Yom HaZikaron to Yom Haatzmaut and more in Jerusalem

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.

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is Yom-HaZikaron-030-2-1024x539.jpg

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.

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is Yom-HaZikaron-076-2-1024x726.jpg

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!

Jerusalem Celebrating Back to Normal

Oh, what a difference this year in Jerusalem from last year at this time!

Just a few days after Passover and Yom HaShoah, Holocaust Remembrance Day, and it is a time of Yom Hazikaron, Remembrance for Fallen Soldiers and Victims of Terror, and Yom Haatzmaut, Israel Independence Day.

This year the annual celebrations were back, though with some limitations.

Israel 73 was a time for celebration after a year of lockdowns and isolation.

Extra flags were both flying above and draped along the Knesset Building.

More flags were placed on Israeli government buildings.

Private apartment buildings also were decorated blue and white.

Flags and flowers were seen in Katamon,

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is Shuk-yom-Ha-063-3-1024x618.jpg

and more flags and flowers lined the streets in Nachalot.

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is Yom-HaZikaron-003-2-1-1024x692.jpg

This year seemed to have more blue and white than I remembered in past.

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is Shuk-yom-Ha-061-3-1024x729.jpg

And of course, the shops by Machane Yehuda Market were ready.

The Yizkor remembrance symbol, the flower found in Israel, called the Dam HaMacabbim,  appears on memorial stickers and pins. The name is derived form the legend that every spot where the flower grows, a drop of blood was spilled. Last year, my pin stayed in a drawer, this year I was able to wear it outside.

Har Herzl was closed last year to mourning families on Yom HaZikaron. This year it was open but limited, so I went on Tuesday to see them setting up for the official memorial ceremony the next morning.

Security was busy working inside, but two of the memorial guides posed outside of the structure which has the names of fallen engraved on its walls.

Har Herzl Military Cemetery was prepared with flags, black ribbons, memorial candles, flowers and a small white plastic stool at each grave.

This colorful wreath was from the Prime Minister’s Office, placed on the grave of Yoni Netanyahu. Closer and less adorned in the photo is the grave is of David Elazar, the ninth Chief of Staff of the IDF, who served from 1972 to 1974.

In the distance is the grey-haired twin brother of Moshe Sabbah, born in Morocco, who fell at age 19. Each stone resting place marks a son, a brother, so many, too many, 18 to 20-year-olds.

Former lone solider Michael Levin’s grave is piled high from visitors’ remembrances.

Another lone soldier, Alex Sasaki, was buried two years ago and is marked by yellow flags placed by visitors. Zechariah Baumel’s brother came to say Tehillim on Tuesday, where the missing-in-action soldier’s remains were finally returned to Israel and providing closure for the family’s ordeal.

So many graves, each with a story, one could wander and wonder for days.

But walking home from Har Herzl through Nayot Park where hundreds of young people were gathering before Yom HaZikaron was a perfect antidote to the mood of the military cemetery.

Again the next morning, groups of young children stood quietly at attention for two minutes at the sound of the memorial siren.

With limited access to Har Herzl on Yom HaZikaron, commemorations were held at smaller cemeteries throughout Israel.

The Givat Ram Cemetery, with the Supreme Court in view, had more flowers and candles and people coming than when I went a few years ago.

This cemetery became active when in 1948, the Jews could no longer get to the Mount of Olives to bury their loved ones as they had for centuries. Some of the old stones are nameless.

Exiting the cemetery to Gan Sacher, Sacher Park, the new Candle Memorial in memory of those who died in the siege of Leningrad is located along the path.

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is Yom-HaZikaron-111-2-1024x479.jpg

Gan Sacher was prepared for the Yom Haatzmaut mangals, BBQs, with new large metal bins around for the remains of the grilling charcoals.

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is Capture-yizkor-1024x480.png

The official state ceremony for Yom Haatzmaut, begins with a transition from Yizkor, remembering the fallen to the celebrating Independence.

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is Capture-zipi-1024x526.png

This year again a live audience watched the televised program as well as those at home watching the show. One of the honored torch lighters was Tzipi Harpenes, the principal of AMIT Elaine Silver Technological High School. I visited her school in Beer Sheva and met her, and I can tell you, there is much more to add to her amazing story.

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is Yom-Haatzmaut-014-3-1024x515.jpg

However, there were multiple community ceremonies as well. This one at Ramban shul was not only standing room only, but due to corona restrictions, people stood outside as well.

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is Yom-Haatzmaut-081-2-1024x678.jpg

This was the synagogue of Zechariah Baumel’s family, notice his name was added to the memorial wall on the bottom left.

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is Yom-Haatzmaut-085-2-1024x665.jpg

For many, this was the first time back at the synagogue in over a year. So the welcome back sign was very appropriate.

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is Yom-Haatzmaut-087-2-1024x673.jpg

Inside the ark was draped with flags as the evening service began.

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is Shuk-yom-Ha-011-2-1024x666.jpg

The Great Synagogue was open again, but with limited numbers, the “green pass” and id’s needed to enter.

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is Yom-Haatzmaut-132-2-1024x677.jpg

The memorial flame was at the entrance to the Begin Heritage Center.

The Kotel, Western Wall Plaza, was again the scene of the official start of Yom HaZikaron, with President Rivlin speaking. The corona dividers were gone, but the numbers were still limited on Tuesday night.

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is Yom-Haatzmaut-202-3-1024x718.jpg

Wednesday night at the Kotel, the memorial names were still seen.

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is Yom-Haatzmaut-194-2-1024x698.jpg

But the flag raised and memorial torch extinguished as the Independence Day prayers and celebrations began.

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is Yom-Haatzmaut-207-3-1024x693.jpg

Thousands attended the service, which ending with singing and dancing.

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is Yom-Haatzmaut-213-3-1024x678.jpg

Solitude was only to be found at the Egalitarian section of the Western Wall.

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is Yom-Haatzmaut-177-2-1024x677.jpg

From the Hurva Synagogue in the Jewish Quarter of the Old City,

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is Yom-Haatzmaut-104-2-1024x652.jpg

from the Takana Rishona, First Station,

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is Yom-Haatzmaut-161-2-1024x559.jpg

and from Teddy Park the sounds of singing and prayer rang out.

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is Yom-Haatzmaut-138-3-1024x473.jpg

Teddy Park had limited attendance, but that did not stop dancing in the streets as the music in venues was projected outside.

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is Yom-Haatzmaut-152-2-1024x593.jpg

It was hard to get a photo of the crowd at Teddy Park – it was so large.

Community centers, Sultan’s Pool, Safra Square, Gan Sacher were some other locations with live music and celebrants well into the morning hours.

But the real streets were not only full of beautiful music and celebrations.

It was distressing and hard to believe so few people made such noise in their antigovernmental protesting. I would have ignored them but they started up again on Shabbat which was even worse.

But to end a busy week on high notes, the flyover was back again this year.

And fireworks. There were multiple locations. But my only decent photo was this one over Silwan which was lit up for Ramadan.

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is Yom-Haatzmaut-255-2-1024x598.jpg

The beginning of the Muslim Ramadan month and Yom Haatzmaut coincided this year. The walls of the Old City were lit up as we all proceeded home after a night of celebrations.

This year in Jerusalem – so different than last year!

The recording of the national ceremony on Har Herzl – HERE

More Yom HaZikaron images on Facebook HERE

Hope next year to see you on the Jerusalem streets for these special days.

Jerusalem Remembering in Time of COVID19

Jerusalem Remembering in Time of COVID19

In Jerusalem, Israel, as in most of the world, these have been unusual days,

days during which we have learned not to take things for granted,

Passover holidays in isolation and coronavirus shut-down.

Building cranes moving again after Passover and coronavirus stop

After seeing them upright for days and unlit at night, I was excited to see the building cranes from the Jerusalem Gateway project moving again in the evening sky.

Jerusalem two people walking on path coronavirus time

Slowly people began venturing out, walking on the path in a city.

Kotel on Friday Rosh Chodesh Iyar during coronavirus

The Kotel, Western Wall Plaza had a new arrangement on Friday Rosh Chodesh Iyar.

Kotel on Friday Rosh Chodesh Iyar during COVID 19

Prayer sections were set for regulated separation and distancing.

But, I am not sure how they managed in the rain Shabbat morning.

Knesset lights on before announcement of unity government

Oh, the excitement of seeing lights come on in the Knesset building as a unity government was being announced. So excited I only noticed later, that the large flag was down as Yom HaShoah, Holocaust Martyrs’ and Heroes’ Remembrance Day 5780 was about to begin.

The symbolic memorial flame in place at the edge of the roof and small Israeli flags had been put in place.

However, this year will have little resemblance to last year’s celebrations with flames and flags.

Traffic stop with police wearing masks COVID 19

As I went out on the porch to get ready for the Yom HaShoah memorial siren, police wearing masks and blue gloves were stopping traffic.

Bus stopped for police check during coronavirus

Even the Jerusalem city bus was stopped and did not breeze through.

Some travel and work restrictions have been lifted.

A student driver with the symbol of the learner car was in the lineup.

Seconds before the 10:00 am siren, all the traffic was let by.

The officers stood quietly in respect of the two-minute memorial siren.

Jerusalem Israel street traffic at police check Corona

They then started checking cars again before moving on to another location.

I was so focused on the traffic stop, I did not notice at first that flags were up over the street as usual for the holiday season. At least one thing was “normal” in this year of isolation and coronavirus.

A highlight of the crazy isolation day was a special Jerusalem volunteer project.

plant as a present from the city of Jerusalem.
From Deputy Mayor Fleur Hassan-Nahoum

Today every Holocaust survivor in Jerusalem will have a volunteer standing outside their door during the siren at 10am so they don’t feel alone and wii receive a plant as a gift from the city of Jerusalem. Thanks to Mayor Moshe Lion for this moving initiative during times of Corona and well done to Nicky Cregor for executing this great project: as per Fleur Hassan-Hahoun on social media.

Israeli flag for Independence Day

One neighbor had their Israeli flag out for Yom HaZikaron, Remembrance Day, and Yom Haatzmaut, Independence Day.

Music for diplomats at Beit Hanasi Independence day

However, In light of the restrictions on movement to combat the coronavirus pandemic, the celebrations for Israel’s 72nd Independence Day to be held at Beit HaNasi this year and the other locations will be recorded and broadcast, not live. I was planning to go, those were quite impressive and fun celebrations in the past.

Oh well, more seriously, families will not be allowed to military cemeteries as usual.

Bereaved families have been asked to make reduced visits to cemeteries in the days before Yom HaZikaron, Remembrance Day, subject to social distancing restrictions.

Independence Day site on Har Herzl in Jerusalem

A general lockdown – similar to that which applied during Passover – will be imposed on Independence Day. The site at Har Herzl for Yom Haatzmaut, Independence Day celebration was already well under construction at the beginning of March. That event also was pre-recorded, there will be no huge crowded stands as in the past or all day picnics and trips.

This year it’s back to small private parties and pleasures. We have a new package of hot dogs in the freezer. Maybe it’s time to clean up the backyard grill and just Zoom with friends and family.

Sting Bridge in Jerusalem at entrance to city

The cold winter rains and cloudy skies are over for now and the String Bridge near the entrance of Jerusalem can be seen on a clear day. You never know what will happen (or not happen) next on the Jerusalem streets, as the Municipality is planning major musical productions throughout the city. And fireworks in some neighborhoods. But count on closures for the usual holiday travel time.

When planes fly over Jerusalem to practice for a Yom HaZikaron flyover Har Herzl Military Cemetery, people got excited and ran out to see.  Good thing there were multiple flights and I was finally able to get a bit of video. Oh, they are loud and so very fast.

For Yom Haatzmaut, the President has a special message and a chance to have him come to your home in a hologram. 

For now, you can take a tour of Bet HaNasi garden from anywhere in the world.

Weather extremes. Hot. Cold and wet. Sand filling the air, turning the sky yellow on Friday.

And we can keep on Zooming along, until next time.