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Jerusalem Day might be easy to overlook in most of the world,

and these signs could possibly be missed,

but the loud music of the “White Night’s” concert in Gan Sacher, Sacher Park,

 could be heard blasting all night long even through windows that were shut tight.

What a contrast to the many religious services and festive meals

in other parts of Jerusalem.

Wednesday, June 1 was a beautiful sunny day with blue skies,

perfect weather to be out for a celebration.

Groups of school girls,

organized tours,

young families

and the not so young came to the Old City.

Tourists armed with cameras

found many colorful,

 interesting,  

and enthusiastic subjects to photograph.

School outings

and crowds were common,

as were backups at security

and groups of singing, dancing, flag-waving young men.

The Kotel, the Western Wall, was busy all day.

As a large group of men gathered for an afternoon prayer service,

two Muslim women strolled across the plaza.

Shaded areas were hard to find

for relief from the sun.

 People arrived from all directions before the annual Flag-Dance March.

 

Israeli flags were flying to celebrate the reunification of Jerusalem in June 1967,

which end of 19 years of Jordanian occupation.

Hats

and more flags,

 

a beautiful day,

 but it is always a few trouble makers who make the headlines,

not the thousands and thousands

…who are not news.

Thanks, Henny S for the Flag Parade pic!

    The views at sunset from Yemin Moshe, one of the oldest neighborhoods

  built outside the walls of the Old City, can be spectacular. 

As Israeli schoolchildren gather to eat picnic dinner on the grass,

 an Arab couple sits nearby.

During the nineteen years of Jordanian occupation of Jerusalem,

much of this area was no man’s land.

From 1948 to 1967, no Israelis were allowed in the Old City.

The Hurva Synagogue in the Rova, Jewish Quarter,

 which was the largest of all the many synagogues

 destroyed by the Jordanian Legion has been restored at long last.

In the last 44 years the entire area has been revived,          

and there is freedom of movement  

to people of all religions.

Under the flag of Jerusalem,

the Muslim Quarter

and surrounding areas have grown.

Public areas,

 

city parks

 are open and free to be enjoyed by all,

 perhaps even too free.

On the eve of Yom Yerushalayim, which celebrates the reunification of Jerusalem,

 Mahmoud Abbas announces that he wants a state with Jerusalem as his capital,

 a state without an Israeli presence…

military or civilian.  A state without Jews.

 Is Israel a racist state?