Things are happening again on the Jerusalem streets.
This past week was filled with events.
Lag B’Omer started on Monday night, May 4.
All-night celebrations were lowkey this year with high winds.
Lag B’Omer came and went with parades and activities during the day in Jerusalem.
On Tuesday, daytime bonfires for children were lit in open spaces.
Always seems like a miracle that even with all the open flames, there are so few serious incidents.
A highlight of my week was a tour of Har Hazetim – The Mount of Olives, the ancient Jewish cemetery.
The views from the top of Jerusalem’s Old City are iconic.
But equally impressive was the view of Jordan, over the Dead Sea, just to our left.
The closer view of the Tiferet Israel Synagogue’s new white dome in the Old City.
One more view of the Dome of the Rock from Har Hazetim.
There is a stone memorial for victims of the Holocaust.
These stone sarcophagi, which once held bones, were collected in one area as an exhibit.
The tour down the mountain ended at the graves of Menachem and Aliza Begin.
Appropriately, the tour was sponsored by the Begin Center.
The cemetery has been improved greatly since my last tour; the International Committee for Har Hazetim’s (ICHH) work is evident.
Looking forward to seeing the ICHH information center at Har Hazetim completed.
This week began with an informative and entertaining talk by Michael Bar Zohar at the Menachem Begin Heritage Center.
His stories of experiences with Ben Gurion were fascinating.
The week ended with another interesting talk at a book launch for Rabbi Ian Pear’s new novel, “The Day the Devil went on Trial.” Amazing how the serious topic of death and dying could be made into a humorous and enjoyable evening.
Sad news of the passing of former Jerusalem Chief Rabbi Aryeh Stern z”l.
New signs for the local design fair at the Hansen House. The old Leprosy Hospital has taken on new life with imaginative events.
So here you have a brief look at the past week in Jerusalem, Israel.
Yom Yerushalayim, Jerusalem Day, starts on Thursday night, with a week of events leading up to the day 59 years ago when Jerusalem was liberated from 19 years of Jordanian occupation.
Happy Jerusalem Day from Jerusalem!
Let me know if you are here to celebrate with us.