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.

Purim in Jerusalem

As soon as the Jerusalem Marathon is over,

the Jerusalem Purim marathon drew to a close.

With this leap year’s second Adar,

shops, organizations, and schools

have been preparing to celebrate the Purim holiday,

for a long, long time.

In Jerusalem, Israel, there is a street named

for Shushan and Mordechai HaYehudi,

and for Queen Esther,

Esther Street in Jerusalem

 with this sign as always a holiday favorite.

New this year was

Purim masks

a mask exhibit at the Bible Lands Museum.

masks in shul for purim

Masks, face paint, and hats were the norm

reading megilat esther

at one synagogue megillah reading,

where costumes were optional.

tent for community reading of meglia

On Emek Refaim Street a tent was set up

for community readings of Megilat Esther.

Meanwhile, there was a party was going on

down the road at the community center;

Barbara Sofer in a Purim hat

and yes, I liked Barbara’s hat.

Zev Stub out Purim night

Hats and smiles out at night with over tired babies,

Purim costume with lights

or ready to party, all lit up,

Thursday night as Purim was ending for the rest of Israel,

Shushan Purim in Jerusalem was just getting going.

Superman on Purim

This year Supermen of all sizes

Purim costume

and little fire fighters were out on the streets,

costume on Purim

but I only saw one of these big guys getting on a bus.

Problem is, often in Jerusalem, it is hard to tell

man with highlights

Purim

Purim or not Purim

or not Purim?

Purim went right into Shabbat,

so it has taken until Sunday to wish all

jerusalem street sign for purim

Purim Sameach!

Happy Purim!

Whew, but now that Purim is finally finished,

Jerusalem Old City festival

it is time for the Sounds of the Old City music festival

Arts festival after purim

and the Jerusalem Arts Festival,

and to start planning for Passover!

But first maybe a good night sleep?

After changing the clocks,

some rest would be very helpful.

Sigd Celebrated in Jerusalem

Sigd, the Ethiopian holiday which falls on 29 Heshvan,

50 days after Yom Kippur, was celebrated on the Tayelet.

view of old city

A spot with the best views of the Old City, but

with heightened security in the Armon Hanatziv neighborhood.

crowd Sigd

Also, somewhat smaller crowds were out on the Haas Promenade.

Buses brought Ethiopian Israelis from all over Israel

to celebrate the annual event, a national holiday since 2008.

Ethiopian soldiers at Sigd

I love to see the young men in uniform,

three girls at Sigd

and the girls too.

But, Sigd is not just eating, dancing, and socializing.

Sigd began centuries ago in Ethiopia,

with leaders gathering on a mountaintop and praying to return to Zion.

Today they have returned.

Kessim at Sigd

 Kessim, religious leaders dressed in white,

Kessim at Sigd

were seated at this long dais and more

Kessim and umbrellas

were in the audience, under their colorful umbrellas.

Prayers and speeches by government officials are part of the day.

After President Reuven Rivlin spoke,

Rivlin at Sigd

he went down the line and shook hands with the dignitaries.

Only a small part of the crowd of thousands, mostly the elders,

crowd seated at Sigd

were seated, with politicians and dignitaries in front.

However, one woman caught my attention.

older woman praying

What was she thinking?

Did she remember Sigd from Ethiopia?

What had she gone through to get here?

view old city from Sigd

She stood during the speeches looking towards the Old City,

towards the Temple Mount in the distance.

Sigd has become one of my favorite events.

Interesting, both last year and in 2012,  I also wrote that

we were in the midst of “difficult times.”

Kessim under umbrella

I must find out what this is hair-like thing is,

 I noticed several of them this year.

two girls at Sigd on Tayelet

Sigd, where ancient blends with the modern,

selfie at Sigd

and the very modern customs and practices.

The program ended in the early afternoon.

Shabbat also starts very early

with just a few hours to prepare before it is dark.

View of Temple Mount from Tayelet

Wishing a Shabbat Shalom to all from Jerusalem,

where sometimes dreams do come true.