During Chanukah we commemorate the war we fought and won against the Greeks. The Hashmoniam understood that the liberation of Jerusalem from Greek and Hellenist control was key to rallying the nation of Israel to their side and defeating the Greeks across the Land of Israel.

Today’s war against Hamas is no different. The Hamas-Nazi regime and their allies see Jerusalem as their ultimate goal. They seek to bring their barbaric, inhuman, and Jihadist violence to the Jewish capital and from there to the entire world.

The centrality of Jerusalem to this conflict – is clear. By capturing it, our enemies seek to wipe out Zionism since Zionism without Jerusalem is merely a hollow call for self determination. Only with Jerusalem are we liberated – set free.

This is why it is crucial that we work together to secure our capital in the face of the current Hamas onslaught. By strengthening our communities in the eastern part of the capital we can and will strengthen the entire country and the Land of Israel for generations to come.