Hi Everyone!
Rav Pinchas Mordechai ben Rav Tzvi Grayevsky z"l,
my maternal great-grandfather, was born in Jerusalem in 1873.
He lived in the old city of Jerusalem from 1873-1932.
He was a well known Jerusalem historian.
https://jr.co.il/richman/pinchas-grayevsky.htm
Between 1896 and 1926 he wrote over 600 articles for newspapers in Israel and
abroad under different pen names. He collected historical Jerusalem documents,
biographical sketches, articles about institutions, events and life of the old
Jewish yishuv in Jerusalem. His research was published in many Hebrew booklets
and books. Titles include: "B'not Tzion VeYerushalim", "B'not Tzion
HaMetzuyanot", "Zichronot Kedumim", "MiGinzei Yerushalaim", "Zichron LaChovevim
HaRishonim", "Avnei Zikaron", "K'neset Yerushalaim", "Sefer HaZikaron" and
more.
Here is one item that leaves an impression:
From 1948 to 1967 Jordan occupied the oldest Jewish cemetery in the world:
Har HaZeitim - Mount of Olives. Jewish burials were halted, massive vandalism
took place, and 40,000 of the 50,000 graves were desecrated.
King Hussein permitted the construction of the Intercontinental Hotel at the
summit of the Mount of Olives together with a road that cut through the
cemetery which destroyed hundreds of Jewish graves, some from the First Temple
Period.
The destruction was unbridled and premeditated. Ancient tombstones were ripped
out to be used as latrine floors, urinal walls and pavement stones. Garbage was
regularly dumped on the tombs.
After the Six-Day War, restoration work began, and the cemetery was re-opened
for burials. My mom, z"l, told me that the Israeli government used my great
grandfather's research to reconstruct many of the graves and tombstones on Har
HaZeitim.
Jerusalem Day is celebrated on May 29, 2022
Jerusalem Educational Sites:
https://jr.co.il/hotsites/jerusalem.htm
Jerusalem Stamps:
https://jr.co.il/stamps/jerusalem-stamps.htm
Jerusalem Photo Gallery:
Yom Yerushalayim Sameach!
Jacob Richman
