See Yom Yerushalayim this Week in Jerusalem

Sharon A

In Jerusalem, Israel, the Israeli flags were flying,

blue and white flags along Jerusalem streets,

on rooftops,

and large ones from buildings and light poles prior to Jerusalem Day.

Yom Yerushalayim, the Jerusalem Day 56 signs were posted. Events lasted longer than just a day, with celebrations galore, including live music at Kifar Safra on Wednesday night for hundreds, open to the public at no charge.

Israeli Ethiopian memorial in cemetery on Mount Herzl

 The day of Yom Yerushalayim officially beings with a state ceremony for the 4,000 Ethiopian Jews who perished on their way to Israel, at Mt. Herzl Military Cemetery near the monument built in 2007.

Jerusalem Israel military cemetery on Mount Herzl one grave of soldier who died 19 years old

Also during the day, the President and Prime Minister attend a memorial for the victims of the Six-Day War and the War of Attrition at Mount Herzl.

Museums were open and free of charge in honor of Jerusalem Day.

But the main event happens on the Jerusalem streets, with bus loads of people arriving from around the country. This group of students from Petach Tikva started dancing and singing as soon as they got off the bus.

Not just young males participate, but people of all ages and from around the world arrived this year and marched with flags, in spite of dire threats.

The people at the Kings Hotel had a good vantage point to watch the main crowd on King George Street singing and dancing.

Others were down in the crowd recording the thousands participating.

The occasional speakers did not get a quiet audience from the crowd.

This year girls broke thru the security lines to get closer to the main event.

It was not possible to get the crowd in one image, but the wind was great this year for photographing flags.

On King George Street by the Great Synagogue flag waving, singing,

excitement and enthusiasm filled the street all afternoon.

But I had come to again walk the Flag Parade/March/Dance, like this school group from Tzefat, as we started out on Agron Street.

A big Jerusalem flag was hung near Kikar Safra, as we passed Tzhal Square where the light rail trains were not running.

Many Jerusalem streets were closed to traffic, as was the entrance at New Gate, with security posted, checking pedestrians also.

So many Jewish young men, Chabad was out with a tefillin-stand on the way to Damascus Gate to enter the Old City.

The scene at Damascus Gate was more crowded than I remembered.

Many times I have walked with the crowd thru the Old City to the Kotel, the Western Wall, where prayers, music, and dancing are held at sunset.

Security watched from above, and along the route as well.

International photographers were watching and waiting at the usual vantage points inside Damascus Gate.

As hard as I tried, while I found many different t-shirts, I could not find any of the offensive viral images of the walk.

Security had blocked narrow alleyways in the Old City,

along the Via Delarosa route, as we moved slowly along.

Thanks to a much taller policeman offering to take a photo with my camera, the March/Parade crowded in the Old City moved at a schlepper’s pace.

I lost count of the young men who stopped to say thank you to the police, some even stopping to shake their hands.

We passed a memorial plaque at the spot where a Jew was killed on Purim in 1991.

Relief, the light at the end of the tunnel!

Where we emerged to the packed Kotel, Western Wall Plaza where thousands had already arrived and was filled with the sounds of music.

Traditionally, the Mayor and his wife greeted the public at the Tower of David all afternoon but left for the next official ceremony at Givat Tachmoshet, Ammunition Hill, the site of the most important battle for Jerusalem in 1967.

It was getting dark. Jaffa Gate was blocked. People were not allowed to enter, so large was the crowd on Yom Yerushalayim, Jerusalem Day.

My summary with the sounds of music during the day is under 6 minutes.

So sad that so many people were celebrating in a positive way, and the few negative images got viral coverage.

However, there’s more of what you did not see –

New trees were planted along the Jerusalem streets this week, and too many flowers to count – the Mayor is running for re-election in the fall.

Signs are up for Jerusalem Education Week,

Festival Musrara Mix 23,

and the Jerusalem Arts Festival.

Not only the many varied Jerusalem Festivals are back, but so too are international conferences. A favorite topic this week at the Inbal Hotel was the International Sleep Disorders Academy Congress.

Earlier in the week, the David Citadel Hotel hosted a Declaration Day event.

The walls of the Old City were illuminated for Yom Yerushalayim 56.

The new fountain in France Square had blue and white lights at night.

The new lighting on the old Heichal Shlomo and Great Synagogue was bright as King George Street quieted down, and the music and dancing, and celebrations for Jerusalem Day moved to other locations.

Enough for one day for two big old bears!

May be an image of prairie gentian, Vanda orchid and text

Now is the new month of Sivan and time to prepare for Shavuot, when again thousands more people are to fill the Jerusalem streets.

Come see what’s really happening for yourself.

Next year or this year in Jerusalem!

Life goes on in Jerusalem, for Lag B’Omer and Future

Sharon A

Another week in Jerusalem, Israel, where it’s hard to know where to start and what to share–so much was happening on the Jerusalem streets.

Yemin Moshe was as usual in the spring – picture-perfect.

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The International Writers’ Festival was again held across from the Old City Walls in Mishkenot Shaanamim.

The annual festival began on Sunday night with an introduction to an international writers’ group. PEN – Poets, Essayists, Novelists, which was founded in London in 1921.

It has spread to more than 100 countries, with a stated aim of supporting the unhampered transmission of thought within and between all nations.

Pulitzer Prize-winning American novelist Jennifer Egan, former PEN President, was one of the speakers at the opening event.

The 2014 Sapir Prize winner Rami (Reuven) Namdar led one discussion group. The Sapir Prize is the largest literary prize awarded in Israel.

The Writers’ Festival meetings in Jerusalem could not find a more historic or lovely location than Mishkenot Shaananim, next to Yemin Moshe.

Another special international guest in Jerusalem was the President of Kenya William Ruto. Kenyan flags were flying outside Beit Hanasi for his official arrival ceremony and state dinner with the President of Israel.

The past week included Lag B’Omer, the Israeli day associated with fire.

Some families started early with their fires on Monday night in the park.

As others were arriving, with every kind of wood to burn and food to cook.

The smoke rose from these bonfire sites before dark.

And more wood was on the way, to keep the fires going.

Over the years, I have repeated, there are those who love Lag B’Omer and those who go inside and close the windows. I went in again this year.

But Lag B’Omer is also a big family day of celebration for children, as it’s an Israeli school holiday.

Chabad Lag B’Omer parades were held in several Jerusalem locations.

Lag B’Omer in Meron is still the main Israel event.

But this year with the Meron site limited, a Lag B’Omer celebration was held in Jerusalem by an organization called the Rebbi Shimon Foundation.

As men continued singing and dancing, after men had poured oil to ignite the fire, it spread to the table holding the bonfire.

Water from a garden hose saved the day, and the party continued into the night inside the new party location.

While all this was happening, in the space above, we were enjoying a Lag B’Omer wedding. Lag B’Omer is also a day filled with weddings.

This one went as planned, however, many southern weddings had to scramble to find new locations with Gaza rockets being fired into Israel.

On Wednesday, in Kfar Batya, near Ranana, again questions of safety arose, for the groundbreaking ceremony of the new AMIT educational campus.

With a few changes, moving the event to be close to shelters in case of an alarm, the long-awaited and exciting program went ahead.

I heard the boom of an Iron Dome missile interception not too far away.

But it was on with the show – Dare to Dream.

An example of Israeli resilience, Nurit Davidi, principal of AMIT high school in Beer Sheva, the wife of the Mayor of Sderot, came and participated in the program while her town and family were under rocket fire.

Lag B’Omer is over, and signs are up for the new Jerusalem musical events.

But, notice the blue sign at the bottom with red for May 12th in Jerusalem.

On Friday hundreds of cyclists rode around Jerusalem, starting from First Station and along Jaffa Gate for rides of different distance routes.

Writing and weddings, fires, and riding not for you?

How about trying the newest tourist attraction in Jerusalem?

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Look closely and see the brown line across the bottom third of the photo.

It’s the new suspension walking bridge across the valley from near the Mount Zion Hotel to the Mount of Olives.

Or you can walk and go at your own pace, and enjoy the old and new of Jerusalem on a Jerusalem Photo Walk.

Hope to see you on the Jerusalem streets soon.

Yom HaZikaron to Yom Haatzmaut and more in Jerusalem

Sharon A

So much happens over the short time period of Yom HaZikaron and Yom Haatzmaut, the transition from Remembrance Day to Independence Day, it was hard to keep up and impossible to do all I wished I could.

However, until Yom Yerushalayim – or Jerusalem Day, on May 18, this year,

the flags will still be seen on the Jerusalem streets. Here’s a quick review of what you missed this year in Jerusalem!

At night there were multiple large events and small in most communities, again we attended a program for Yom HaZikaron sponsored by the Michael Levin Base, and this year the program included JNF participation. The program was conducted in English.

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What an honor to meet leaders present from the Jewish War Veteran of the United States, one of many groups in the 1500-person crowded Givat Tachmoshet, Ammunition Hill amphitheater.

The speeches were all powerful and meaningful, and the IDF band added to the emotional aspect of the event.

Givat Tachmoshet was the scene of an important battle in 1967 with the Jordanian Legion, in the reunification of Jerusalem, MORE HERE.

While the Har Herzl Military Cemetery is the main venue for Yom HaZikaron, the next morning I decided to go to a smaller, less well-known Jerusalem cemetery.

Gravestones of the fallen have a small flag and black ribbon placed each year.

This year small groups gathered around a few of the graves.

A ceremony was held around the time of the morning siren.

I overheard one woman saying how much more meaningful the smaller ceremony was to her and her family.

The memorial siren went off as I walked to the cemetery.

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In various locations around Jerusalem, there are memorials for fallen soldiers, on my way home I passed this stone. Notice the second name, Herzl Halevy z”l, the uncle and namesake of the current head of IDF who was killed in the Six-Day War.

Nightfall brought the transition from mourning for the fallen on Yom HaZikaron to the celebrations of Independence Day, the Diamond Anniversary year of Yom Haatzmaut. Israel at 75.

At Har Herzl, all negative predictions proved very wrong, the program was the best I have seen by far, even for the live enthusiastic audience.

As the sun sets, the program starts with Yizkor, the Jewish prayer for the dead. This year Rabbi Leo Dee was chosen, his voice sounded strained from having spoken to so many people and in interviews since the murder of his wife and daughters.

However, the transition to the celebration was fast and wonderful.

The dancers were impressive against the huge stage constructed each year by Herzl’s grave at the top of the mountain.

The live audience was also treated to a great show this year.

The seat I was told to take had a fabulous view.

As a tradition, the Knesset Speaker leads this program, Amir Ohana spoke well and then lit the first torch.

The audience was given lights to add to the production.

Twelve individuals are honored to lit a torch, one for each biblical tribe. The torch lighters were excellent selections this year, each person impressive for their accomplishments.

And more on with the show, bright and flashy, but more tasteful than usual.

Of course, the military flags were paraded,

and the lights attached to the seats changed colors for the audience’s enjoyment and participation.

But, viewing the formations worked much better on screens from above.

There were Israeli-based themes from over the past 7 decades,

concluding with Salah Shabbati for a crowd-pleasing ending.

What a shame this was not as widely covered as in the past, it was a winner.

Then, in the morning, after some celebration throughout the night, there was still much more.

All shops are closed as Yom Haazmaut is a national holiday.

I was impressed by the multiple Jerusalem Municipality cleanup trucks I passed on my way to the Jerusalem Theater.

The Chidon Tanach HaOlami, or International Bible Quiz, is another Yom Haaztmaut tradition for many families.

The international group of Bible students was down to the final eight contestants for the televised annual program.

The Jerusalem Mayor had asked a previous question and the Prime Minister asks one of the last questions.

This year two girls won first and second place, with a tense competition at the end. Here you can see more of the competition with a pleasant ending.

Good thing I got the flyovers at rehearsal, no such luck on Yom Haatzmaut.

And then, the “75 Years of Creation” celebration, the diplomatic reception held at Beit Hanasi, Israel President’s House, in the afternoon.

Ambassadors and military heads of their mission arrived on the red carpet.

This year 7 Israeli wineries in the Golan were featured.

Cheeses, made from cow, goat, and sheep milk, were beautifully displayed.

The main program is held in the back garden with a new stage this year.

I love the hats that are placed on the table each time.

Michal Herzog looked happy as she came out to greet the guests.

They posed with Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen and his wife,

over and over again with the various Ambassadors to Israel.

People were smiling as they posed at the afternoon garden party.

Then seated for a program in the back garden,

which included musical interludes.

Eli Cohen mentioned in his remarks that there are 97 countries with representatives in Israel, and expects the number to rise to 100 next year.

The afternoon was another feel-good for Israel 75 celebration.

Besides so many hats and uniforms, wine and cheese, there was specialty ice cream and designer chocolates. After enough sugar and wine, I decided to go home and skip the Israel Prize, the other national program at the end of the day for Yom Haatzmaut. Time to review all the family photos of a day filled with hikes and BBQs. The smell of meat grilling filled the Jerusalem streets from thousands of Israeli Independence Day mangals.

At the national events, signs of protests were put away and Israel at 75 celebrations in Jerusalem went on in grand style.

Time for you to start planning next year in Jerusalem for 76!