Photos of the Fire in Jerusalem’s Valley of the Cross

Yesterday on my way home,

I noticed how dry it was in the Valley of the Cross 

and I thought as I do every year:

it could all burn so quickly, so easily.

This afternoon smoke began to rise from the valley,

which is located under the Knesset Building.

For a time the smoke was dark and the flames were high, 

and they spread very quickly.

Fire crews arrived, 

and with their long water hoses

they put out the fire.

The smoke and the smell still lingered long afterwards.

But what seemed obvious was that after many months of construction and mess,

installing this emergency water system was worth the inconvenience and price.