Presentation of Two Stones from the Holy Temple
to the Washington National Cathedral:
Thursday, August 10, 1999The Very Reverend Nathan Baxter -- Dean of the Washington National Cathedral, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Press,
In the Talmud, it is written, "Ten measures of beauty were bestowed upon the world; nine were taken by Jerusalem and one by the rest of the world." It is a pleasure to share the unique beauty of Jerusalem with the Washington National Cathedral and the American people.
Today is the ninth of Av - a day of sorrow, sadness and hope. On this day in 568 B.C.E., the Holy Temple, built by King Solomon, was first destroyed by the Babylonians. On this very same day in 70 C.E., the Second Temple was destroyed by the Romans and it has remained in ruin ever since.
It took the Jewish people two thousand years to reclaim Jerusalem as its capital and to restore its greatness and glory. We are proud of the fact that Jerusalem has been kept open to all faiths, since its reunification in 1967. It is a sacred commitment to humanity that we will always keep.
Israel recognizes the significance of Jerusalem not only to Jews, but also to Christians and Muslims as well. It is in this spirit that I have the privilege to present these stones from the Holy Temple - on behalf of the people of Israel and the Mayor of Jerusalem -- to Reverend Nathan D. Baxter of the Washington National Cathedral. This gift is symbolic of the enduring friendship between the American people and the State of Israel.
Thank you.
