Teddy Kollek, the longtime mayor of Jerusalem died Tuesday at the age of 95. Teddy – he was always known by just his first name - is being remembered as the most prolific builder of the city since King Herod two thousand years ago. He is the man who in 28 years transformed the Israeli capital from a dusty backwater to an international city of parks, theaters and museums, making it into an international destination from more than just religious pilgrims.
Teddy grew up in Vienna and came to what was then British Mandate Palestine in 1935. His death is really the end of an era. He is considered one of the last of the generation of Israel's founding fathers. He was known for navigating the divide between Jerusalem's diverse populations - Jewish and Arab, religious and secular. Teddy became mayor in 1965 and served as the mayor when the Old City was reclaimed in 1967. He famously said at that time, "Jerusalem's people of differing faiths, cultures and aspirations must find peaceful ways to live together other than by drawing a line in the sand."
I lived in Jerusalem when Teddy was mayor and there is no comparison between the feel of the city then and now. When Teddy was mayor there were all sorts of Jews living in the Old City, for instance. There were secular Jews and of course Orthodox Jews of every sect, but there was also a comfortable place for Conservative Jews. In fact, my first pulpit was in the Old City of Jerusalem serving a couple dozen Conservative families who lived there. To the best of my knowledge every one of them has moved out and the diversity of the Old City is greatly diminished. Teddy also argued strongly on behalf of the Arabs who lived in the eastern part of Jerusalem who, prior to Israel’s reclamation, had few utilities like electricity, sewers and even running water. In part because of his support of diversity, he lost reelection in 1993 – to Ehud Olmert who was less willing to negotiate on the religious and political issues of diversity that made Teddy Teddy. It is strangely odd these days to see Olmert adopting a more open policy; more willing to negotiate. Too bad he does not have Teddy’s charisma and charm. If he did, Israel would have a beloved Prime Minister and not one who is merely tolerated.
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Welcome Back, Rabbi!
just read your sermon from last week and the perseon who said "my father never complimented me to my face..." really struck home with me, as i'm sure it will with many others. my question is how can we approach our living parent and let them know. would this just be hurtful? can you forgive someone without letting them know they have let you down?
I feel that there is a big difference between "approach" and "confront" when it comes to letting parents know how we feel about them. It seems to me that the 5th commandment requires that we do the former and not the latter. (Judah's words sunk into Joseph's heart because "Va-Yigash" - he "approached". He spoke in a leading way that we readers knew would lead Joseph in the right direction.) I would share with my parent who is reluctant to compliment a simple statement like, "I am amazed at how well my son respeonds to praise. Our Rabbi spoke of copmlimenting someone every day, and I think my child is for sure the best place to start, no?" And yes, ultimately, we can forgive people who have let us down without sharing why. Putting the burden on others in not a prerequisite to unburdening oneself. Tough stuff but worth the effort.
As you mentioned, Teddy was of the Founding generation. I was fortunate to meet him during these two phases of his life, in the late forties and in the mid-sixties to the mid-seventies. My
father was Ben-Gurion's secretary during the war (of independence) years, and since we lived two doors up from his house, my father was summoned to him at all hours when needed. Sometimes he would take me along, 'planting' me in Ben-Gurion's library until his task was done. I would sit in the corner, quiet (that was the condition imposed on me) but with my ears tuned to all I could pick up. Teddy's voice was always so easy to identify, thanks to his thick German (sorry, Austrian) accent. About twenty years later I moved to Jerusalem and there he was, Mr. Mayor, same pompadour, same accent. The man was the best mayor Jerusalem could ask for in the wake of the six-days war. His memory shall always be for a blessing.
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