Jerusalem50 - Curt Hanenbaum's student speech at the Kotel

when I was asked to do this I had no idea I would be speaking in front of the Kotel in front of all these people and all these dignitaries and I am incredibly humbled and honored to be here I just want to tell you a little bit about my experience with ash on campus so two weeks ago if you asked me what Judaism meant to me I probably would have said eating bagels and lox but having coming here spent time studying in Asia I have a completely different view I remember my first day we walked I walked to the window of the H building and I looked out at the Kotel and all these soldiers were out here dancing and I realized that we're all one we're all family we've had such a rich history of tragedy yet somehow we're still alive and that's what this is all about I'm really I'm really glad we can still be here together alive and in Jerusalem thank you so much I've also been asked to read a short passage on this day in honor of the liberation of Jerusalem I have connected to the Western Wall to join the generations and enter into a covenant with Jerusalem as was done by the leaders of our nation and all the people of Israel upon Israel's return to its land once again our feet stand within your gates o Jerusalem Jerusalem built as a city joined together from this place we take this vow if I forget thee O Jerusalem may my right hand lose it strength may my tongue cleave to my palate if I do not remember you if I do not raise up teresa l'm at the very height of my rejoicing thank you