Aliyah: 10 Years, 7 Years, and Today in Israel

 Ten years ago we made aliyah

and moved to Jerusalem, Israel.

Seven years ago I started taking photos of

 what I saw on Jerusalem streets and posting them,

photos of everyday scenes,

the ones the mainstream media never seemed to share.

Jerusalem Israel winter scene at park with white flowers blooming

I am still amazed to see white roses blooming in November.

While a few trees do turn colors,

most winter vegetation will now turn green.

Oud Festival sign in Jerusalem Israel

I am getting used to the Oud Festival signs,

as Arab music is growing in popularity,

these festivals are growing each year.

I could do a post each week about Arab girls

Muslim women shopping on Yaffo in Jerusalem Israel

and Arab women shopping on Jaffa Road.

Construction sites are another regular sight.

Old Mashbir building construction for We Work space

Work is progressing slowly at WeWork at the old Mashbir building.

The Hebrew language is another story.

I guess I am not alone,

Sign about learning to speak Hebrew

as this poster went viral

twice when posted on Facebook.

Why the sudden nostalgia?

Because yesterday was Aliyah Day,

the first national celebration of immigrants to Israel.

Binunei Hauma main hall on Aliyah Day

The Jerusalem International Conference Center

was filled with thousands of olim.

One of my favorites was

Russian man wearing medals on Aliyah Day in Jerusalem Israel

this man proudly displaying his Russian medals,

and on the other lapel, a white Aliyah Day sticker.

Jerusalem ICC Ethiopian Israelis in main hall

Many Ethiopian-Israelis attended.

Three men posing for photos with Israeli flag on aliyah Day

Men posed waving Israeli flags.

Teens arriving to fill upper level at Jerusalem International Conference Center

Soldiers and young people came to fill the upper level

Performance at binunei Hauma for Aliyah Day

and listen to the performances on the main stage,

attended by the Prime Minister and his wife and a list of dignitaries.

But I left early

to attend a special Kristallnacht program.

Aliyah Day is to be celebrated every year on the 7th of Heshvan,

marking the week when the Biblical portion

describing Abraham’s journey to the the Promised Land

is read in the synagogue,

and this year it fell out on November 8.

November 9 is the traditional commemoration

of the “night of shattered glass.”

In Berlin, 78 years ago,

it marked the end of Jewish life in Germany,

as Jewish hopes, homes and lives were destroyed.

Miriam was sent by her parents on a Kindertransport to England,

Miriam Litke speaking at OU Israel Center for Kristalnacht

and she and her brother were the only family members who survived.

 Miriam retold her remembrances of that horrible night,

the morning after and its destruction.

It is important for witnesses to retell their stories.

Meanwhile, thousands of olim from around the world

were listening, singing and dancing to music

in celebration of Aliyah Day.

Another day in Jerusalem, Israel,

  with highs and lows,

celebrating and remembering.

9 thoughts on “Aliyah: 10 Years, 7 Years, and Today in Israel

  • November 9, 2016 at 1:43 pm
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    Amazing – 10 years!!! How did the time pass so quickly?? May G-d grant you many more decades of a wonderful, productive life in Jerusalem, Israel!!! Thanks very very much for keeping us posted so informatively & beautifully:)

    Reply
    • November 9, 2016 at 8:06 pm
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      Thank you

      Reply
  • November 9, 2016 at 1:47 pm
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    I can’t say it better than Chana Wasserman did!
    Amen to all her sentiments!

    Reply
    • November 9, 2016 at 8:05 pm
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      Thanks.

      Reply
  • November 9, 2016 at 2:01 pm
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    70 years ago 11 settlements were made overnight.this was a major factor for making the negev part of israel.yesterday the knesset honoured the people who helped make these settlements grow.

    Reply
  • November 9, 2016 at 5:19 pm
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    Mazal tov on your 10th anniversary!! We are so bless to have you here 🙂

    Reply
  • November 11, 2016 at 12:58 am
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    You are always in tune to the heartbeat of Israel with your words and photography.

    Reply
    • November 13, 2016 at 5:57 am
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      Belle Thank you, feel free to share.

      Reply
  • Pingback: Aliyah: 10 Jahre, 7 Jahre und heute in Israel | abseits vom mainstream - heplev

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