To Remember

Yom Hazikaron

Israel Remembrance Day

4 Iyar 5770                April 19, 2010

As the sun was setting on the eve of Yom Hazikaron,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 shopping areas closed down and the streets became quiet;

scouts and youth groups slowly and somberly gathered.

A televised military ceremony at the Kotel, the Western Wall, involved thousands of people,

  thousands of families gathered at the International Convention Center;

and there were also many well-attended community memorial events.

One Family, an organization aiding victims of terror, held a ceremony in Katamon.

Nearby, hundreds of people gathered to remember fallen soldiers of all the Israeli wars and those killed in terroist attacks. At 8:00pm at the sound of the siren, all stood in silence.

Torches and memorial candles were lit.

The names and histories of those killed

were read; to remember.

Soldiers in uniform attended.

Besides memorial services at cemeteries during the day,

there were neighborhood ceremonies where  memorial wreaths were laid.

At 11:00 am,  people came outside the walls of the Old City to watch the traffic

come to a stop at the sound of a two minute-siren.

The memorial flame was attended all day by a changing military guard.

To remember.

So Much In the Air

The week started avikh, with so much dirt and sand in the air that it was hard to breathe;  

grit got in your mouth.

 

 The sky was white and grey, no sun or blue sky could be seen.

Then strong winds blew away the sand, and a different kind of dirt filled the air;

news broadcasts concerning the HolyLand building bribe scandal filled the airwaves.

Towering over the Jerusalem skyline despite multiple building regulations;

no one in Jerusalem was surprised that bribery could be involved. 

The sadness in the air after Yom Hashoah seemed to linger with the news of former Mayor Lupolianski’s arrest as a bribery suspect. As head of the Yad Sarah Organization, he helped so many people. 

But nature goes on, and in the air day and night…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

birds, resting in a tree

 flying or soaring at he Kotel, Western Wall; Jerusalem is their oasis between the desert and the sea.

At  Gan Sacher a ball is often  in the air. 

This week, blue and white returned to the skies.

  The air filled with flags, Israeli and those of the city of Jerusalem.

On government buildings,

the Knesset,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 commercial areas and gardens:

rows of flags

were in the air

 and

 

 

 

 along the streets

 and on cars;

 Jerusalem readies for Yom Hazikron and then Yom Ha’aztmaut next week.

 

Yom Hashoah v’Hagvurah

Holocaust Rememberance Day

Jerusalem,  April 12, 2010

10:00 am

"picture traffic stopped", Photo siren Jerusalem", "image Rememberance da "y

As the siren wailed,

people and cars at most major intersections came to a complete stop.

 A televised ceremony was held at Yad V’shem on the evening of the 11th,

 

  some neighborhoods had their own programs.

"picture pill box", "Jerusalem photo Yom Hazikaron", "image for traffic stopped"

 The day was a somber one, even traffic seemed less noisy,

as the 6 million dead were remembered.