Thanks on Thanksgiving – Shabbat Shalom

Thanks on Thanksgiving – Shabbat Shalom

Thursday was Thanksgiving in the US,

a holiday when millions of American families

gather to eat an annual turkey dinner.

In Tel Aviv a special Thanksgiving dinner was held.

Also an annual event,

the Lone Soldier Center in memory of Michael Levin,

sponsors a mega turkey meal for lone soliders.

Away from families,

these young men and women, in uniform or out,

have come from around the world to enlist in IDF.

Not just Americans participated,

Mexico, Australia, Canada, Ukraine, and Great Britain,

did not matter where you were from,

good food and fun, if you get leave, you come.

Close to a thousand solders came this year.

Naftali Bennett at lone soldier Thanksgiving dinner. in Tel Aviv

Education Minister Naftali Bennett came,

and gave thanks for their contribution to Israel.

Thanksgiving dinner for lone soldiers, Michael Oren poses for photo with two

MK Michael Oren, who is a former lone soldier,

often participates in these events.

Thanksgiving dinner lIDF one soldiers

It took two hours to drive to Tel Aviv in the rain,

but glad we went to see the wonderful energy and fun.

Now time for Shabbat,

with turkey and most all the fixings,

still miss fresh cranberry sauce,

but will make do with lots of other side dishes.

From Jerusalem, giving thanks.

שבת שלום

Shabbat shalom.

More photos HERE 

Yom Ha’atzmaut: Fly Over on Independence Day in Jerusalem

Air space over Jerusalem, Israel is not open,

when planes or helicopters fly over we notice.

The week before Yom Ha’atzmaut, Israel Independence Day

DSC_3385fb planes over Jerusalem, Israel

the sounds meant, it was rehearsal time

for the annual flyover air show and time to grab the camera.

planes flying over Jerusalem, airshow photo, image planes in formation

On Yom Ha’atzmaut it was very cloudy.

image flyover, photo air show

Friends on beach in Tel Aviv had it easier to get a clear view.

IMG_3673b watching air show in Jerusalem, Israel Sacher Park

But when those planes start flying over in formation,

it is something special to see.

Former Israeli Ambassador to US, Michael Oren (right)

stopped mid-sentence to look to the sky.

image planes in formation, photo air show

A little coloring helped this photo.

image planes flying in formation, photo planes on cloudly day

There were several flyovers by different types of planes.

image planes in sky, photo air show, image flyover

In Gan Sacher, Sacher Park, where we were at the time of the show,

 by the last set of planes

everyone had found their spot to see and to take a photo.

Israel Independence Day 66!

Passover Has Passed Over

What a busy two weeks have passed!

If we can still find a rocket left over from President Obama’s visit 

in a Sderot school yard, then it seems not too late 

   to post a few favorite photos of the presidential visit

to Jerusalem, Israel just before Passover.

,photo Obama in Jerusalem

People waited on the roof tops to get a view 

Obama visit to Israel

of the presidential motorcade as it arrived in the city.

female Israeli soldiers photo

Agippas Street, like so many other places, had lots of extra security,

Agrippas Street with no traffic

and a lot less traffic for a day so close to a major holiday –

or any day.

Street without cars. one man crossing empty street

No danger of getting hit crossing usually busy Ramban Street,

NO cars were allowed.

If you could walk there, then

Passover preparation

 it was a perfect time to go to the shuk, the Machane Yehuda Market,

kosher for passover candy

which as always is a colorful place to shop.

Passover is such a busy time as there is so much happening,

 especially this year with the Barak Obama visit.

As helicopters whirled overhead,

image of cat, cat resting photo

this cat really had the best idea, to crawl up in corner and hide.

Barak Obama in Israel

President Barak Obama gave his speech at Jerusalem Convention Center.

One stand out moment,

Barak Obama in israel

 was after a heckling Arab student from Haifa University shouted out,

 secret service agents on both sides of the stage emerged from the flags.

Barak Obama in Israel

This was a serious public event with serious camera lenses,

Palestinian students in Israel

and many smiling faces,

but more about Barak Obama’s speech another time.

Such an Only in Israel moment occurred 

Israeli ambassador in photo

as Israeli Ambassador Michael Oren left the speech

on his way to the State Dinner at Beit Hanasi, the President’s House.

While standing on the street corner waiting to cross, no one recognized him.

Night in Jerusalem photo

Oh, when they opened those streets that night was there traffic!

 Passover night arrived,

Table set for holiday Passover

and the family Seder was the main event for millions of people.

Israelis love to go to nature spots when there is a holiday.

Gan Sacher, Sacher Park, was almost empty

the week before Passover because of the Obama security,

Holiday clothing in Jerusalem

but on Passover it was filled with thousands of families dressed up for 

Passover in Gan SAcher

their holiday outings.  This Minnie Mouse bag seemed photo worthy.

Again a very special favorite,

ALEH photo

as last year Aleh Jerusalem crossed the Bridge of Strings,

ALeh Jerusalem on string bridge

on their annual March to raise funds and awareness for the very 

 special education they provide severely disabled children.

It was a traffic and heart stopper,

Alech releases balloons

as hundreds of green and purple balloons were released.

photo children in wheel chairs

Students, their families and dozens of young enthusiastic volunteers

brought  a woman I spoke with to tears.

Sorry that it loses much in the translation, but 

 she slowly shook her head back and forth, repeating “Really something!”

The Old City was busy and crowded.

Kotel, western wall, wailing wall photos

The crowds at the Kotel, Western Wall, were big, really huge,

Kosel on Peasch, Kossel on Passover

with the Ethiopian leaders under their colorful umbrellas

arriving at the end of Birkat Cohanim, the Priestly Blessing. 

Kosel birchas kohanim

They managed to slowly move through the crowd as they do every year.

Centuries ago when crowds came to the Temple in Jerusalem on Passover,

photo of passover food

  how did they manage without kosher for Passover pizza,

Kosher for passover food

super kosher hot French fries, known as  chips,  

Old City Jerusalem photo

and plenty of ice cream for sale like there are now? 

Passover was a great holiday time.

photo mall

People were smiling in Mamilla Mall and taking photos every day.

And then, 

Sand storm covers Knesset

 a terrible sandstorm came in the last afternoon of Passover.

This was no April Fool’s joke, that is what the Knesset looked like.

The air quality made breathing outside difficult.

Winds blew away most of the sand the next day,

and as the rest of world celebrated an eighth day of Passover.

In Israel, Passover was official over, but still a school holiday.

The Moroccan custom of Mimouna has become increasingly popular,

Jerusalem mangal, BBQi n park

so again Gan Sacher was filled with families grilling 

cooking in park image

and smoke filled the air.

Passover has passed.

Now it is time for the Mangal or BBQ season.

Since I started working on this, yesterday and today

there have been several more rockets

and new “projectiles” fired from Gaza into southern Israel.

Hamas starts firing just as children return to classrooms.

It looks as if things are heating up down there again,

 

For more ALEH photos, please click HERE.