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May 16, 2012

Nakba

The International Writers Festival is hosting events all this week 

in Mishkenot Sha’ananim, the first community to be built outside the walls 

"photo windmill", "image windmill", "picture Jerusalem windmill"

of Jerusalem, perhaps best known for its iconic Montefiore Windmill

which is now undergoing renovation.

This Jewish neighborhood was unsafe and deserted from 1948–1967.

In answer to a question the speaker encouraged writers to write about

 what they know.  What do I know?

"picture Yemin Moshe" ,"photo steps', "image Jerusalem"

 I know that it was not easy to get to the lecture hall as the narrow streets

"photo Jerusalem","image Yemin Moshe", "Picture Jerusalem Day"

were full of school children.

"picture Jerusalem", "photo Old City" "image Old City walls"

on their way to the Old City.

This week marks 45 years since the reunification of Jerusalem.

"photo Jerusalem","image J Street","picture interview"

As Channel 1 looked for a story at the Writers Festival,

"photo Jerusalem", "image double decker bus", "photo J Street"

I was amazed by the sight across the valley near the Old City walls.

"photo Jerusalem", "image J Street", "picture Jerusalem Day"

Hundreds and hundreds of Israeli school children

"photo Old City", "picutre Al Quds", "photo Al Quds"

were climbing the path towards the walls of the Old City of Jerusalem.

"picture Al Quds", "photo Al Quds", "Al Quds image"

In 1965 when Jerusalem was divided and under Jordanian rule,

 a Jewish person could not get near the Kotel, the Western Wall,

so this photo had to be taken at the edge of No-Man’s Land.

"photo Kosel", "image Kosel","picture Al Quds"

Next week for the Shavuot holiday, tens of thousands

 of worshipers will pack the plaza for the break of dawn services.

"picture east Jerusalem", "photo east Jerusalem", "image east Jerusalem"

 I stood on this pedestrian bridge watching 

"picture Al; Quds", "image J Street", "photo Jerusalem"

the endless stream of school children walking  on my left.

"picture nakba", Photo East Jerusalem", "image Nakba riots"

At that very moment, on my right

smoke was rising from Arab neighborhoods.

It was Nakba Day, the “catastrophe” or “disaster” the Arab world

has observed for 64 years because of the establishment of Israel.

"picture Arab girl". "photo Arab girl", "image Arab girl"

Below, an Arab girl was walking alone

"picture Palestinian boy","photo Palestinian child?,"image Palestinian boy"

and this Arab boy was hanging around the cinema.

They were heading home around the time PA leader Mahmoud Abbas was 

in Ramallah inciting the crowd with charges of “ethnic cleansing”.

"picture East Jerusalem", "photo Jerusalem" "image Arab boys"

I passed through the Liberty Bell Park

"Arab boys photos","picture Arab boys, "palestinian boys image"

and saw two Arab boys climbing on a sculpture in the gardens.

"picture Israel flag", "image Jerusalem Day", "photo Jerusalem street"

It is not easy to relocate under the best of circumstances,

but my Christian friends from Lebanon did it in America.

My Jewish friends from Egypt, Tunisia, Iran, Iraq and Morocco

lost everything when they were forced from their childhood homes,

but they moved on, and built good lives for themselves and their families.

Yes, there is a Nakba, a disaster and a real tragedy.

"east Jerusalem picture",

As long as the Arab world continues on its destructive path…

there is indeed a Nakba .

May 15, 2012

Hollywood Celebrities Tweet about Israel

Tourism in Jerusalem is growing, April numbers set a new record.

This week Birthright-Taglit is bringing  59 groups,

each with 40 young people, for their first visit to Israel.

Yet many people think Israel is a dangerous place to visit.

 What do you think you see in this photo?

"picture Zach Roerig", "photo Zach Roerig", "image Zach Roerig"

This is not a tourist getting attacked,

"photo Zach Roerig", "image Zach Roerig", "Zach Roerig picture"

but actor Zach Roerig of Vampire Diaries on the right,

with actor Eli Finish of the Israeli TV show Eretz Nehederet 

"picture martial arts class", "photo Jerusalem", "image AnnayLyn McCord"

at a special martial arts class held at the Inbal Hotel.

This week eight US actors were in Jerusalem

with America’s Voices in Israel – AVI tour.

AVI, along with the Ministries of Public Diplomacy and Diaspora and Tourism  

aims to give the celebrities a program that reflects their interests.

Their whirlwind visit ended with this class,

"picture Holt McCallany", "photo Holt McCallany", "image Holt McCallany"

also attended by Holt McCallany of Fight Club

"picture AnnaLynne Mc Cord","photo AnnaLynne McCord", "image AnnaLynne McCord"

and AnnaLynne McCord of 90210.

"photo Holt cCallany", "picture fighting", "image fight"

Holt enjoyed practicing with head coach Boaz Barr,

"photo ZAch Roetig", "picture Jerusalem", "Image fight"

as did Zach Roerig,

"photo AnnaLynne MCcord", "image karate kick", "photo Jerusalem"

 and beginner AnnaLynne’s high kicks impressed everyone.

"picture Zach Roerig", Photo Zach Roering", Image Zach Roerig"

Shortly after posing for a group photo, the Americans flew home.

"picture Jerusalem", "hotel lobby photo",  "image fans'

Israeli fans surrounded Eli Finish as soon as he entered the lobby,

while US stars Zach and AnnaLynne went unnoticed to their rooms.

Also on this tour were Paul Johansson (90210 & Atlas Shrugged),

Omar Epps (ER & House), Holly Robinson Peele (21 Jump St),

Mekhi Phifer (ER) and Paget Brewster (Criminal Minds).

We will have to wait and see if the tweets, Facebook photos

and blogs on this celebrity trip will be a positive influence

on how their fans view Israel.

I do know they had a great time and plan to return,

Zach said I could quote him…

“I’ll be back!”

May 11, 2012

Lag B’Omer Fire and Smoke

Meron and the tomb of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai

may be the #1 most popular place to be on Lag B’Omer

but celebrations in Jerusalem are a close second. 

"photo Lag Ba'omer", "picture lag ba'omer", "photo Jerusalem"

Collecting wood for a medura, a bonfire, began before Passover.

"picture wagon","photo Gan Sacher", "image Lag Ba'omer"

Wood in Gan Sacher, Sacher Park, was carried in a little wagon,

"image Lab Baomer", "photo Jerusalem", "image car'

but I really liked this pile of wood being transported on top of a car.

"image Hebrew sign", "photo sgin", 'picture Jerusalem sign"

The sign says no fires, but before Lag B’Omer the dry grass is cut short,

because this park is one of the most popular places to make a medura.

"picture lag ba'omer", "photo fire", "image Jerusalem"

 Wednesday night small fires were lit all around Jerusalem.

In the Har Nof neighborhood preparations for large fires began in April,

"photo smoke","picture lagbomer","image Jerusalem"

 smoke from one of these fires could be found well into the day on Thursday.

As I said before some love this and some do not  and

miraculously once again there were no reports of major accidents.

There was one thing that was different this year,

"photo Netanyahu house","picture Netanyahu house", "image house Jerusalem"

the house of  Benzion Netanyahu z”l, was covered in black.

The house is located near one of  the busiest Lag B’Omer spots.

What a mess it would have been

if the Prime Minister was sitting shiva this week.

However,

"photo lag b omer", "picture  balloon", "image balloon"

 Lag B’Omer is a happy time,

so we will end with a colorful photo.

Hope you had a good and safe holiday too.

May 3, 2012

Komen Israel Race for the Cure

The second Komen Race for the Cure was held in Jerusalem today.

"photo Komen March","picture March for Cure", "image sign"

Thousands gathered in Gan Sacher, Sacher Park,

"picture Arab girls", "image Arab girls", "photo Arab girls"

to help raise money for breast cancer research. 

"Arab women photo","picture Arab women", "image Arab women"

People came from all over Israel and all over the world to take part,

"Arab women photo","picture Arabh women","image Arab women"

including hundreds of Arab women

"image Arab girls","photo Arab girls", "picture Arab girls"

and Arab girls.

"photo stage", "picture Arab girl", "image sign"

From a large stage after warm up and exercise music played,

 US ambassador to Israel Dan Shapiro spoke to the crowd in Hebrew.

"photo Mayor Nir Barkat", "picture Jerusalem mayor","image Nir Barkat"

Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat and his wife Beverly

led the crowd out of the park

"staring line photo","image Jerusalem march", "picture security"

to the starting line.

"picture starting line","photo balloons","image balloons at starting line"

Balloons were released after the mayor spoke

"picture Arab girls", "Palestinian photo","image Palestinian women"

and the march began

"picture Arab girls", "photo Arab women", Image Arab crowd"

going up Bezalel Street toward the center of town 

"picture Arab women", "photo Arab women", "image Arab women"

to King George Street.

"picture Arab women", "photo Palestinian", "image Palestinian"

The March then proceeded through the Ben Yehuda Mall

and to Yoel Salomon Street,

which was a great improvement over the previous route.

"picture Joe Lieberman","photo Dan Shapiro", 'image ambassador"

US Senator Joe and Hadassah Lieberman and Ambassador Shapiro

seemed to be really enjoying themselves. 

The mid-day weather was much cooler than the last march

"photo Palestinian", image Old City","picture East Jerusalem"

and there was plenty of water for everyone.

"picture Old City Walls" "photo Al Quds", "image Al-Quds"

Walking along the Walls of the Old City was perfect way to end the march.

"picture Arab girls", "photo Arab girl", "image yoga"

In the park after the finish line,

a yoga session was led by a breast cancer survivor.

"picture sign","image Eden Wellness","banner photo"

Sadly, not everyone survives breast cancer and

many people walked in memory of a friend or relative.

"picture toilet", "photo Palestinian woman", "image Palestinian"

Komen organizers should also be complimented for providing

toilets for the disabled at the beginning and end of the route.

"photo Old City" "image Old City"

For an event that received so little advance publicity,

it was bigger and better than last time.

"photo Arab woman", "image Palestinian", "picture woman"

It is not clear yet how much money was raised for cancer research,

but as people we passed on the way kept saying,

“Ayza yofi, ayza yofi“… this is beautiful, so beautiful.”

 There was no violence, 

 certainly no sign of apartheid on the Jerusalem streets today,

but there were a lot of pink banners and pink balloons.

Additional photos on The Real Jerusalem Streets Facebook page.

Also see:

Arab Women Raced Through Jerusalem with Weapons

May 1, 2012

Netanyahus – Father and Son

  Benzion Netanyahu, father of Prime Minister Benjamin “Bibi” Netanyahu,

died and was buried in Jerusalem yesterday.

The son remembered his father in a moving eulogy.

"poster death notice", "image Netanyahu sign", "picture sign death notice"

The signs are up and  the week of shiva has begun.

In Jewish tradition the shiva, the seven-day mourning period, is observed

at the home of the deceased.

Benzion Netanyahu lived the last of his 102 years on a small Jerusalem street.

Neighbors all knew when the Prime Minister came for one of his regular visits,

as armed security would stop them from even walking in the area.

Most people were impressed by the respect of a busy son for his father

and accepted the frequent inconvenience.

"image street", "picture street Netanyahu", "photo street"

After the funeral, the one-way street was lined with security barriers.

"picture shiva entrance", "photo tent", Image Bibi"

A large security tent was put up outside the entrance of the house,

"picture Yoni Square", "photo Yoni Netanyahu sign" , "image Netanyahu shiva"

which is located at Yoni Square, named for Yoni Nentanyahu,

Benzion’s oldest son who commanded and was killed

in the Entebbe raid in 1976.

"picture Natan Sharansky", 'photo Natan Sharansky", "image Sharansky"

One of the first to arrive to pay his condolences was Natan Sharansky.

"J Street picture", "image J street", "photo J Street"

This week neighborhood patience will be tested as the street will be blocked.

Men in dark suits are wandering around the maze of streets

looking at the illogical street numbers,

"picture Netanyahy shiva", "photo diplomat cars", "image J Street"

while those with diplomatic license plates can park a bit closer.

Condolence messages have even been received from Arab countries.

People on the street looked sad as they passed slowly by the house.

Educated Israelis from left to right acknowledge the loss of a father,

who was an academic, a scholar and a brilliant editor of encyclopedias.


המקום ינחם אתכם בתוך שאר אבלי ציון וירושלים

May the family be comforted with all the mourners of Zion and Jerusalem.


April 29, 2012

Jerusalem Celebrates Israel’s 64th

This week was a roller coaster ride of emotions,

going from mourning on Yom Hazikaron, Remembrance Day,

to the joyous celebrations for Yom Ha’atzmaut, Independence Day.

On Thursday night fireworks displays lit up the sky over Jerusalem,

"picture Israeli flag", "photo Jerusalem", "image flags"

to celebrate Israel at 64.

In Jerusalem on Yom Ha’azmaut

"picture hammer","photo hammer", "image hammer"

the hammers were bigger, but softer.

"picture people looking up". "photo people looking up", "image Jerusalem"

These people were watching the Air Force fly over, 

but by their expressions I assume they missed my blog post.

The annual International Bible Contest was held in the morning 

and the Israel Prizes were presented in the evening,

"picture grilling", "photo Jerusalem", "image cooking meat"

but most people spent much of the day at a mangal, a BBQ, grilling meat.

"picture Gan Sacker", image sacker park", "Photo picnic"

Gan Sacher, Sacher Park, was the site of many family reunions,

"picture Israeli soldiers", "photo picnic', "image BBQ"

but I spent most of the day in Gan Sacher with 400 lone soldiers.

The Lone Soldier Center in memory of Michael Levin’s mangal

served 60 kilo of meat to  young people from around the world and Israel,

who do not have families here with whom to celebrate. 

See more  photos of the event on the Real Jerusalem Streets Facebook page.

"picture Sacher park", "image park", "photo kids playing"

Gan Sacher did not seem as crowded as usual,

as there were plenty of open spaces for a “foam fight”

"picture Jerusalem", "Israel image", "photo Independence Day"

and there was plenty of the foam for sale.

I was impressed that in such a relaxed atmosphere, people made time for 

"picture Sackr park". "photo men praying", "image prayer service outside"

this impromptu mincha, afternoon prayer, one of many that took place.

"grilling photo", "picture smoke from cooking", "Image smoky BBQ"

Smoke filled the sky all day,

"picture Gan Sacher", "photo Sacker Park" ,"image park Jerusalem"

while the weather was perfect.

"picture Gan Sackr", "photo picnic" "image Jerusalem party"

 Tons of equipment were schlepped and food consumed… and beer.

"picture small flag", "photo Israeli flag", "image small flag'

Israel at 64 was celebrated in Jerusalem in a big way.

Why do Israelis get so hung up about their Independence Day?

We will keep looking for answers to the question.

April 27, 2012

Yom Hazikaron in Jerusalem

 Wednesday was Yom Hazikaron, Israel’s Remembrance Day

for those killed in war and by terror attacks.

 It was observed in many ways. Some do not observe it at all.

I was at two major traffic locations when the memorial sirens sounded.

At night on Derech Hevron, Hebron Road, near the walls of the Old City,

 cars kept moving and a large truck tried to pass against traffic.

On the Begin Highway some drivers got out of their cars before the 

11:00am siren and stood silently, but as the siren began I was very surprised

to see many cars zooming around the stopped vehicles.

I decided not to show those disappointing video scenes,

but rather to share a few more positive photos.

The official government ceremony was held at the Kotel,

the Western Wall, on Tuesday night,

"picture Wailing Wall", "image Israeli soldiers", "photo memorial flame"

where an honor guard stood by the memorial flame.

"picture Old city street", "image Old City street", "photo night in Old City"

The food court of the Rova, the Jewish Quarter of the Old City was closed.

"picture Old City","photo Jerusalem Old City", image Old City night

Many parts of the Old City were dark and quiet.

"picture concert", "photo Sultan Pool", "image Jerusalem"

At The Sultan’s Pool,  a huge stage was built and thousands gathered

for a musical presentation sponsored by the Jerusalem Municipality.

There were hundreds of young people,

but you could hear a pin drop during the siren and no one moved.

All over Jerusalem the next day,

"photo Jerusalem", Picture Jerusalem", image memorial wreath"

 fresh flowers could be found at memorial locations,

"picture Jerusalem","photo memorial wreath", "image Jerusalem"

marking the memory of dear ones lost.

"picture Jerusalem traffic", "photo traffic", "image cars Jerusalem"

The Begin Highway looked like a parking lot,

as many people drove to the Har Herzl Military cemetery 

to attend the official ceremony and to visit graves.

"picture traffic Jerusalem", "photo Jerusalem traffic', "image Jerusalem"

This speed sign showed that no one was driving too fast.

"picture flag half mast", "photo Israel flag", "image flame"

Red memorial flames were displayed, while Israeli flags flew at half-mast.

"picture Israeli flags", "image flags", "photo Israeli flags"

This year there seemed to be many more 

"photo Israeli flags", "image flag", "picture Israel flag"

flags than usual.

"picture Israeli flag", "image flags", "photo flags"

I found a flag flying on top of this phone booth…

yes, there are still are a few phone booths.

"picture flags", "Image Israeli flags","photo children flags"

Israeli flags were displayed with pride this year.

"picture Yom Hazikron", ""image children", "photo ceremony"

 I watched the young children at one memorial event 

 and thought of all the lives lost. 

"picture Israel soldiers", "photo Israel flag", "image Old City Walls"

Are there really any Israelis who do not want peace

in the future for their children?

 Shabbat shalom.

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