Yom HaZikaron: National Day to Remember

Many small towns around Israel hold a community tekes, ceremony,

making it is easy to decide where to go on Yom Hazikaron,

the Remembrance Day for Israeli Fallen Soldiers and Victims of Terror.

One of the most impressive ceremonies I attended was in Arad,

in 2001, during the intifada.

Unlike the US Memorial Day weekend,

Dark street Israel

this day is not one of great shopping and happy start to the summer.

Israeli flag photo

Israeli flags, large and small, start to appear soon after Passover.

In Jerusalem, Israel, there are dozens,

perhaps hundreds of memorial events held on Yom HaZikaron.

Last year  I went to the main military tekes at the Kotel, Western Wall

Kosel remembrance flame, Wailing wall photo

where the huge flame was lit and watched over by a military honor guard.

Every year thousands attend and watch on TV.

Peres car at night

Here was President Peres’s motorcade on Jaffa Street

on his way to speak at this year’s tekes.

Yad Le Banim covered for security

Prime Minister Netanyahu spoke at a service at Yad LeBanim, 

so the site was covered over for security for days in advance. 

Israeli building with flags pciture

The Jewish Agency Building stage was ready for a morning program.

Flame for Yom hazikaron

Large memorial flames could be found in and on buildings,

Israel flag photo

as were signs publizing some community events.

Memorial for yom hazikaron

This Israeli flag, memorial candle and talit were the simple,

but meaningful display in the lobby of Heichel Shlomo.

So many choices;

but I wanted to see what was happening in Gan Sacher.

Night Yom Hazikaron Gan Sacher

Nothing.  

Other than an occasional jogger, the park was deserted.

While down the road, as usual,

Yom Hazikaron ceremony

hundreds attended the well planned program prepared by the Scouts.

Speakers slowly read the names of local fallen and the dates they fell.

25,578 people have been killed here since 1860.

92 lives were lost last year.

Everyone knows someone to mourn.

Israel at 65 sign

Yizkor, remember,

so many wars, so many more terror attacks,

but as soon as the sun sets,

it will be time to celebrate Yom Haatzmaut,

Israel at 65.

Am Yisrael Chai

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.

Jerusalem Happy for Holiday of Spring

I really wish there was more time this week.

Funny, I say that every year the week before Passover.

However, spending hours doing photos of President Barak Obama

Obama photo in jerusalem

did not help me get ready for the holiday.

So instead of doing a masterful and timely blog

on THE presidential speech from Jerusalem, Israel. 

 I will share one photo that sums up the week for most people:

poster for Passover

US flags waving, people walking, and roses blooming.

Passover in Jerusalem

Happy Holiday of spring from Jerusalem!