President Donald Trump's recognition of Jerusalem as the capitol of Israel was met with jubilation by the State of Israel, and most of the Jewish people. And for good reason. For seventy years, in the eyes of the world, Israel was the only state whose capitol wasn't recognized by the majority of the world powers. International law applies equally to every state, except when it involves Jews. As Trump pointed out, every nation has a right to name its own capitol – on the surface, the recognition of Israel's own choice for a capitol should be business as usual for the community of nations. In fact, it has been - in practice, if not in name. So, it seems only natural that Trump's declaration, the U.S. recognition, would be met with satisfaction, and a sense of finally – it's about time the world stopped holding a double standard for the Jews.
To support those who greet this recognition with celebration, we should note that usually when those condemning the declaration include Israel's and the Jewish people's most ardent haters, then obviously this must be good for the Jews, right? So, considering the reaction. It must be.
Well, maybe.
The Jewish people certainly do not need any outside validation to know that Jerusalem is our center, our heart – our capitol city, for all eternity. This was the case even when the Romans renamed it Aelia Capitolina, when the Jews were expelled or banned from the city under successive Roman, Christian and Muslim rule. Jerusalem was and is the focus of the Jewish People's prayers, even when there weren't enough Jews in the city to form a prayer quorum. Jerusalem is and will be the center of the world for the Jewish People for all eternity.
So, as much as we should appreciate President Trump's recognition of reality – something are indeed necessary on the political stage, there are reasons why, when examined carefully, it might also give us pause. There are many hidden implication to his statement; implication which even he may not have considered.
It should be noted that Trump was only recognizing West Jerusalem as Israel's capitol – a fact reinforced by, among others, the US Ambassador to the UN, Nikky Haley. The United Capitol of Jerusalem (which includes the Temple Mount and the Old City) is only united in the eye of the Jews.
And, if one were to take Trump's central reason – that each state has a right to name it's own capitol – then what's to prevent the Palestinians from declaring Jerusalem, or if you prefer Al-Quds, their capitol. And, if they did, there would be no reason for the US, or any country to not recognize it as such.
Jews do not need validation from the rest of the world. In fact, we are told quite clearly in Numbers (23:9) - “Lo, it is a people that shall dwell alone and shall not be reckoned among the nations.” This has been interpreted as both a curse and a blessing – and in fact it is both, but that is entirely dependent as to how we choose to see it. When we chase after the world's blessing, then we will be reminded. the hard way, that we have no place among them. We will be chased and pursued. However, when we stop looking over our shoulder, accept our birthright and march forward under the banner of truth, the rest of the world will follow our lead, and acknowledge our lone status as the Firstborn.
Remember, any time there's a performance on the world stage, all the players will dutifully perform their role, full of sound and fury, but the only true significant echo will be the one from Heaven, when we, as a nation, act as a reflection of Gd's Will.
So, is Trump's declaration too good to be true? Only if we think it really matters.
