50 Years Since Jerusalem’s Reunification “Go! Ben Zur… Go!”

Who are these two Israeli heroes, and how did they change world history?

Fifty years ago, on the 28th day of the month of Iyar, the soldiers of the IDF broke through the gates of the Old City of Jerusalem and liberated the Holy City.

The leader of the Battle for Jerusalem during the Six Day War was General “Motta” Gur, pictured hear on the left.  All Israelis know who he was and will never forget his courage, nor forget his declaration that came over the radio, “Har HaBayit B’yadeinu – The Temple Mount is in our hands!”

Much less is known about the bearded man on the right, Moshe (Moishka) Ben Zur. He was a humble farmer from our little village of Yavne’el in the Galilee. He loved the land, and he loved Yavne’el. He served in the paratroopers and when the Six Day War broke out, he was chosen to be the driver of Motta Gur.  And that is how he merited to be the one to lead the soldiers in his jeep into the Old City.

On the fourth day of the war, Motta Gur arrived at “Lion’s Gate” and led the battle from there. At a certain point, before breaking through to the Temple Mount, Gur turned to his driver “Moishka” and shouted “Go! Ben Zur Go!”

The order was picked up by the military radio in the jeep and electrified everyone who heard it. The words “Go! Ben Zur Go!” became forever engraved in the collective memory of the nation.

Two of the many highlights of my life were the times when I met Motta Gur in the Old City of Jerusalem, and Moshe Ben Zur here in Yavne’el and was able to thank them personally for helping make it possible for my wife and I to raise our children in Jerusalem and to be able to live and learn and teach in the Old City.

Here is an historic video of the jeeps entering the “Lion’s Gate” and the IDF liberating the holy Temple Mount. You can hear the shout of “Har HaBayit Beyadeinu! – The Temple Mount is in our hands!”