Jerusalem Spring

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 Syria is lifting emergency law after 48 years and

the ‘Arab Spring’ is grabbing headlines coming from the Middle East.

News of the murder of an anti-Israel Italian ISM member in Gaza,

came as Jews were busy shopping before the Passover holiday.

Many Arab shoppers were also in the stores buying the potato noodles and matzah.

 Daniel Viflic, the 16-year-old riding on a school bus who was injured by an anti-tank missile from Gaza,

died from those injuries and was buried just before the holiday began.

A tragic beginning…

for the Jerusalem spring.

There were photos of President Peres visiting the Shalit family and reports of new negotiators, but

 Gilad Shalit missed the Passover seder for the fifth year,

the protest tent was dark and empty on Tuesday night.

Nevertheless, Jerusalem spring

 is a time of families get-togethers,

 

and fanning

the flames

of the mangal in Gan Sacher, Sacher Park–

that has evolved into a Passover holiday tradition.

While millions of people take to the roads to travel North,

many others descend on Gan Sacher to picnic,

to play ball,

to relax,

to take a walk,

and enjoy nature.

It is a place

 where even used coals can be shared and the news can be forgotten…at least for a bit.

Happy Passover… it’s time to eat.

Spring Cleaning

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As the Passover holiday approaches, full-page newspaper ads announce

extra garbage collection in most of Jerusalem.

You never know what will be put out on the street,

or how long it will last there.

750 new paper collection bins

and 800 bottle collection bins have popped up all over the city,

some leave little room for people.

In Machane Yehuda Market, the Shuk, customers are lining up at the home supply stores

to buy new cleaning supplies.

Even the fish are ready for Passover.

The sign at Gan Sacher got a cleaning after the marathon,

however, it will be some time until the grounds are fully restored.

The park is still a great place for those not busy cleaning

to relax.

Some birds seem to clean up better than the humans who use the park.

Birds were lined up

on top of the Kotel, the Western Wall

as notes in the wall were overflowing before their spring cleaning.

And all these preparations are just a prelude…as next week

huge pots of boiling water will be out ready to get rid of every last crumb.

Passover begins Monday night, April 18, 2011.

Traffic in Jerusalem at stand still

Jerusalem Received Special Tourists

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Three weeks ago a bomb exploded in Jerusalem,

killing one woman and injuring many others.

Over the weekend 150 rockets were fired from Gaza into southern Israel,

and the Iron Dome defense system

was employed to defend the residents of Ashkelon and Beersheva.

Nevertheless, on Monday,

 a delegation of government officials from India toured Jerusalem

and Beit HaNasi, the official President’s residence,

got spruced up for a visit by Spanish royals.

It is amazing that despite all the negative press, official visitors,

 ordinary tourists,

and tour groups of all kinds

come from

around the world to see Israel…

and they keep coming.

On both the cold and cloudy days of winter

and the warm days of spring,

whether following a blue sign

or a red rose,

they come each day by the thousands.

Some come dressed

in distinctive clothing,

to see the Kotel, the Western Wall, from a distance

or up close.

Some children are happy to pose for the camera,

while others are not willing targets.

Foreign tourists want to be photographed with security personnel.

The estimated number of visitors to Jerusalem this year is in the millions

and the official tourist season is just beginning.

It’s really amazing, so many special tourists…

and perhaps those taking photos

will help to show the world…

 the real Jerusalem streets.