Passover – Page 5 – The Real Jerusalem Streets

Global Forum For Combating Antisemitism in Jerusalem: Inside and Outside

March 27, 2018March 27, 2018Sharon A

Antisemitism is not a thing of the past.

German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas, here in Jerusalem, said “I would really like to make it clear that the struggle against racism and anti-Semitism is important to me.”

Also this week French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian while in Jerusalem said, “There is a friendship between France and Israel that is deep and enduring, and expresses itself in many, many ways. I wish to send through you my best regards to President Macron.”

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Diaspora Affairs hosted The 6th Global Forum for Combating Antisemitism in Jerusalem, Israel, from March 19-21.

Together we can fight online hate speech was the opening plenary of the first day. The night before a large gathering listened to US Ambassador David Friedman.

People came from around the world, with 87 countries represented. This friend as you might guess came from Australia, but I also met a man from Trinidad, and several people from South African countries.

Ministers of Justice from Germany, Greece, and Italy joined Israel Minister of Justice Ayelet Shaked in signing a joint statement confronting online hate.

Delphine Reyre, Facebook regional director of policy in southern Europe, told of Facebook efforts to curb terror sites.

This week it was reported that Facebook closed down a Hamas page.

However, Twitter has not closed even one hate site.

Near the end of the Global Forum, the former Prime Minister of France, Manuel Valls, speaking in French, received applause for stating anti-Zionism is antisemitism.

The Israeli Foreign Ministry spent plenty of shekels on this event. Here the delegation with the President of Bulgaria arrived and waited politely to be seated at lunch.

Abe Foxman was given the honor of introducing Bulgarian President Rumen Radev.

Radev remarks were in English. Not only is his English excellent, he showed amazing patience while being stopped for selfies during his visit.

Here Radev (center) posed with the Bulgarian Ambassador to Israel on the left and Ran Yaakoby, Chairman of the Global Forum (right) of MFA.

With lavish food and desserts, oh how very sweet the Global Forum was. Facebook photos HERE

But will it make a global difference to curb antisemitism?

Celebrity guests like Mayim Bialik got media coverage. Anti-Zionism, manifested in Israel Apartheid Week, has spread to India for the first time this year.

Meanwhile, for most locals what was happening to the streets was of more immediate concern.

Outside the International Convention Center where the Global Forum was held the streets change daily due to construction.

This road expansion was open after weeks, or months, of work.

I had to wait to cross until this small earth mover moved out of my way.

This is one of the new neighborhoods near those streets reaching completion.

The fast train from Jerusalem to Tel Aviv will not open this month.

But when it does, those apartment dwellers are near the fast train station, and can be in Tel Aviv in half an hour.

Coming soon?

Whatever they are doing in Gan Sacher, Sacher Park, is to be completed soon.

Meanwhile, as I walked along Gan Sacher on my way home from the Global Forum, I saw something which all can appreciate now.

With spring weather and trees in bloom, we can appreciate what we have today and hope for a better future.

Spring is in the air. This year all Easter celebrations coincide with Passover, so tens of thousands of visitors are arriving daily.

Happy Holiday of Spring in Jerusalem.

חג שמח

Chag Sameach.

This Year in Jerusalem, Best of Passover

April 19, 2017April 19, 2017Sharon A

Passover is one of the three festivals

on which there were traditional pilgrimages to Jerusalem.

This year on all the days of Passover

thousands of people walked to the Old City

or arrived by bus after bus, on the intermediate days of the holiday,

dressed in their holiday finest at the Kotel, Western Wall, plaza.

Prayers started early and

went well into the day, with participants all ages

on both sides of the mechitza partition,

and in the new area where all pray together.

Holiday scenes from the Old City

included buses lining the road on the Mount of Olives,

as well as people coming and going as usual.

New to these ancient streets is

the colorful tourist train which starts from Jaffa Gate

and shares the road with buses, cars, segways,

and pedestrians going in both directions.

This year since Passover and Easter coincided,

I was hoping to find more Easter scenes,

but I came much too late for sunrise services.

I did spot a few men leaving the Old City,

perhaps they were Copts from Egypt.

Easter buns and beigele were being sold by the Jaffa Gate

for anyone craving fresh baked goods on Passover.

However, there were more things to do in Jerusalem

than just going to the Old City.

In the roller-blade/skate park in Gan HaPa’amon,

the Liberty Bell Park, Arab parents watched their children skate

along with Jews, both religious and secular.

Nearby, the Menachem Begin Heritage Center

had activities and free tours all day long.

I did not know that tours

had to be booked in advance.

But since we arrived at the end of the day,

we were able to wait a bit and join a tour.

I usually mention the tour on photo walks in the area.

Now that I finally took the tour myself

I will continue to recommend it

for its important historical information

presented in a modern, moving exhibit.

From old to new,

the evolution of the haggadah

was the theme of this Kol HaOt event at Inbal Hotel.

Israeli artists displayed their works,

while speakers elaborated on seder symbols,

design, and the history of haggadot.

The page on the right which reads “Next year in Jerusalem”

illustrated with modern building cranes and trucks.

For me, an illustration of the transition from ancient to modern.

There is so much building in Jerusalem,

things are constantly changing.

A place where one can really appreciate the development

is the Jerusalem Botanical Gardens,

which also had free admission on Passover thanks to Bank Hapoalim.

The new entrance way

leads to the pond

where people gathered to enjoy nature.

eat matzah sandwiches and ice cream treats.

Shin-Min, “pray and and flowers will come out” in Japanese

is carved on this stone, but more than prayers went into

turning this old derelict space into

a beautiful, expansive nature area, with comfortable paths.

Organized tours were available,

but the gardens are divided into well-marked growth areas,

such as Australia and South Africa,

and all the vegetation is identified.

Groups or individuals could easily

meet, eat, and explore

this man-made oasis in the middle of Jerusalem.

There was much more to see in the Botanical Gardens,

but the festive holiday meals involve lots of preparation.

Over the holiday, the overcast skies finally cleared.

Rain was predicted,

but only enough fell to get the dirt out of the air

and cover everything.

but not enough to ruin holiday outings

or the Passover greeting on the buses.

Happy Passover

April 9, 2017Sharon A

Taking a few minutes,

to wish all a good holiday.

Pesach sign Happy Passover

חג שמח