Jerusalem, Israel – what is really happening
During the short weeks of Jewish holiday season, it is hard to keep track of time.
Thousands gather at Kotel, Western Wall to pray, early morning and late into night.
It is time of pomegranates bursting on trees lining Jerusalem streets.
Friday is time for fresh flowers and Shabbat Shalom greetings.
The time between Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur,
is time to wish all a good sweet and healthy new year.
שנה טובה ומתוקה וגמר חתימה טובה
May you be sealed for a good year.
שבת שלום
September 11, 2001.
Is there anyone who lived through that day who does not remember where they were on 9/11?
We were living in the Washington, DC, area. The Pentagon was hit. Friends were inside. Who can forget the Twin Towers going down? A shocked world watched on television as the scene was played over and over.
My son was on a Lufthansa flight scheduled to land at Dulles Airport at 1:30 pm on September 11, 2001. After spending a week in Gander, Newfoundland, he finally made it home for Rosh Hashana, but that is a story for another time.
In 2009, the Blank Family dedicated a special memorial in the hills of Jerusalem, Israel, as a “reminder of shared loss and a call for peace among nations.”
Each year, an US-Israel joint memorial commemoration is held on September 11th. However, with the second day of Rosh Hashana falling on 9/11, this year the event was held on the Thursday before.
The memorial, located in a JNF-KKL park in the hills of Jerusalem, is the only one outside the United States that lists all the names of victims.
Representatives of different groups are invited each year. This year Sar-El, Muss High School, and Nefesh BeNefesh were among the guests who came on special buses, and passed through layers of special security.
Here the US Honor Guard readies its flags to march in and begin the memorial program.
The Honor Guard and all guests stood for the the US anthem. A special cover was constructed to shield the gathering from the midday sun. This year was not too hot, but plenty of water was provided nonetheless.
From the memorial you can see across Route One to the main Jerusalem cemetery, and in the distance, the Hadassah Hospital complex in Ein Karem is visible.
The main monument depicts an US flag in shape of a flame. The impressive thirty-foot-high bronze sculpture was created by Israeli artist Eliezer Weishoff and landscape architect Yechiel Cohen.
The annual program began with the Kaddish, the prayer recited for the departed, recited by a close relative of a victim, on behalf of all those who fell.
MK Nachman Shai spoke representing the Israeli government.
Other speakers included diplomatic representatives, JNF-KKL leaders, and family members of victims.
Ambassador David Friedman was presented with a framed photo of the US flag taken in front of the destroyed NYC building by a witness.
Inside the memorial, partially concealed behind the podium, is a piece of metal salvaged from the site of the destroyed towers.
After the speeches. representatives of the military, fire and police assisted with the placing of memorial wreaths.
After placing a wreath, Ambassador and Tammy Friedman paused for a moment of silence.
At the end of the formal program, all the wreaths were placed at the base of the memorial.
Flowers were available to place by the names of fallen. These United Airlines pilots stopped to reflect and remember.
Remembrance and Rosh Hashana were significant topics in Ambassador Friedman’s remarks.
Remembering the victims.
As the bus slowly traveled back up the winding narrow park road, the bridge for the new Jerusalem-Tel Aviv fast train towered overhead.
On the other side of the support pillars, the new Jerusalem highway winds around the mountainside.
People will be able to access the 9/11 memorial more easily in the future, as the park is currently being developed to be more family-friendly.
Wishing all a good new year.
Additional photos post on Facebook HERE
The Jewish holidays fall early this year.
Upon turning the calendar page to September, one finds that Rosh Hashana is only a week way.
Not sure where the summer went or how the time flew so fast.
Children are back in school and holiday preparations have begun.
Gan Sacher, Sacher Park, is getting a major make-over.
The new cafe should be finished for holiday crowds.
Music is filling the streets and concert halls.
Shir Chadash Synagogue on Emek Refaim sponsored a musical performance by Yehuda Katz.
Listen to a minute from the after-Shabbat performance in this video.
The streets of Yemin Moshe were quiet at night.
But inside the Yemin Moshe synagogue, the Solomon Brothers were leading selichot, the pre-Rosh Hashana prayers.
The twin lions in the Jewish Quarter near the steps to the Kotel, Western Wall, got a new coat of paint before the holidays. The next day, the eyes and detailing were added.
With construction for a new elevator access, the regular steps are blocked.
They had better work fast here before the holiday crowds arrive.
The moon was a brilliant orange color in the sky over the Kotel.
A bit of the sounds of the night. Amazing how fast the moon had moved, I tried to get in in the video and did not succeed.
Though it was approaching midnight, people were coming and going, but there were no overflow crowds.
The Robinson’s Arch area was empty as usual when I went to check.
However, at Heichal Shlomo, the overflow crowd was also at the back door trying to get inside.
The Old City and the Great Synagogue were not where the crowds were for the first night of these selichot prayers. They were at First Station.
Walking past the vendor stands and restaurants of First Station, in the Hangar
Yitzhak Meir was leading a musical selichot service.
His following has grown over the past few years, with a larger venue each year.
Thousands attended in the Hangar as he sang with musical accompaniment.
This was not your grandfather’s service, mumbling the words after midnight in a small shul.
You may not see this again, but approaching the New Year, Jerusalem mayoral candidates danced together at the conclusion of selichot.
The race could get nasty after the holidays, but at least for one night, the candidates joined hands and were singing and dancing together. These photos are screen shots from You Tube video.
Politicians were out the first day of school to be photographed with children going back to class.
Summer is over. Shana tova signs are up.
It’s buying and selling season in stores, at second hand fairs on Jerusalem, Israel streets,
and from pop-up vendors of all sort of housewares for preparing for holidays.
From huge holiday wishes from Friends of Zion,
to the Shana Tova gift basket I found at my door,
and another evening of selihot and prayers at First Station, many are the signs of Jerusalem preparing for New Year.
And yes already a week before Rosh Hashana, the first sukka was spotted.
Up on this porch, a family is prepared and ready in Mea Shearim,
At least for now, the faces of candidates for mayor are down, and holiday greetings are up.
Wishing all a successful school year and a very good New Year 5779.
שנה טובה וכתיבה וחתימה טובה