the establishment of new synagogues, schools, and community institutions, further cementing the continuous Jewish presence in Jerusalem.
6/ โก๏ธ The Jewish Quarter โก๏ธ
The Jewish Quarter of the Old City of Jerusalem has been a vibrant center of Jewish life for centuries, a microcosm of the broader Jewish experience in the city. Its synagogues, schools, and homes are living monuments to the continuous Jewish presence and the communityโs resilience in the face of adversity. Over the centuries, despite periods of destruction and renewal, the Jewish Quarter has remained a focal point of Jewish cultural and religious life, embodying the steadfast connection of Jews to their ancient capital.
7/ ๐ซ Temple Mount Restrictions ๐ซ
Today, Jews face restrictions on visiting the Temple Mount, the holiest site in Judaism. Control by Muslim authorities has prevented Jews from freely accessing the area, highlighting ongoing tensions and challenges. The Temple Mount, where the First and Second Temples once stood, remains a profoundly significant site for Jews. However, the complex political and religious dynamics have resulted in limitations on Jewish worship and presence, reflecting broader issues of religious freedom and historical rights.
8/ ๐ Historical Hijacking ๐
The Temple Mount, where the First and Second Temples once stood, has been at the center of a significant historical hijacking. Today, many around the world view it primarily as a Muslim site, overshadowing its profound Jewish significance. Despite its deep roots in Jewish history, the site has been rebranded, with many now referring to it exclusively by its Islamic name, Al-Haram Al-Sharif. The reality is that Jerusalem holds a marginal place in Islamic tradition compared to its central role in Judaism. The Quran does not mention Jerusalem, and its association with Islam primarily stems from later historical developments. This rebranding diminishes the Jewish connection to the Temple Mount, a place where Jews have prayed and yearned for thousands of years. The ongoing restrictions on Jewish access and worship at this sacred site underscore the broader struggle for recognition of Jerusalemโs true historical and religious narrative.
9/ ๐ Jewish Presence Through the Ages ๐
Over the last 1,800 years, Jews have consistently lived in Jerusalem and throughout Israel, even under various foreign rulers. For example, in the 9th century, Jewish scholar Saadia Gaon wrote extensively about Jewish life in Jerusalem. In the 11th century, Spanish-Jewish traveler Benjamin of Tudela documented thriving Jewish communities in the city. By the 16th century, under Ottoman rule, Jerusalem saw a revival of Jewish life with the arrival of Jewish refugees from Spain. The 19th century witnessed the establishment of new Jewish neighborhoods outside the Old City walls, symbolizing the growth and resilience of the Jewish population. These examples illustrate that, despite hardships and displacements, Jews have maintained a continuous presence in Jerusalem, contributing to its cultural and religious landscape.
10/ ๐๏ธ Jerusalem Today ๐๏ธ
Today, Jerusalem stands as a thriving city, embodying the spirit and resilience of the Jewish people. Despite ongoing challenges and political complexities, the eternal bond between Jews and Jerusalem remains unbreakable, reflecting millennia of history, faith, and determination. Jerusalem continues to be a center of Jewish religious, cultural, and political life, symbolizing the unyielding connection of the Jewish people to their ancient capital. The cityโs vibrant life and continuous development are testaments to the enduring spirit of the Jewish community and their unwavering commitment to Jerusalem.
๐ Conclusion ๐
Jerusalem is not just a city; it is the heart of Jewish identity and heritage. For 3,500 years, Jews have lived, prayed, and thrived in Jerusalem. Despite numerous challenges and adversities, their connection remains steadfast, a testament to the enduring spirit of the Jewish people. The history of Jerusalem is a story of resilience, faith, and an unbreakable bond that has withstood the test of time. Today, as we honor this profound connection, we also look towards a future where Jerusalem continues to be a symbol of hope, unity, and peace for all who hold it dear.
๐งตMeet 15 Jewish Nobel Prize Winners Who Changed History๐งต
The Jewish population constitutes just 0.18% of the world (15.3 million out of 8.2 billion), yet approximately 20-30% of Nobel Prize winners in fields like Physics, Chemistry, and Medicine are Jewish. This incredible fact highlights the Jewish community's historic contributions to humanity.
Letโs meet just 15 of the over 200 Jewish Nobel Prize winners.
1/ Albert Einstein (1921, Physics).
Einstein was born in Germany to a secular Jewish family. His groundbreaking discovery of the photoelectric effect laid the foundation for quantum mechanics, earning him the Nobel Prize.
โช His theory of relativity (E=mcยฒ) reshaped our understanding of gravity and spacetime.
โชIn 1933, Einstein fled Nazi Germany to the U.S., where he became a vocal advocate for civil rights and Zionism.
โชHe helped inspire the Manhattan Project but later became an advocate for nuclear disarmament.
2/ Niels Bohr (1922, Physics).
Born in Denmark to a Jewish mother, Bohr revolutionized atomic physics.
โชHis Bohr Model showed electrons orbit the nucleus in distinct energy levels.
โชDuring WWII, Bohr worked on the Manhattan Project after escaping Nazi persecution.
โชBeyond science, Bohr advocated for global cooperation and peaceful nuclear energy use.
๐งตThread: The story of Jews in America goes beyond just history; it is deeply personal. It is about Jewish families who, escaping persecution and arriving with nothing, poured everything into creating a better future. Itโs about standing alongside their neighbors in times of war, during civil rights struggles, and through cultural revolutions. But today, that's all under attack: antisemitism is on the rise and, with it, an attempt to erase centuries of resilience and contributions.
Let me take you on a brief journey through the amazing story of Jewish Americans, their achievements, their triumphs, and why their fight is one we all must share.
1/ Arrival in the New World (1654):
In 1654, 23 Jewish refugees arrived in New Amsterdam (now New York City), fleeing the Inquisition in Brazil. They faced hostility from Governor Peter Stuyvesant, who wanted to expel them. But their determination, and appeals to Dutch authorities, ensured their place in the New World.
These early Jews established Americaโs first synagogue, Congregation Shearith Israel, in 1655. Despite being a tiny minority, they thrived by trading, contributing to the local economy, and building a foundation for Jewish life in America. Their story reflects the broader Jewish narrative: persistence in the face of exclusion.
2/ Revolutionary Contributions (1776-1783):
When America fought for independence, Jews stood alongside their neighbors. Haym Salomon, a Polish-born Jew, became a financial savior of the Revolution. As a broker and financier, he helped secure critical loans to sustain George Washingtonโs army, often at great personal cost.
Salomonโs efforts demonstrated the Jewish embrace of American idealsโliberty, democracy, and equality. Jewish soldiers like Francis Salvador, the first Jew elected to public office in America, also fought and died for independence. These contributions helped cement Jewish loyalty to the emerging United States.
Thread: The idea that Arabs loved Jews until the creation of Israel is a widespread and untrue myth. Many believe that Jews were welcomed and lived peacefully among Arabs until the establishment of the modern state of Israel in 1948. This view is not only historically inaccurate but dangerously overlooks the long and painful history of Jewish suffering in the Middle East. Long before Zionism, Jews faced massacres, forced conversions, and expulsions in regions once ruled by the Arabs. In fact, Jews in the Arab world endured centuries of persecution under both Muslim and Ottoman rulers. Hereโs a look at some of the most significant massacres and pogroms throughout this period, revealing the true story of Jewish life in the Middle East.
1. The Massacre of the Banu Qurayza (627 CE).
Long before Zionism, Jewish communities in the Middle East endured persecution, including one of the earliest and most harrowing incidents: the massacre of the Banu Qurayza in Medina during the time of the Prophet Muhammad.
The Banu Qurayza, a Jewish tribe in Medina, had entered into a pact with Muhammad under the Constitution of Medina, which allowed Muslims and Jews to coexist. However, during the Battle of the Trench, the tribe was accused of conspiring with Muhammadโs enemies, the Quraysh. After the Muslim victory, Muhammad and his forces besieged the Banu Qurayzaโs fortress, forcing their surrender.
What followed was brutal. A tribunal led by Saโd ibn Muโadh sentenced all adult males of the tribe to death and enslaved the women and children. To determine who qualified as an โadult male,โ boys were subjected to inspections for signs of puberty, specifically the presence of pubic hair. Those deemed adults were executed alongside the men. Historical sources, such as Ibn Ishaq and al-Tabari, report that between 600 and 900 men and boys were killed, their bodies dumped into trenches.
The Banu Qurayzaโs women and children were sold into slavery, marking the total destruction of the tribe. This event illustrates the precarious and often deadly position of Jewish communities in the early Islamic period, long before the creation of Israel or the modern conflict in the region.
The first well-documented massacre of Jews in the Middle East dates back to 1066 in Granada, part of the Muslim-ruled Al-Andalus (Muslim Spain). After a Jewish vizier, Joseph Ibn Naghrela, was blamed for the death of the Muslim king, the situation escalated. A mob of Muslims, inspired by rumors and political tension, attacked the Jewish population of Granada. Over 4,000 Jews were slaughtered in a brutal pogrom that saw entire families butchered, their homes looted, and their properties destroyed. This massacre was part of a larger pattern of Jewish scapegoating across Muslim-ruled territories during periods of political instability. The massacre marked a turning point for Jews in the Iberian Peninsula, with many fleeing to other parts of the Muslim world for safety.
Thread: In todayโs political rhetoric, the term โNaziโ is thrown around very casuall by those looking to smear their opponents without fully understanding or ignoring the weight of the word. Itโs now almost commonplace for Democrats to label Trump and his supporters as โNazis.โ But do these people actually understand the unspeakable crimes and inhumane actions that the Nazis committed, or the irreversible scars they left on the world? What happened in Nazi Germany was a methodical, calculated genocide that reduced human lives to numbers on a spreadsheet and embraced cruelty as policy. Letโs remember the real Nazisโnot as some empty insult, but as the masterminds of one of historyโs darkest chapters.
1/ Adolf Hitler โ Leader of the Third Reich.
Hitlerโs name is synonymous with genocide, war, and hatred. As dictator of Nazi Germany, he led the world into World War II and crafted the policies that ignited the Holocaust. Hitlerโs ideology centered around the belief in Aryan racial superiority, which fueled his ambition to eradicate Jews, Romani people, disabled individuals, and countless others he deemed โundesirable.โ His orders led to the systematic murder of six million Jews and millions of others in gas chambers, ghettos, and mass shootings. Beyond the Holocaust, Hitlerโs war set the globe on fire, causing unspeakable suffering and loss. His legacy is one of absolute brutalityโa vision that sacrificed humanity for his twisted ideals. He is considered as the worst person to walk on our planet.
2/ Heinrich Himmler โ Head of the SS and Architect of the Holocaust.
Heinrich Himmler was Hitlerโs right-hand man in organizing the genocide. As the head of the SS and Gestapo, Himmler meticulously planned and executed the โFinal Solution.โ He personally designed and oversaw the death camps, including Auschwitz and Treblinka, where millions of lives were extinguished including millions of Jewish men women and children. Himmlerโs approach was bureaucratic and a complete lack of empathyโhe turned genocide into a calculated operation, emphasizing โefficiencyโ in mass murder. Under his command, death became an industry. Himmlerโs influence extended far beyond Germanyโs borders, with SS units terrorizing occupied territories across Europe. His legacy is one of chilling pragmatism in service of complete destruction
๐๐ก๐ซ๐๐๐: As we are getting closer to the elections, the stakes have never been higher for Jewish people. Antisemitism is on the rise, from the streets where Jews are attacked outside restaurants and on the subway, to our universities, where hate toward Jews has run amok. And Kamala Harris who said that some of the antisemites have a 'valid' point, yet has done nothing to counteract this rising hate. Her treatment of Israel, as it faces an existential fight, has been nothing short of a betrayal.
Meanwhile, political opponents have tried to paint Donald Trump as sympathetic to Nazis, going as far as comparing him to Hitler. Yet millions of Jewish Americans know the truth. Trumpโs actions tell a different storyโa story of clear support for the Jewish people, unwavering defense of Israel, and personal connections that prove his commitment. Jewish voters at this historic crossroads should examine Trumpโs record for themselves.
In this thread, we will review Trumpโs powerful support for Israel and the Jewish people and his longstanding relationships within the Jewish community.
1. Recognizing Jerusalem as Israelโs Capital:
One of Donald Trumpโs most significant actions as president was his decision to officially recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel in 2017. For decades, U.S. presidents had promised this recognition but never delivered. Trump broke that cycle. By making this declaration, he did more than making a symbolic statementโhe corrected a historic injustice. Jerusalem has been at the heart of the Jewish people for thousands of years, and Trumpโs recognition of this fact was a powerful affirmation of Israelโs rightful sovereignty. This move wasnโt just a fulfillment of a campaign promiseโit was a testament to Trumpโs understanding of Israelโs deep historical and spiritual ties to the land.
2. Moving the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem:
Following his recognition of Jerusalem as Israelโs capital, Trump made another unprecedented move by relocating the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Previous administrations had avoided this action due to fear of backlash, but Trump took a stand. This bold decision reinforced Israelโs legitimacy and sent a message to the world that the U.S. would no longer cave to international pressure when it came to supporting its greatest ally in the Middle East. Despite criticism and threats from various countries, Trump made it clear that the U.S. stands firmly with Israel, strengthening the bond between the two nations.