This model of Jerusalem with the Second Temple,
is on the grounds of the Israel Museum.
The Fast of Tisha B’Av starts after Shabbat.
Shabbat Shalom.
Jerusalem, Israel – what is really happening
The date has passed.
Most flags are removed.
Commentators have spun stories with their biases.
The main stream media focused on a small group.
However,
Yom Yerushalayim, Jerusalem Day,
celebrations in Jerusalem, Israel,
are always like no where else in the world.
Today Jerusalem has a flag,
and an official pin.
The ancient Tower of David,
is always impressive.
In the morning of Yom Yerushalayim,
Mayor Nir Barkat and his wife Beverly
greeted the public inside the gardens.
While a live orchestra played music
and visitors sat and enjoyed their program.
Hundreds of families took tours of Yemin Moshe.
Thousands of young people gathered in Gan Sacher,
Sacher Park to march with Israeli flags to the Old City,
to the Kotel, the Western Wall.
Tens of thousands of people, singing, dancing, and
celebrating the reunification of Jerusalem in 1967.
This year other events were planned,
as this one for families at the new First Station.
There were prayer services,
and official invitation only ceremonies.
A free concert was held at Kikar Safra, Government Square.
Once again the annual “White Night” celebration
blasted until 4 am from Gan Sacher.
I do not appreciate that one!
In schools and kindergartens there were special programs,
with art projects songs, and even bubbles.
The main stream media missed hundreds of thousands
of people who were not news worthy.
For those who find Jerusalem Day objectionable,
please remember,
in 1965,
no Jews were in the Old City.
Under control of Jordan from 1948 – 1967,
no Jews could enter ANY of the gates.
In 1965,
this was as close to the Kotel, the Western Wall,
American Jewish tourists could get.
Photos were taken from across No Man’s Land,
safe from Jordanian sniper shots.
Yom Yerushalayim should be appreciated every day.
Our friends have posted on a bench by their home,
a short passage from the Prophet Zechariah,
on his vision for the future,
Jerusalem will be full of boys and girls
celebrating in her streets.
And that is what was really happening
on Yom Yerushalayim,
on the real Jerusalem streets.
Confession:
Lag B’Omer in Jerusalem, Israel, is not my favorite holiday.
I prefer to close my windows and hide inside,
but I ventured out to see what was happening,
and here are my favorite sights:
1. Wood of all kinds is collected and burned, but a baby crib?
2. One fire shows why wooden pallets are popular.
3. The Jerusalem Theater in the background
glowed like the many fires in park below.
4. There were many, many fires in that park.
First Station, on the other hand, was not the place to be
on Lag B’Omer night as most of it was closed.
Many people stayed out all night around the fires,
but during the day with no school,
children needed something to do.
5. Attentive faces and face painting at
6. Chabad Rechavia parade and event with Rabbi Goldberg,
always favorites of Jerusalem families.
Gan Sacher, Sacher Park, looked big, green and beautiful.
7. Musicians under a tree attracted an afternoon crowd.
I would have stayed longer to listen,
but I had to head home for dinner.
8. This walking/biking path in the Valley of the Cross
had huge boulders to keep vehicles away,
yet people would move them and drive towards Gan Sacher.
Now one simple bollard does the job.
As I was marveling at the cleverness of that improvement,
I saw a man in an underpass taking advantage of the echo.
9. He was playing an Israeli didgeridoo.
The instrument was first crafted by Aborigines
from branches hollowed out by termites,
its sound has been improved using Israeli technology.
They are used at a corroboree,
Australian Aboriginal ceremonies usually held
around a campfire at night with singing and dancing.
What a way to end a Jewish holiday associated with
campfires, music, singing and dancing!
You never know what you will find
on the Jerusalem, Israel streets!