As the Jew turns TB Berachot 30

Today’s daf TB Berachot 30 tells us where we should face when we pray because Jerusalem has always been in our prayers.

One who was standing in prayer in the Diaspora, should focus his heart toward Eretz Yisrael, as it is stated: “And they shall pray to You by way of their land which You have given to their fathers” (I Kings 8:48).
One who was standing in Eretz Yisrael, should focus his heart toward Jerusalem, as it is stated: “And they shall pray to the Lord by way of the city that You have chosen” (I Kings 8:44).
One who was standing in Jerusalem, should focus his heart toward the Temple, as it is stated: “And they shall pray toward this house” (II Chronicles 6:32).
One who was standing in the Temple, should focus his heart toward the Holy of Holies, as it is stated: “And they shall pray toward this place” (I Kings 8:35).
One who was standing in the Holy of Holies, should focus his heart toward the seat of the ark-cover [kapporet], atop the ark, the dwelling place of God’s glory.
One who was standing behind the seat of the ark-cover, should visualize himself as if standing before the ark-cover and turn toward it.
Consequently, one standing in prayer in the East turns to face west, and one standing in the West, turns to face east. One standing in the South, turns to face north, and one standing in the North, turns to face south; all of the people of Israel find themselves focusing their hearts toward one place, the Holy of Holies in the Temple.

An allusion to this is found in what Rabbi Avin, and some say Rabbi Avina, said: What verse alludes to this? “Your neck is like the Tower of David, built with turrets [talpiyyot], one thousand shields hang from it, all of the armor of the mighty” (Song of Songs 4:4). He interprets the word talpiyyot as the hill [tel] toward which all mouths [piyyot] turn, i.e., the Temple Mount. (Sefariah.com translation)

For 19 years between 1948 and 1967 Jordan controlled East Jerusalem including the Old City, the Western Wall, and the Temple Mount. No Jew was allowed to enter the Old City and pray at the Western Wall. Because Jordan ignored Israel’s plea not to enter into war during the Six-Day War and attacked Israel, the IDF liberated the Old City and East Jerusalem on the 28^th day of Iyar. Rabbi Shlomo Goren then the Chief Ashkenazi Rabbi of Israel proclaimed that our prayers have been answered. He said:

I am speaking to you from the Western Wall, remnant of our Holy Temple.

“Comfort, ye comfort my people, says your God.” (Isaiah 40:1)

This is the day for which we have hoped, let us be glad and rejoice in His salvation.

The dream of all generations has been fulfilled before our eyes. The city of God, the Temple site, the Temple Mount, and the Western Wall-symbol of the Jewish people’s messianic redemption-have been delivered this day by you, heroes of the Israel Defense forces.

This day you have redeemed the vow of the generations: “If I forget you, O Jerusalem, let my right hand wither” (Psalm 137:5). We did not forget you, Jerusalem, our Holy City, home of our glory. And it is Your right hand, the right hand of God, that has wrought this historic deliverance.

Whose is the heart that will not exult at hearing those tidings of redemption? Henceforth the gates of Zion and of Old Jerusalem, and the paths to the Western Wall, open for the prayers of their children, their builders and the liberators in the land of Israel, and to the Jews of the dispersion who may now come there to pray….

To the nations of the world we declare: we shall respectively protect the holy places of all faiths, and the doors shall be open to all….

And to Zion and to the remnant of our Temple we say: you children have returned to their borders, our feet now stand within your gates, Jerusalem: city bounded together once more with New Jerusalem; city that is “perfect a beauty in the joy of the whole earth,” capital city of the eternal state of Israel…. (The Jerusalem anthology edited by Reuvan Hammer, page 295-6)

53 years later we still hope and pray that all Jews whether they be Conservative, Reform, or Women of the Wall have equal access to our holiest site in all the entire world.