I ended my last blog with a challenge to think about how you show your love for Jerusalem.

Why is it important that one’s actions show love? While many think that love is a feeling or emotion, it is actually so much more than this. Feelings and emotions change and can be unstable; they shift over time, and can be as unpredictable as the weather. Love is just the opposite of this; while love may cause us to feel something, true love is not a feeling, but rather an action.

perhaps one of the most well-known explanations of LOVE was written by Rav Shaul (the Apostle Paul) in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7:

“Love is patient, love is kind, and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”

While this verse does not speak directly about loving Jerusalem, it shows us that love is, in fact, an action.

For many people, their love of Jerusalem is almost romantic, which is based on strong feelings alone. While I will be the first to admit that Jerusalem can evoke a deep emotional response, it’s not emotions alone that we are commanded to feel towards her. In verse 6 of Psalm 122, the word “love” follows the command to “ask” (Pray) for the peace of Jerusalem, which indicates that only when we actively pray for her, will we be in the midst of God’s will, finding His security and peace.

I would like to invite each of you who read this blog to join me in actively praying daily for God’s peace to come to Jerusalem. There are few things more important to Him:

“If I forget you, O Jerusalem, may my right hand forget her skill. May my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth, If I do not remember you, If I do not exalt Jerusalem above my chief joy.” Psalm 137:5-6

Shabbat Shalom,

Moran