So, what does the phrase ‘Next year in Jerusalem’ mean? I’m thinking it’s religious, but that’s about it. Is it tied to the ‘Return to the Holy Land’ philosophies of a while back? I’ve only heard it rarely, and in places where the context doesn’t help me much. A search doesn’t turn up anything by way of definition or background. (O google, why do you torment me so!? :D)
The phrase is most commonly used at the end of two central services in Judaism – the Passover Seder meal, and the Yom Kippur prayer service. It means that just as we perform these services here (outside of Jerusalem), we pray that next year we will be able to perform them in Jerusalem.
In Israel, it is customary to say “next year in rebuilt Jerusalem”, which refers to the building of the Temple.
In my brief search of the books I have at hand I could not find the actual origin of the phrase, but perhaps someone else will find something, or maybe I’ll have better luck in a future search.
A more observant Jew will be along in a few minutes to correct me. But I always thought it meant that hopefully the Messiah will come in the next year and we all go live in Jerusalem (happily ever after). :j
Oh, and it may help you to know that the Hebrew is “B’shana haba’a b’yerushalayim.”
Actually, it is “l’shana”, not “b’shana”.
It has historically also been used at times of parting. For instance during the Holocaust if one friend was being taken off to the camps he may say to the friend left behind Next Year Jerusalem, meaning there is always hope and if not for me then maybe for you.