Holocaust Rememberance Day 2011

Sunday, May 1, 2011

as darkness fell, entertainment and restaurants closed, 

 places usually full of late night customers were dark and quiet.

Holocaust Martyrs’ and Heroes’  Remembrance Day can be felt on the Jerusalem streets,

 flames and draped flags can be seen

on rooftops.

As the memorial siren sounded Monday, May 2 at 10:00am,

the city stood in silence for two minutes.

Against the grey morning sky

flags were flown at half mast.

Holocaust Remembrance Day goes until sunset, 

but by 10:15am in Gan Sacher, Sacher Park

and in school playgrounds, the sounds of childrens’ voices could be heard.

A day to remember the six million who died in the Holocaust…

and perhaps, a time to hope and pray for the future of all the children.

Royal Wedding on King George

Where else should one gauge royal wedding fever in Jerusalem,

 than King George V Street?

Though in 1924, it was named King George V Avenue.

The first Friday afternoon after Passover, bakeries were open, but not very busy.

The Bezalel Street Arts and Crafts Fair was running as usual

and across the street people were out on the Mall.

Some tourists were around…

one American man did not know there was a wedding–

and no idea what these guys were thinking.

In one of the shops on King George Street there were plenty

of fish

  to eat dead skin cells, but not much interest in any wedding…

unless it was his brother’s…

Finally, just off of King George Street, the doors of this pizzeria

are wide open after being closed for the Passover holiday,

and inside there was fresh pizza and… the royal wedding on TV!

Not one Union Jack was to be seen, but Israeli flags are blowing in the wind.

Maybe those hit with a serious case of wedding fever just stayed home?

Mazel tov Kate and Will, the new Duke and Duchess of Cambridge!

Nice to chat about the beautiful bride and wedding gown

 and for a bit forget about the fires surrounding us.

Birchat Kohanim

17 Nissan 5771

Thursday, April 21, 2011

Jerusalem

Birkat Kohanim,  the Priestly Blessing at the Kotel, the Western Wall.

Major streets were closed to traffic.

Security was out in force

as thousands of people walked to the Old City,

trying to get close enough to hear

and see the Birkat Kohanim.

From every entrance

 

and stairway the crowds gathered.

Dignitaries did not need an umbrella this year, as the weather was pleasantly cool.

Thousands of people stood completely still,

 except for a couple of security men watching the crowd,

as everyone looked toward the Kohanim.

The chief rabbi began to recite a psalm and people began to move.

 As the Kes walked toward the Kotel

 other people began to leave the area.

In the mass of people

it was possible to find a friend.

Awesome event… but it’s Passover,

so time to eat… again.