As we celebrate Jerusalem Day, we are acutely aware that Jerusalem is the center of a heated and explosive political dispute concerning its future. Unfortunately, that dispute encouraged by President Obama's anti-Israel policy, has resulted in accusations that Jerusalem and especially the Temple Mount are not really central to Judaism. The Arabs even claim that there never was a Jewish Temple on the Temple Mount. These statements are absurd. No matter what one thinks concerning the future of Jerusalem, the fact of its centrality to Judaism is so blatant that it should need no reiteration. The existence of the Temple on the Temple Mount is so well attested by historical evidence, Jewish and non-Jewish, that one wonders how our "peace" partner could possibly deny it.

The Torah's reference to "Salem," shalem, is the ancient name of Jerusalem (Genesis 14:18) Onkulus. Strangely enough the story of the Akeida (the binding of Isaac) is told with no specific reference to Jerusalem, although it seems obvious from the conclusion of the story – "and Abraham named that site Adonai-yireh [G-d will see], 'On the mount where G-d is seen'" (Genesis 22:14) – that the reference is to G-d's special place. Later on, in II Chronicles 3:1, the Temple Mount is specifically identified as Mount Moriah, the site of the Akeida.

Deuteronomy refers constantly to "the place that I will choose" but does not tell us where that is. It is only with David's conquest that Jerusalem comes into our history. Jerusalem is known as "the city of David" since he made it the royal capital. See II Samuel 5:6-9. More importantly, he also insured its centrality by bringing the Ark to Jerusalem (II Samuel 6:12-18). The Ark, the throne of G-d, the symbol of G-d's presence, had always moved from place to place. Giving it a permanent resting place in Jerusalem transformed a political capital into a religious site of the greatest importance.

The mountain on which the Ark sat, Mount Zion, became the equivalent of Mount Sinai and from then on was known as the "Mountain of the L-rd." Solomon's building of the Temple, a permanent building to replace the portable tent, reinforced the concept of Jerusalem as G-d's dwelling – "city of the Great King" – as the psalmist phrased it (Psalm 48). How anyone can possibly ignore the numerous Biblical references is difficult to understand. The Christian Bible as well testifies to the existence of the Temple on Mt. Zion. Indeed without that testimony, the Gospel stories make no sense. President Obama claims he is a Bible reading Christian. If he reads II Samuel, Chapter 5, he will discover and learn that Jerusalem was Israel's capital 3,000 years before Washington, DC was the capital of the USA.

As for Islam, if there was no sacredness to Jerusalem and the Temple Mount why did Muhammad – according to its tradition – come there and why was the Dome of the Rock built? That shrine is built on the rock that was considered sacred because of the Akeida that took place there – even if the Koran records the wrong son being offered up, and because that rock was the very foundation of the creation.

The unshakeable bond of our people to Jerusalem in the past is beyond question, as is the identity of the Temple Mount. What matters now is the meaning that Jerusalem has for us today and will have in the future. The prophets gave Jerusalem not only a past but also a future. The time will come, they taught, when "the mountain of the L-rd's House shall stand firm above the mountains and tower above the hills and all the nations shall gaze upon it with joy. And many peoples shall go and say: Come, let us go up to the Mount of the L-rd…that He may instruct us in His ways…For Torah shall go forth from Zion, the word of the L-rd from Jerusalem… And they shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation shall not take up sword against nation; they shall never again know war" (Isaiah 2:2-4).

This vision was the most exalted vision that anyone has ever had. Jerusalem is the symbol of that wondrous time when peace – shalom – a word that is embedded in the name Yerushalayim – will prevail. To be worthy of that is our task. That is its meaning for us today and the challenge that Jerusalem sets for us and for all humanity.