In May 1967, things looked dire for Israel. Egypt closed one of Israel's main shipping lanes—the straits of Tiran—and the armies of surrounding nations amassed in preparation to attack Israel. Egypt's leader uttered vitriolic death threats against Israel, and the existence of the tiny Jewish State seemed to hang in the balance.

In the final days of May, and beginning of June, Israelis began digging mass graves in public parks, in preparation for the many expected casualties of impending war.

Rabbi Tuly Weisz further expounds on the mood in the country during that time: "It is hard to imagine the fear and panic during the “Hamtana” waiting period in the weeks leading up to the Six Day War. Israel’s five larger and better armed neighbors were all threatening to push the Jews into the sea and wipe Israel off the map. The leadership of the Jewish State was preparing for the worst by digging mass graves in parks throughout the country. It seemed that the end was near for the young state, so soon after the devastation of the Holocaust. Many Israelis were considering fleeing the country and a dark joke circulated at the time that the last one to leave should turn the lights out at the Lod airport."

Then, in six days of incredible miracles, Israel drove back its enemies, regaining vital places like the Temple Mount*, Western Wall, Golan Heights, and its biblical heartland, Judea and Samaria.

The Lord has done great things

Many have compared the people of Israel's awe and excitement in the wake of the Six Day War, to the declaration in the Psalms of Ascent, in Psalm 126: "When the Lord brought back the captivity of Zion, We were like those who dream. Then our mouth was filled with laughter, And our tongue with singing. Then they said among the nations, “The Lord has done great things for them.” The Lord has done great things for us, And we are glad."

"When the Lord brought back the captivity of Zion, We were like those who dream. Then our mouth was filled with laughter, And our tongue with singing. Then they said among the nations, “The Lord has done great things for them.” The Lord has done great things for us, And we are glad."

Just days before the festival of Shavuot, the Holy City Jerusalem, was back in rightful hands. 1967 began the return of Jews to their homes in Judea and Samaria, places where they had been violently murdered and driven from leading up to the War of Independence in 1948. Cities like Kfar Etzion, Hebron, Ofra, and others once again rang with the sound of families rebuilding.

Hold on to the Heartland!

Factors like world pressure and terrorism have kept Israel from officially declaring sovereignty over Judea and Samaria, but thankfully, it hasn't kept many courageous pioneers from making their homes, and raising their families here. The fantasy of many people around the world has been that the biblical heartland can be used to negotiate peace. That it could be given to the Palestinians, and once they had a state, the terrorism would stop.

That hasn't been the case, sadly, and since 1967, thousands of Israeli men, women, and children have been murdered by terrorists whose end goal is the destruction of the Jewish State. Even in the aftermath of the Oslo Accords of the 90's, which provided the Palestinians with a path forward to autonomy, waves of terror shook Israel like never before. And it's been the same situation repeated ever since. Israel has offered land time and time again, and the response from the Palestinians has been to perpetuate more bloodshed.

God's Word is Alive!

But for the faithful Jews who make their homes here, there's hope for a bright future. The Lord promised that one day His people would return, rebuild the waste places, plant vineyards, and rejoice. "I will bring back the captives of My people Israel; They shall build the waste cities and inhabit them; They shall plant vineyards and drink wine from them; They shall also make gardens and eat fruit from them. I will plant them in their land, And no longer shall they be pulled up From the land I have given them,” Says the Lord your God." Amos 9

These promise are coming true in our days! Israel has returned and the Jewish People are bringing the Land to life. We can know without a doubt that Israel will no longer be pulled up from its inheritance, and do our part to support them. Fifty six years after Israel's return to its heartland, we can rejoice for the miracles that continue through today, to declare in all the earth, "The Lord has done great things for His people, and we are glad!" 

*Sadly, Israel returned control of the Temple Mount to Jordan shortly after its liberation.