At the Core of the Jerusalem Controversy is its Name
By: Rabbi Marc Schneier
So here we have it. The name Jerusalem is an expression of Jewish hopes and Jewish dreams as Al Quds is an expression of Islamic aspirations and beliefs. I respectfully suggest that by focusing our attention on the name of the city, we can find a path to narrow the divide and chasm in our emotional and psychological responses to this controversy. Jerusalem can be the capital for both faiths but let its name reflect our respective traditions and sacred texts. Let Jews refer to the Holy City as Jerusalem and Muslims refer to the Holy City as Al Quds. This conflict is more of an emotional/psychological impasse than a geographical one. This proposal is in concert with President Trump’s declaration recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel while maintaining a commitment to a Palestinian state with the city as its capital.