Independence Day – Page 2 – The Real Jerusalem Streets

Jerusalem Colored Blue & White and Red for Israel 70

April 17, 2018Sharon A

Every year as soon as Passover ends, the Yoms begin, Yom HaShoah, Yom HaZikaron, Yom Ha’tzmaut, and Yom Yerushalyim. After remembering the victims of Holocaust, fallen IDF and terror, then celebrating Israel Independence and the unification of Jerusalem begin.

Flags come out. Jerusalem goes blue and white.

Official flags of Israel, Jerusalem and Beit Hanasi, the President’s House are displayed.

But also some private residences get into the holiday spirit. Cars, taxis, and motorcycles can be seen flying small flags.

There are new signs in Jerusalem for celebrating Israel’s 70th lining some streets.

The practices for Yom Ha’atzmaut air show have taken place over several days.

It is one of my favorite times of year. This year I got some of it on video to share with you.

The show seems bigger this year. Everything seems bigger this year for Israel 70.

The annual World Conference of Keren Hayesod-United Israel Appeal had over 1000 people at its opening gala dinner in the Jerusalem International Conference Center. From all over the world they came, so many from South America, I thought the event should have been done in Spanish, instead of English.

But all is not just blue and white, yellow roses are in full bloom, as are purple flowers and more. Perhaps a whole blog again of Jerusalem colors?

These red flowers on the Jewish Agency Building are part of a light projection video by JNF in honor of Israel 70.

Seats were set up in the plaza for public viewing. Jerusalem is too often under a magnifying glass, maybe we get more attention than is desired.

JNF supporters are found around the world, country flags highlighted in this photo from the video.

The projection is scheduled to be seen only nights this week, so I recorded part of the video to share with you.

State celebrations for Independence Day will begin on Wednesday night with a torch lighting ceremony at Har Herzl. I plan to attend and share highlights as usual.

But first along with the blue and white flags, memorial flames are found on many buildings. Before the celebrations begin, we remember the fallen defenders of Israel and victims of terror.

The state televised ceremony is held at the Kotel, Western Wall. Communities throughout Israel host their own.

I am planning to be at a ceremony at Givat Tachmoshet, Ammunition Hill. Near the memorial for fallen lone soldiers, an event sponsored by lone soldiers. Young men and women who come from around the world to serve the Jewish people and State of Israel.

As the Prime Minister said in his remarks at the UIA gala dinner last night,

We live in momentous times. The founders of modern Zionism did not say that the attacks on the Jewish people would seize once we establish a Jewish state. They said that we could defend ourselves against those attacks. And that’s exactly what the State of Israel has done. It’s restored the capacity of the Jewish people to defend ourselves, by ourselves, against any threat. And we are as powerful as we’ve never been before.

We will mourn the fallen, then we will celebrate the living and life.

Israeli Independence Day to Jerusalem Day

May 10, 2017Sharon A

Israel’s 69 years’ celebrations took many forms.

The flyovers on Yom Ha’atzmaut, Independence Day,

are an annual favorite.

This year I was in Gan Sacher, Sacher Park, ready to record

as 4 planes zoomed across the sky, turned and dipped.

A blog called Outrageous, was posted

on May 11, 2011, concerning the poor

the situation of access for disabled individuals

in Jerusalem, Israel.

What triggered that post was the deplorable

restroom conditions at Gan Sacher on Yom Ha’atzmaut.

Tens of thousands of people and no proper toilets,

long lines, and no handicapped facilities.

By the spring of 2014, construction was underway

for a new public restroom, toilets, loo or “OO.”

Since I have gone by multiple times to check it,

I am very happy to report

that this year on Yom Ha’atzmaut afternoon

the women’s restroom was not only available,

but it was clean and stocked with paper and soap.

The speed can be seen in the air,

but on the ground things often go much slower.

This year Yom Yerushalayim, Jerusalem Day,

with all the build up to the jubilee year,

is being eclipsed by the first official visit

of US President Donald Trump.

The King David Hotel is to be cleared

of all other guests for the presidential entourage,

as was done for previous US presidential visits.

It’s not fun for locals

when major streets in the area are closed.

However,

the Tower of David is offering some fun,

on Wednesday, May 24, 2017, with free entrance,

from noon – 6:00 pm.

Besides the opening of new exhibit,”50 Years 50 Faces,”

children’s activities are planned, plus guided tours.

Theatrical performances and live music will entertain,

look for more than jugglers on the wall,

Kings David, Solomon and Herod are to make an appearance.

Mayor Nir Barkat is to greet the public from 3:30 – 5:00 pm.

Always so much happening on the Jerusalem streets.

Best of Yom HaZikaron and Yom Ha’atzmaut in Jerusalem

May 3, 2017May 3, 2017Sharon A

Jerusalem, Israel, for the Yoms

as usual was overloaded with events,

many this year influenced in anticipation of

50 years since the reunification of Jerusalem.

Israeli flags are draped down the sides of buildings.

These are at the Israel Museum entrance

where the dome of the Shrine of the Book can be seen.

Yom HaZikaron, Israeli Remembrance Day

for fallen soldiers and victims of terror,

began Sunday night with memorials throughout Israel,

and were accompanied by prayers, speeches and memorial flames.

The official state ceremony seen live on television,

was held at the Kotel, the Western Wall,

where President Reuven Rivlin lit the memorial light.

Sponsored by the Lone Soldier Center in memory of Michael Levin,

a memorial service was held at Givat HaTachmoshet, Ammunition Hill,

the site of deadly fighting to defend Jerusalem in 1967.

The program in English was live-streamed

and seen by over 16,000 people around the world.

All day Monday, tens of thousands of Israelis visited cemeteries.

This cemetery has many graves from 1948-1950,

the first years that Jews could not get to

the Mount of Olives due to the Jordanian occupation

and had to find new places to bury their dead.

On Yom HaZikaron, a man prayed by a grave.

A small Israeli flag with a black ribbon attached,

and small bunch of flowers, yizkor, remembers

those much too young who died in war.

The cemetery is next to Harel Garden

and Memorial wall, where this lone wreath was placed.

Walk around the memorial and you can see

that Gush Etzion is 16 kilometers from Cinema City and

the Israeli Supreme Court and government offices.

Tens of thousands came to Har Herzl Military Cemetery

during the day, to place flowers and to mourn,

remembering those lost to war and terror.

The crowds thinned at end of day,

and all headed home from the Har Herzl Military Cemetery.

But as the sun set,

on another part of Har Herzl,

the lights went on this huge stage,

celebrating Yom Ha’atzmaut, Independence Day.

This year for the first time two non-Israelis were selected

with the honor of lighting one of the 12 memorial flames,

Rabbi Marvin Hier and Michael Steinhardt,

seen here before the official program began.

The show is telecast live and seen by thousands,

but watching on TV you could not see them remove

the circle of fire used in one production number.

It is an extravaganza with set rituals,

Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat broke with tradition

when he joined with Knesset speaker Yuli Edelstein

to light the official flame of Israel’s Independence Day.

Seats were at a premium, the flag waving,

cheering crowd did not need a lot of encouragement.

Besides the two Americans, I wanted to see Rabbanit Chana Henkin

who was honored as one of the twelve torch lighters,

one for each tribe of Israel.

Dr. Ahmed Eid, an Arab doctor, was another honoree.

The program featured songs and military colors.

For this shot, no seat in the stands would work,

only this overhead camera would do.

Afterwards celebrations went all night,

in too many locations to list, with prayers, songs and dancing.

The next day at Beit Hanasi, the Israeli President’s Residence,

120 outstanding soldiers were honored in the morning

and in the afternoon rows of diplomats came,

along with one young Presidential grandson,

to pay their respects to Israel and hear the Prime Minister

and President speak on theme,”next year in Jerusalem.”

While the heads of consuls and foreign military were at Beit Hanasi,

thousands of Israelis were in Gan Sacher, Sacher Park.

Most of the green spaces all over the country were full of Israelis.

On the radio were announcements of crowded roads to JNF parks.

This family brought a couch to Gan Sacher,

which is one way to make your holiday mangal, BBQ, feel like home.

I know this is getting way too long,

but there was so much more,

like the Bible Competition, free museums, and performances.

festive meals, and those IDF flyovers and stunts.

Israel, after 69 years

as President Rivlin said, is young for a country,

under constant threat and repeated attacks,

yet has accomplished so much.

So it was,

from memorials to celebrating independence,

so much happening in Jerusalem.