middle east current events – Page 57 – The Real Jerusalem Streets

Prime Minister Modi in Israel: Warm Hugs and Agreements

July 9, 2017July 9, 2017Sharon A

The Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi

was in Israel from July 4- 7, 2017.

The royal warm greetings and government attention was unprecedented,

starting with a large airport reception

with hugs and flags and music and lots of officials.

Israeli President Reuven Rivlin greeted Modi

outside Beit Hanasi, the Israeli President’s Residence,

breaking protocol with a hug instead of handshake.

Both men then walked the red carpet to the residence,

and Prime Minister Modi signed the guest book.

Time for another warm handshake moment,

after the warm message.

Media crowded into the official reception room.

Most of the press left for the next stop on the full itinerary,

and missed the commander-in-chief of the Israeli Army

Gadi Eizenkot, arriving to shake hands with Modi.

Then at the King David Hotel,

the table was set for a lunch meeting between

the Prime Ministers and delegation officials.

The lunch went longer than scheduled

but the cameras were ready

while Israeli Ministers chatted and also waited.

The Prime Ministers made their entrance,

and gave their speeches

followed by more hugs.

There were numerous jokes,

of this warm and hugging visit,

and of Modi in Israel.

Photos of the Prime Ministers wading into the sea,

signing agreements, hugging, and

meeting terror survivor Moishe Holtzman

made some news reports.

They also went to see the Cochin Synagogue exhibit in the Israel Museum.

The attention showered on the Indian Prime Minister,

was more than I have seen for any recent international visitor.

Israel’s Prime Minister acted as host and tour guide.

The love, respect, and worship, that the Indian visitors

showed for their Prime Minister was impressive.

The extensive agreements that were signed have great potential

for both countries and beyond,

the whole world should be applauding.

(Thanks to my friend Ron for photo-shopping the globe here.)

After all the waiting for the official ceremonies,

the tallest man in the room was seated in the front row,

and his bald head blocked my camera view.

Jokes, hugs and smiles,

the potential of this visit must be acknowledged.

Additional photos: King David Hotel and Beit Hanasi.

Jerusalem More Than Dream

June 8, 2017June 8, 2017Sharon A

“Next year in Jerusalem”

has been for centuries,

the mantra of the Jewish people.

At the conclusion of the Passover seder

and at end of weddings by breaking a glass,

the destruction of Jerusalem was remembered.

From May 1948 to June 1967,

the years under Jordanian occupation,

reaching the Kotel, Western Wall or

walking near the Temple Mount,

was only for the imagination or in a dream.

A view from a look out at Notre Dame,

over a dangerous No Man’s Land,

was as close as a Jew could get.

For those under the age of 60,

the drama and trauma of the Six-Day War,

and the resulting victory are taken for granted.

The rush of feelings, of a miraculous deliverance

against giant Arab armies attacking on all sides is lost.

The significance of

Jerusalem 50 and its many celebrations are shrugged off,

for today tens of thousands can reach the Kotel Plaza to pray.

However, the Six-Day War,

also saw the return to Gush Etzion,

a distance 16 kilometers south of the Knesset.

And in the north,

the beautiful Kineret, Sea of Galilee,

had Syrians in those Golan Heights towering above.

Hadassah Hospital on Mount Scopus

was closed after a convoy of medical staff was ambushed

and 73 people were murdered in April 1948.

This memorial wall in the Mt. Scopus memorial garden

was backdrop for a reenactment of Hadassah getting its keys back

from Mayor Teddy Kollek, in June of 1967.

And the West Bank,

which was for centuries known as Judea and Samaria,

the land of Benjamin,

stretches as far as the eye can see,

and includes Tel Shilo,

which for 369 years was location of the Holy Ark,

before the time of King David and the Temple in Jerusalem.

50 years.

Half a century.

This is a wondrous time to be in Jerusalem, Israel.

The days of choking polluted air

from vehicles stuck in heavy traffic on Yaffa Road,

are vanishing memories, as the light rail trains run by.

50 years,

things are far from perfect,

but I would not want to go back to 51 years ago.

Significance of Yom Yerushalayim,This Year in Jerusalem

May 30, 2017Sharon A

Yom Yerushalayim, Jerusalem Day,

saw tens of thousands celebrating on King George Street,

as it filled with a sea of blue and white Israeli flags.

Afternoon shadows were not good for photos,

but the shade from hot sun was appreciated.

The Flag Parade, with its singing and dancing,

is mostly known for rowdy young male participants.

Last year I walked the entire route,

and as usual, if RJS is there, nothing bad happened.

This year what was significant was

not the guys, but the girls.

There were so many girls.

The crowd of girls stretched far into town,

farther than the eye or zoom lens could see.

There were two bands for separate dancing,

with their Israeli flags,

these girls were next to the guys’ circles,

but the guys seemed to take no notice of them.

Also significant to note concerning this day,

more than just teenage exuberance,

is the young families, who were walking,

and watching,

hundreds of families, many dressed in blue and white.

While thousands of older people lined the streets to watch.

From around the world they came,

to join in the celebrations

of Jerusalem being liberated and reunited,

on 28th of Iyar, June 1967,

as Israeli paratroopers reentered the Old City by way of the Lions’ Gate.

All the street closings

for flags and dancing and parades,

and the Trump presidential visit caused less

traffic havoc than two accidents and

an overload of cars on Thursday, causing gridlock,

making Jerusalem look like one big parking lot.

Tens of thousands of international visitors are still around.

A group of Christian tourists were dancing at Yaffa Gate,

to the Hebrew song “Moshiach.”

Under a clear blue sky the Old City

was serene and picture perfect.

On Shavuot, 5 Sivan, Tuesday, May 30,

the streets will again be filled, not with cars,

but with throngs of people walking,

to the Kotel, Western Wall for holiday prayers.

During the Six-Day War, all of Israel was united,

fearing destruction.

The defeat of the invading Arab armies has often been

described as miraculous.

Wouldn’t it be nice if everyone could come together again,

in good times, not just bad.

A timely message on this Jerusalem public bus.

Chag Sameach, Happy Holiday.