The Seven Gates and The Six Day War

For nearly twenty years, Jerusalem, the capital of Israel, was a divided city. The new city was part of Israel. The Old City was controlled by the Arabs. The Israelis were not allowed to enter it.

One day, in 1967, war broke out in Israel. The soldiers of Israel fought bravely and won great victories. This war lasted six-days, so it was called the Six-Day War. When the soldiers reached the Old City of Jerusalem they looked at the huge wall around it. They looked at the eight gates (seven are open, one is closed). They did not know which gate to go through to enter the Old City. Each gate begged, one louder than the other, "Come in through me!"
 

Even G-d could not decide. The angel Michael said, "G-d in Heaven, let each gate speak and explain why it should be chosen. Then you will decide which gate is the most worthy and through which gate the soldiers will enter." G-d thought this was an excellent idea.

The Jaffa Gate spoke first. "I am a very strong: no wind can blow over me. The tower of David stands near me."

The Shechem Gate (Damascus Gate) was second. "I am the biggest and the most beautiful of all the gates."

The Zion Gate spoke third. "I am hurt and broken from all the fighting around me, but my name is the name of the Holy City - Zion."

The Dung Gate was fourth. "For centuries, Jerusalem’s garbage was thrown on me, but I don’t care. The Western Wall is next to me. I help it with words of hope when it is sad."

The Flower Gate spoke fifth. "Let the soldiers enter through me and I’ll give them flowers."

The sixth voice was The New Gate. "I am the smallest and the newest. I try to fight off the Arabs. Maybe the soldiers will enter through me and help me."

Next the seventh gate, The Golden Gate(Mercy Gate), shouted. "Master of the Universe, you promised that the Jews would return to the Temple Mount in Jerusalem through me." The angels said the Golden Gate can only be opened when the Messiah comes.

The eighth and last gate was silent. "Speak" G-d said.

The Lion’s Gate spoke softly. "My heart is breaking at all the fighting. It doesn’t  matter through which gate the soldiers enter as long as the fighting is stopped."

G-d and the angels whispered among themselves. Then G-d spoke, turning to The Lion’s Gate. "You care more for the lives of the soldiers than you do for your own honor. The soldiers of Israel will enter the Old City through you.

The soldiers passed through The Lion’s Gate and freed the city. At the Western Wall, they blew the shofar. Everyone then knew that the gates of the Old City were open and Jerusalem was united once again.
 
 

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