Israel 70 Years: Past and Future

Israel 70 Years: Past and Future

Yom Ha’atzmaut, Israel Independence Day, is usually one big celebration from nightfall to nightfall. Since most people are not working, families and friends plan to get together.

It is like one giant Sunday to make up for a year of no Sunday vacation days.

Yom Haatzmaut fly over the Knesset for #Israel70

The flyovers are over.

The coals from tens of thousands of grills have gone cold.

Watching air show in Jerusalem, Israel on Yom Haatzmaut

Those big plastic hammers are put away and kids are back in school.

But this year with Israel 70 events, the celebrating keeps going.

The Menachem Begin Heritage Center in Jerusalem, Israel, hosted an evening in honor of Israel 70.

After food (of course, this is Israel), and the Prime Minister speaking, there was a panel with three ambassadors. There were remarks by US Ambassador David Friedman, on the good ol’ days in Israel, way before cell phones, which got me thinking about doing another Israel 70 post.

I walked home from the Begin Center past Ester lit up and looking like a giant space pod in the Hansen House garden.

Main garden of Hansen House with Ester wood structure for Israel 70

By day Ester, built in honor of Israel 70, looks like a giant popsicle stick structure.

Hansen Gardens on pleasant afternoon people reading

Hansen gardens, where in the past the most ill of Jerusalem would sit in the sun, are attracting new visitors to spend time to sit and read.

Hansen office as in time of Leper Hospital

In this infirmary, the leper patients were treated.

Old washing machine in Hansen House display of old Jerusalem

On display is what could be the first Uber. To think this was an upscale washing machine not so many years ago, and some of us complain about small size or long cycles of Israel modern machines.

In old setting a woman uses lap top at former Hansen Hospital in Jerusalem Israel

But those are two show rooms to remind us of what was. Now there are tech events held in the building. There is a cafe where old typewriters are on display, while people sit and work on their laptops.

Hansen House now has small natural food store as well as restaurant. Jerusalem Israel

There is a store with health foods and organic vegetables, and cheese in a refrigerated glass display case.

Outhouse from Hansen Hospital Jerusalem Israel

When Hansen Hospital opened it was a show-piece of modernity. It bragged of a foot bridge from the second floor rooms to the large outhouses.

Some people do not listen to music this time of year, but I had to do a very quick video. Today in Hansen House, push a button and there is a music option in the new modern loo.

Ambassador Sallai Meridor warned at the Begin Center, on the panel after Amb. Friedman, a “world major tsunami is coming. Kids who start school today will go into jobs we have never heard of and the demand for ingenuity is just beginning.”

Hansen House is but one example of change in Israel over the last 70 years.

New neighborhood in Modiin Israel

Go to Modi’in. See what has been built in the middle of nowhere. This location selected because it was between Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, was barren except for dirt and rocks 35 years ago.

Where will Israel be like in 70 years?

Who would have ever imagined what has been developed and accomplished in the past 70 years?