The Secret of Israel’s Success

The Secret of Israel’s Success

Another Passover has passed over.

Burnt chometz in Yerushalayim

In one week we went from burnt bread on the streets,

Matzah crumbs on Jerusalem street end of Passover in Israel

to pieces of crushed matzah.

Passover in Jerusalem Park

Tens of thousands celebrated with outings to Jerusalem parks. Hopefully, each year more and more visitors will clean up after themselves.

Botanical Gardens Jerusalem on Pesach

The best of Passover included the Jerusalem Botanical Gardens. Parking a car was a problem, as it was such a popular site.

Kosher for Pesach pizza in First Station in Jerusalem Israel

Fresh pizza made out of potato flour, instead of wheat, was available in First Station and at many other locations over Passover. Now it is back to regular flour.

Moment Cafe, Cafe de Paris location

Over the holiday week, the furniture, dishes, and equipment were removed. Now even the sign is gone from what was recently Cafe de Paris. This was the site of the Moment Cafe and a tragic suicide bombing in 2002. It also was one of our favorite kosher pizza places as tourists years ago. Now we hear that this corner location across from the Prime Minister’s Residence, where US secret service agents would hang out on breaks from duty guarding presidents, is to become an apartment building.

Free Avera Mengistu shirts and signs in Jerusalem Israel

Have you heard the name Avera Mengistu? Do you know where Avera is?

Next to the Prime Minister’s Residence, where the Shalit family set up their encampment, is a new protest tent.

Protest tent for release of Avera Mengistu from Gaza held by Hamas

Avera has been held captive in Gaza for over 3 years, over 1308 days. His family and friends are trying to raise awareness and get Avera, who suffers from mental disorder and was a civilian who somehow wandered over the border, home safely.

In the rain yesterday, there were people still under that shelter and there were protest marches in a number of cities. Today for first time I heard his brother interviewed on the radio.

Congrats well done, almost at finish line in Jerusalem Israel leftover from marathon

“WELL DONE, you’re almost at the finish line” was a sign I saw on my way to Gan Sacher on Passover. It was for the full marathon runners as they came near the end of their run. Now that the Passover things are put away and the cleanup is almost over, it feels like I reached the finish line.

However, there is no down time in Jerusalem, Israel,

#Israel70 flags hung on building of Jewish Agency in Jerusalem, Israel

and the large Israeli flags are up on the Jewish Agency Building.

#Israel70 new flags for Beit Hanasi, President's House Jerusalem, Israel

New flags are flying near Beit Hanasi, the Israeli President’s Residence.

The upcoming Yom Ha’atzmaut, Independence Day, Israel at 70 celebrations are meant to be bigger than ever.

Har Herzl Yom Ha'atzmaut rehearsal female soldiers

Rehearsals for the opening ceremony at Har Herzl have begun.

Har Herzl Ceremony rehearsal soldiers in uniform with flags

Soldiers with flags practice to march for perfection for the live television broadcast.

Opening ceremony of Israel 70 year Independence Day on Har Herzl in Jerusalem , Israel

The huge staging area is under construction.

Israeli soldiers practice for Yom Ha'atzmaut Israel 70 celebration

These are the young men and women proudly serving in the security services to defend the State of Israel.

Israeli soldiers in uniform pose for photo

The secret of Israel’s success?

According to expert strategist Yaakov Amidror, Israelis have a “bad habit” by living life and not stopping with every tension, until the first ammunition is used on other side. The secret is to continue to act as if nothing is happening around us, to live and work and enjoy regular life, to plan and celebrate Yom Haatzmaut. 

But when force is needed, as in past wars, to count on the IDF to be prepared and defend us, and to make wars as short as we can.

Light rail train and people out in Jerusalem on Jaffa Street near Zion Square

Israel at 70, going forward and strong.

 

After Israeli Independence Day Celebrations

Celebrations for Yom Haatzmaut,

Israel Independence Day,

have come to an end for this year.

There were lots of ceremonies, and the Bible Quiz on TV,

and flags flying above the streets and on buildings,

Israeli flags on cars for Independence Day

and little Israeli flags clipped on to cars.

As usual, Gan Sacher,

GAsh Sacher on Yom Haatzmaut

 Sacher Park, was the scene of hundreds of family picnics.

Yom Haatzmaur in Gan Sacher

People brought chairs and tables and bags of food,

People with beds in Gan Sacher on yom Haatzmaut

and even mattresses for comfort.

men carrying couch in Sacher Park on Yom Haatizamut

But this couch was a first.

Tents and friendly strangers in Sacher Park on Yom Haatazmaut

There were smiles from strangers and tents.

smoke from grill in Jerusalem park on Independence Day

Smoke from grills and the sounds of karaoke filled the air.

During the afternoon planes of all sizes

flyover on Independence Day

appeared in formation

flyover Independence Day

in the blue skies

flyover on Independence Day in Jerusalem Israel

 and thrilled the crowds below.

cute little boy with Israeli flag and balloons

Beautiful children with flags and balloons

enjoyed the celebrations.

Isaeli soldiers with big piece of meat at BBQ on independence Day in Gan Sacher

A group of lone soldiers enjoyed some serious ribs,

 grills were fired up all day to feed the hundreds that came.

Tens of thousands celebrated in Gan Sacher,

including one special group of girls,

Bat Sherut in Jerusalem for Yom Haatzmaut in Gan Sacher

Bnot Sherut, girls from overseas who are spending

their “gap year” volunteering in Israel.

The media missed their dance performance, but they did find this family

tv interview in Gan Sacher on Yom Hatzmautl

who were happy to share their opinions

of what a beautiful day it was,

concluding with a rousing,

“AM YISRAEL CHAI.”

No it is not snow, even if it’s called “sheleg,”

it’s the dreadful white shaving cream stuff,

couple with purple "shelg" in Gan SAcher on Yom Haatzmaut

 this couple found some tinted pink

and had a great time spraying it all around.

I was happy to see less of that messy stuff this year.

And security?

Two Israeli Policewomen in Gan Sacher on Yom Haatzmaut

Policewomen were seen checking out the food.

That was all on Thursday, now on Sunday,

I hope this heat wave is over quickly.

The heat and humidity keep me off the streets

and inside with the air conditioner running.

With the holidays over,

it is time for more festivals,.

Education starts tomorrow with an event at  the Israel Museum,

Sign for Light Festival in Old City jerusalem

and the Jerusalem Light Festival in the Old City

 which begins next week, plus

 an International Writers’ Festival and Lag B’Omer

all will be happening in Jerusalem, Israel.

I Swear, Jerusalem of Contrasts

Jerusalem, Israel, is a place of contrasts.

Old City Jerusalem at night

At night the streets of the Old City have been quiet,

while during the day,

building in Israel

the noise of large construction projects fills the streets.

While loud BDSers (Boycott, Divestment and Sanction),

shout hate against anything Israeli,

Jon Medved of Our Crowd led a global conference

OurCrowd

that attracted 3,000 international participants.

The technology conferences are too numerous to attend or even list.

For two days in Tel Aviv this week, the tourism conference

is again attracting eager overseas visitors to expand their ties with Israel.

While outside on the streets “random” stabbings and attacks go on,

inside Beit Hanassi, the Israeli President’s residence,

President Reuven Rivlin and Justice Minister Ayelet Sheked

sweariing in of new Sharia lae judges

swore in 7 new Qadis, Islamic Shariah Law Judges.

The official reception was held in the same large hall

where all important diplomatic visitors are greeted.

president house muslim audience

Family and friends of the new Muslim judges

after being served a dairy buffet of sweets,

were seated for the occasion.

This week there was another swearing-in ceremony,

a military ceremony at the Kotel, the Western Wall Plaza.

Paratroopers swearing in Western Wall

Thousands of family and friends gathered

paratroopers swearing in ceremony

 to witness the newest paratroopers,

who after weeks of arduous training,

IDF photo

 receive their new rifle along with a new bible.

Muslims who swear in to IDF receive a Koran.

While the news may seem dismal and negative,

this Muslim couple who found themselves in the midst

of hundreds of armed Israeli soldiers

watermarked Muslim taking selfie at Western wall

seem much more concerned with getting a good selfie.

I walked home alone in the dark from the Old City.

It took awhile as I stopped twice to talk with friends,

but two other things got my attention.

When there is a “security incident”

At entrance to Old City

these teens take to the streets to give out Israeli flags,

post signs and sing,

Am Yisrael Chai,

the People of Israel live!

It is a leap year on the Jewish calendar,

with two Adars, an extra month until Purim,.

Purim celebrates when Haman tried to kill the Jews.

Purim

 Hamantaschen are already displayed in store windows.

They tried to kill us, they failed,

so let’s eat something sweet.

A few of the cycles and contrasts

happening daily on the real Jerusalem streets.