The Week of July 20

"The past is never dead. It's not even past" – William Faulkner

The Establishment of the Crusader Kingdom of Jerusalem, July 22, 1099

A week after conquering Jerusalem from the Fatimids, the leaders of the First Crusade chose Godfrey of Bouillon as the first ruler of the new kingdom. On July 17, 1099, after clearing the streets of Jerusalem of the bodies of the slain and burning them outside the city walls to prevent the spread of plagues in the summer heat, a meeting of the Crusader army leaders was held to discuss the fate and future of Jerusalem. The right to rule the new Crusader state and its capital, Jerusalem, was at the center of the renewed conflict. On July 22, 1099, after deliberation, it was decided to grant the scepter of rule to Godfrey of Bouillon under the title Advocatus Sancti Sepulchri (Protector of the Holy Sepulchre), due to the Church's opposition to placing the holy city in the hands of a secular king. On July 18, 1100, Godfrey of Bouillon died under unclear circumstances and was buried in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. The kingdom was left without an agreed-upon heir, and the debate between supporters of establishing a religious kingdom—that is, under the rule of the Church and representatives of the Holy See—and supporters of a secular kingdom intensified. Ultimately, the secularists prevailed and chose Godfrey's brother, Baldwin of Boulogne, as his successor.

Image: The Crusader conquest of Jerusalem; a 19th-century painting.

Thought: The entire story of the Crusades is an insane tale with endless, incredible dramas. For instance: “Shortly after Godfrey of Bouillon's election, the papal legate Daimbert, Archbishop of Pisa, arrived on the shores of the land, and the foundation was laid for the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem. The relationship between these two governing powers crystallized immediately after the conquest of Jerusalem. On February 2, 1100, Godfrey of Bouillon handed over a quarter of the city of Jaffa to the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, and on Easter of that year, he gave him the city of Jerusalem in exchange for a promise of a share in the spoils of future conquests. However, Godfrey of Bouillon, now the Protector of the Holy Sepulchre, died shortly thereafter, and the agreements were not realized. The head of the Church contented himself with control over the Patriarch's Quarter, where the Church of the Holy Sepulchre was located. This quarter was autonomous and was—procedurally—an independent feudal seigneury headed by the Church, within the royal seigneury of Jerusalem. The establishment of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem marked the Crusade's break from the Greek Patriarchate, which had been the ‘master of the house’ in the city and in Byzantium, and signaled the distancing of Orthodox Christianity from the Crusader centers of power.”

For further reading: History of the Kingdom of Jerusalem

The British Mandate for Palestine is Confirmed, July 24, 1922

The League of Nations officially confirmed the Mandate for Palestine, granting Great Britain control over the territories of Palestine on both sides of the Jordan River. The document included the Balfour Declaration and assigned Britain the responsibility of establishing a "national home for the Jewish people" while safeguarding the rights of the non-Jewish communities. The 'Mandate for Palestine' is mentioned in Israel's Declaration of Independence as the document "which gave international validity to the historic connection between the Jewish people and Eretz-Israel and to the right of the Jewish people to re-establish their National Home."

Image: The first page of the Mandate for Palestine and Transjordan, presented to the British Parliament in December 1922, before it came into effect in 1923.

Thought: What exactly is “the Mandate”? A mandate from whom? Over what? Well, here’s how it works: A “League of Nations mandate” was a legal status for certain territories administered under Article 22 of the Covenant of the League of Nations, dated June 28, 1919. Based on the assumption that the territories in question, which were detached from the powers that lost World War I, had populations not yet ready for self-governance, a mandate (power of attorney) was given to another nation—the trustee—to temporarily govern the territory—the trust—and to act in a way that would prepare the liberated populations for self-determination once they were ready.

For further reading: Mandate for Palestine, League of Nations mandate

The King David Hotel Bombing, July 22, 1946

The Irgun (Etzel) organization bombed the southern wing of the King David Hotel in Jerusalem, which housed the main headquarters of the British Mandatory authorities. The attack killed 91 people—British, Arabs, and Jews. The act caused profound shock in the Land of Israel and around the world and led to harsh condemnations, including from within the Yishuv (the Jewish community in Palestine).

Image: The King David Hotel after the bombing. The flag of the United Kingdom flies over the hotel's facade.

Thought: The rule of one people over another always, always, always begins, continues, and ends badly.

For further reading: King David Hotel bombing

Bob Dylan Goes Electric, July 25, 1965

At the Newport Folk Festival, Bob Dylan took the stage with an electric guitar and a rock band, shocking the audience of devout folk purists. This abrupt shift is considered one of the most formative moments in the history of popular music. Dylan had been the "king of the festival" in the years before 1965. His solo performance in 1963 and with Joan Baez in 1964 were the festival's highlights. Like all folk singers at the time, Dylan maintained an acoustic performance. On July 25, 1965, Dylan took the stage for the festival's main performance of the year. However, he came on with an electric guitar, backed by a rock and roll band that included Mike Bloomfield, Paul Butterfield, and Al Kooper. This performance was controversial. Many, including Pete Seeger, saw it as a "betrayal" of folk music by Dylan and demanded it be stopped immediately, or at the very least, that the electricity be cut off. Dylan did not return to play at Newport until 2002.

Image: Bob Dylan, June 2010.

Thought: When was the last time I broke new ground?

For further reading: Bob Dylan

The Moon Landing, July 20, 1969

The lunar module "Eagle" of the Apollo 11 mission landed on the surface of the Moon. A few hours later, Neil Armstrong became the first human to set foot on another celestial body, uttering the immortal words: "That's one small step for [a] man, one giant leap for mankind."

Image: From left to right: Neil Armstrong, Michael Collins, and Buzz Aldrin.

Thought: The wise have said before me that the greatest impact of the moon landing on humanity is the phrase uttered whenever someone is frustrated with something, for example: “Man has landed on the moon, but they can’t figure out a solution for traffic jams?”

For further reading: Apollo 11

The Signing of the Washington Declaration, July 25, 1994

On the South Lawn of the White House, Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and King Hussein of Jordan shook hands and signed the "Washington Declaration," which formally ended 46 years of a state of war between the two nations. The declaration paved the way for the signing of the full peace treaty three months later.

Image: King Hussein of Jordan lights a cigarette for Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin at his royal residence in Aqaba, after the signing of the peace treaty at the Arava border crossing near Eilat, October 26, 1994.

Thought: The goal must always be: striving for peace. Everywhere. At every moment. In every situation.

For further reading: Israel–Jordan peace treaty