The Secret of Israel’s Success

Another Passover has passed over.

Burnt chometz in Yerushalayim

In one week we went from burnt bread on the streets,

Matzah crumbs on Jerusalem street end of Passover in Israel

to pieces of crushed matzah.

Passover in Jerusalem Park

Tens of thousands celebrated with outings to Jerusalem parks. Hopefully, each year more and more visitors will clean up after themselves.

Botanical Gardens Jerusalem on Pesach

The best of Passover included the Jerusalem Botanical Gardens. Parking a car was a problem, as it was such a popular site.

Kosher for Pesach pizza in First Station in Jerusalem Israel

Fresh pizza made out of potato flour, instead of wheat, was available in First Station and at many other locations over Passover. Now it is back to regular flour.

Moment Cafe, Cafe de Paris location

Over the holiday week, the furniture, dishes, and equipment were removed. Now even the sign is gone from what was recently Cafe de Paris. This was the site of the Moment Cafe and a tragic suicide bombing in 2002. It also was one of our favorite kosher pizza places as tourists years ago. Now we hear that this corner location across from the Prime Minister’s Residence, where US secret service agents would hang out on breaks from duty guarding presidents, is to become an apartment building.

Free Avera Mengistu shirts and signs in Jerusalem Israel

Have you heard the name Avera Mengistu? Do you know where Avera is?

Next to the Prime Minister’s Residence, where the Shalit family set up their encampment, is a new protest tent.

Protest tent for release of Avera Mengistu from Gaza held by Hamas

Avera has been held captive in Gaza for over 3 years, over 1308 days. His family and friends are trying to raise awareness and get Avera, who suffers from mental disorder and was a civilian who somehow wandered over the border, home safely.

In the rain yesterday, there were people still under that shelter and there were protest marches in a number of cities. Today for first time I heard his brother interviewed on the radio.

Congrats well done, almost at finish line in Jerusalem Israel leftover from marathon

“WELL DONE, you’re almost at the finish line” was a sign I saw on my way to Gan Sacher on Passover. It was for the full marathon runners as they came near the end of their run. Now that the Passover things are put away and the cleanup is almost over, it feels like I reached the finish line.

However, there is no down time in Jerusalem, Israel,

#Israel70 flags hung on building of Jewish Agency in Jerusalem, Israel

and the large Israeli flags are up on the Jewish Agency Building.

#Israel70 new flags for Beit Hanasi, President's House Jerusalem, Israel

New flags are flying near Beit Hanasi, the Israeli President’s Residence.

The upcoming Yom Ha’atzmaut, Independence Day, Israel at 70 celebrations are meant to be bigger than ever.

Har Herzl Yom Ha'atzmaut rehearsal female soldiers

Rehearsals for the opening ceremony at Har Herzl have begun.

Har Herzl Ceremony rehearsal soldiers in uniform with flags

Soldiers with flags practice to march for perfection for the live television broadcast.

Opening ceremony of Israel 70 year Independence Day on Har Herzl in Jerusalem , Israel

The huge staging area is under construction.

Israeli soldiers practice for Yom Ha'atzmaut Israel 70 celebration

These are the young men and women proudly serving in the security services to defend the State of Israel.

Israeli soldiers in uniform pose for photo

The secret of Israel’s success?

According to expert strategist Yaakov Amidror, Israelis have a “bad habit” by living life and not stopping with every tension, until the first ammunition is used on other side. The secret is to continue to act as if nothing is happening around us, to live and work and enjoy regular life, to plan and celebrate Yom Haatzmaut. 

But when force is needed, as in past wars, to count on the IDF to be prepared and defend us, and to make wars as short as we can.

Light rail train and people out in Jerusalem on Jaffa Street near Zion Square

Israel at 70, going forward and strong.

 

3 thoughts on “The Secret of Israel’s Success

Leave a Reply to Nicolle Simon Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.