Aleh Jerusalem March – The Real Jerusalem Streets

More than Jerusalem Heat

May 27, 2015rjstreets

Everyone is talking about the weather,

the hot, hot weather.

It has been beastly,

like this monster perched outside the Bloomfield Science Museum

even before the intense heat arrived.

On Monday, there was a special event for children

who had no school on the day after Shavuot.

These unusual riding machines are outside the museum.

Science and motion can be fascinating,

and while for some it is a learning experience,

for others,

it is a living experience.

ALEH is a very special school for children with severe disabilities.

The annual ALEH March was Monday afternoon.

Teachers, students, volunteers and ALEH families

all walked across the Jerusalem String Bridge.

In the middle of the walk the group released green and purple balloons,

made noise and held banners for cars to honk.

Walkers, special wheel chairs and flags,

all marching forward – to make each day count.

And as with most Jerusalem facilities,

ALEH serves both Muslim and Jewish children, religious and secular.

The holidays are over,

but things are not quieting down,

and even in the mid-day sun tourists were out.

New signs have been posted,

for the Israel Festival’s

varied programs.

Festival season has begun.

For other new events

and festivals we will have to wait and see.

But next week is the Jerusalem Light Festival,

and this big ad was up in Gan Sacher, Sacher Park.

I sure hope it cools off when we walk around the Old City.

It will be interesting to see what new light pieces

the international festival can come up with this year,

and how many thousands of people will attend.

Passover Leftovers

April 16, 2012rjstreets

Passover has ended.

I used 150 eggs, large quantities of potatoes, onions,

sugar and chocolate this week,

and not one cookie or crumb of cake is left in the house.

However, there are still a few holiday leftovers that I would like to share.

Flags lined Israel Highway #6 for millions of people on their holiday trips,

while in Jerusalem you could find dancing on the streets

and families dressed in their holiday finest.

Crowds filled Gan Sacher, Sacher Park.

At times there seemed to be more tents than during “The Occupy Protest”

and so much smoke that I made the mistake of calling it “Gan Smoker.”

Gan Sacher is big enough, though, to find a quiet spot

for conversation, grilled meat and a bottle wine.

No need to go hungry in Jerusalem for lack of Passover food,

these matzah sandwiches were for sale across from the Central Bus station,

where “Happy Holiday of Freedom” signs and Israeli flags flew above.

I wrote the last post about the Aleh Jerusalem March

(make sure you haven’t missed it)

and the impressive young volunteers,

but these two children sharing a bag of potato chips were my favorite.

Those are a few favorite Passover leftovers, so that’s it…

until next year, when the buses again say,

” Kosher and Happy Passover.”

Four Ways to Celebrate Passover

April 11, 2012rjstreets

Millions of people visit nature sites in Israel over Passover.

Tens of thousands attend Birchat Kohanim, the Priestly Blessing

prayer service at the Kotel, the Western Wall, each year.

In Jerusalem’s Gan Sacher, Sacher Park,

thousands of people gather for picnic outings.

I want to share with you a special event

in Jerusalem at Aleh, a very special home and school

for children with special educational needs.

The weather was perfect

for the annual Aleh Jerusalem March as it left the school grounds.

Participating were many of the dedicated staff members and their families,

(full disclosure, my daughter-in-law is a teacher at Aleh

and we are very proud of her work)

dozens of young volunteers,

along with lots of balloons and a nurse on duty.

Streets were closed to traffic as the Aleh Jerusalem March moved

toward the new Gesher HaMeitarim, the Chord or String Bridge.

After waiting for everyone to arrive on the bridge,

hundreds of balloons were released over the city of Jerusalem.

Then everyone crossed the bridge

and the celebration continued with live music and dancing.

In a country where on chol hamoed traffic is heavy and people creep along,

this crowd was really moving.

I can share a few scenes of the tremendous care,

affection,

and attention given to the students who participated,

but for reasons of privacy I cannot share their radiant smiles.

This was an event short on publicity and politicians,

only MK Aryeh Eldar said a few words.

But it was big on love and full of holiday spirit.

A very happy Passover!

If you found an Aleh balloon…I would love to hear how far they flew.

Many more photos on The Real Jerusalem Streets Facebook page .