This year, as in the past, the community came together for family programming in the park, a parade through the city streets, and a celebratory performance across from the center of town.
The build-up in advance of the occasion involved more than the events’ organizers. High School students in Ariel, participants in the city’s Parliament Youth Council and members of the B’nai Akiva Youth movement joined together for a special gathering in preparation for Jerusalem Day. The evening opened with a discussion on the significance of Jerusalem Day and the centrality of Israel’s eternal capital. The program came to a close with a moving sing-along of songs about Jerusalem, that brought with it harmony in both music and shared ideas.
Jerusalem will always be special to the people of Ariel, perhaps even more than it is for most. After all, Ariel is named for Jerusalem (see Isaiah 29:1,7), and we are honored to hold our namesake in the highest regard.