Holocaust Rememberance Day 2011

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Sunday, May 1, 2011

as darkness fell, entertainment and restaurants closed, 

 places usually full of late night customers were dark and quiet.

Holocaust Martyrs’ and Heroes’  Remembrance Day can be felt on the Jerusalem streets,

 flames and draped flags can be seen

on rooftops.

As the memorial siren sounded Monday, May 2 at 10:00am,

the city stood in silence for two minutes.

Against the grey morning sky

flags were flown at half mast.

Holocaust Remembrance Day goes until sunset, 

but by 10:15am in Gan Sacher, Sacher Park

and in school playgrounds, the sounds of childrens’ voices could be heard.

A day to remember the six million who died in the Holocaust…

and perhaps, a time to hope and pray for the future of all the children.

Royal Wedding on King George

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Where else should one gauge royal wedding fever in Jerusalem,

 than King George V Street?

Though in 1924, it was named King George V Avenue.

The first Friday afternoon after Passover, bakeries were open, but not very busy.

The Bezalel Street Arts and Crafts Fair was running as usual

and across the street people were out on the Mall.

Some tourists were around…

one American man did not know there was a wedding–

and no idea what these guys were thinking.

In one of the shops on King George Street there were plenty

of fish

  to eat dead skin cells, but not much interest in any wedding…

unless it was his brother’s…

Finally, just off of King George Street, the doors of this pizzeria

are wide open after being closed for the Passover holiday,

and inside there was fresh pizza and… the royal wedding on TV!

Not one Union Jack was to be seen, but Israeli flags are blowing in the wind.

Maybe those hit with a serious case of wedding fever just stayed home?

Mazel tov Kate and Will, the new Duke and Duchess of Cambridge!

Nice to chat about the beautiful bride and wedding gown

 and for a bit forget about the fires surrounding us.

Holiday Celebrations

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Tens of thousands of people came from around the world to celebrate Passover in Jerusalem

  and to pray at the Kotel, the Western Wall.

It was hard to find a bagel as many eateries were closed tight for the holiday,

however, the fresh bread in the Christian Quarter of the Old City smelled especially good.

 Easter week coincided with Passover this year,

and thousands of Christian pilgrims came to the Old City by way of the Jaffa Gate

and the New Gate,

all heading towards

 the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.

Built in the fifth century by Queen St. Helena,

 the Monastery of the Holy Cross

was also a popular Christian tourist spot.

It is located in the Valley of the Cross below the Israel Museum.

 Passover with its potato rolls ended on Monday night… and Mimouna celebrations began.

This celebration by North African Jews the day after Passover is now an official holiday.

It begins at night with the baking of fresh mufletas and continues into the next day.

Large crowds kept coming all day to Gan Sacher, Sacher Park.

 There were plenty of mangals with grilled meat and many serious photographers.

The afternoon scene included a group of Arab women and children

and Mahmoud and his friends playing soccer.

 Arab families enjoying Jerusalem parks as usual, even though,

  BenYosef Livnat was shot and killed at Joseph’s Tomb by Palestinian police just hours before.

Holiday celebrations in Jerusalem were large and festive this year, but since there was no violence,

it is not news for the mainstream media…

Now it’s back to school and back to washing  and cleaning up from the holiday celebrations.