Old City – Page 20 – The Real Jerusalem Streets

Jerusalem Day – 45 Years United

May 22, 2012rjstreets

The list of events that took place in Jerusalem

on Yom Yerushalayim, Jerusalem Day, is too long to print.

Thousands of people traveled by bus,

hundreds rode bikes in from Gush Eztion

and tens of thousands marched in the annual Flag Dance parade.

Jerusalem was a traffic nightmare with many sudden street closings.

A Segway was one way to get through the sidewalk traffic.

With so many lectures, tours and varied activities available now,

people tend to forget that from 1948-1967,

the Old City and the Kotel, the Western Wall, were under Jordanian rule.

Jerusalem was a small, sleepy town divided by a wall and barbed wire,

a place where some Jews could not even see their former homes.

Jordanian snipers no longer shoot down over No Man’s-Land,

now Israeli soldiers watch out from the walls of the Old City.

Distances are not so great,

and on a clear day Jordan is visible from the promenade of the Tayelet,

located in an area once mostly agricultural and under British control,

but now famous for its view of the Old City Walls.

On Yom Yerushalayim I went on a walking tour of the area.

We saw the United Nations headquarters

and a Monument of Tolerance.

How ironic that it was dedicated rather quietly,

around the time that 8 Mercaz Harav students were murdered.

To get to the center of Jerusalem,

where thousands of boys

and girls filled the streets singing and dancing,

I passed through the Liberty Bell Park.

Arab women and families who ignored PA-issued warnings

were there as usual enjoying the pleasant weather.

Tens of thousands of people filled the Jerusalem streets.

Not all were religious, not all were teens, not all had Israeli flags,

and not one fired a weapon.

While I do not condone their bad behavior,

a statistically insignificant number of trouble-makers at Damascus Gate

got the mainstream media attention.

I would like to share with you a few scenes you may not have seen.

Mamilla Mall was packed with crowds coming and going to Jaffa Gate.

Music and dancing filled the Rova, The Jewish Quarter plaza,

in front of the Hurva Synagogue, which in 1948

was completely destroyed by the Jordanians and recently rebuilt.

The Plaza near the Kotel, the Western Wall,

was full of people even before the Flag Parade arrived.

Remember

from 1948-1967

the plaza outside Jaffa Gate was not a safe place.

Families did not stroll in the Yemin Moshe neighborhood.

Walking around The Old City Walls was impossible.

Jordanian east Jerusalem was off-limits.

The sun was setting after a beautiful Jerusalem spring day.

Then the party moved to Gan Sacher, Sacher Park

where live music blared all night for a crowd of thousands,

oh…and what a Sleepless Night it was:

Jerusalem Day #45

More photos The Real Jerusalem Streets Facebook page

Yom Hazikaron in Jerusalem

April 27, 2012rjstreets

Wednesday was Yom Hazikaron, Israel’s Remembrance Day

for those killed in war and by terror attacks.

It was observed in many ways. Some do not observe it at all.

I was at two major traffic locations when the memorial sirens sounded.

At night on Derech Hevron, Hebron Road, near the walls of the Old City,

cars kept moving and a large truck tried to pass against traffic.

On the Begin Highway some drivers got out of their cars before the

11:00am siren and stood silently, but as the siren began I was very surprised

to see many cars zooming around the stopped vehicles.

I decided not to show those disappointing video scenes,

but rather to share a few more positive photos.

The official government ceremony was held at the Kotel,

the Western Wall, on Tuesday night,

where an honor guard stood by the memorial flame.

The food court of the Rova, the Jewish Quarter of the Old City was closed.

Many parts of the Old City were dark and quiet.

At The Sultan’s Pool, a huge stage was built and thousands gathered

for a musical presentation sponsored by the Jerusalem Municipality.

There were hundreds of young people,

but you could hear a pin drop during the siren and no one moved.

All over Jerusalem the next day,

fresh flowers could be found at memorial locations,

marking the memory of dear ones lost.

The Begin Highway looked like a parking lot,

as many people drove to the Har Herzl Military cemetery

to attend the official ceremony and to visit graves.

This speed sign showed that no one was driving too fast.

Red memorial flames were displayed, while Israeli flags flew at half-mast.

This year there seemed to be many more

flags than usual.

I found a flag flying on top of this phone booth…

yes, there are still are a few phone booths.

Israeli flags were displayed with pride this year.

I watched the young children at one memorial event

and thought of all the lives lost.

Are there really any Israelis who do not want peace

in the future for their children?

Shabbat shalom.

Four Ways to Celebrate Passover

April 11, 2012rjstreets

Millions of people visit nature sites in Israel over Passover.

Tens of thousands attend Birchat Kohanim, the Priestly Blessing

prayer service at the Kotel, the Western Wall, each year.

In Jerusalem’s Gan Sacher, Sacher Park,

thousands of people gather for picnic outings.

I want to share with you a special event

in Jerusalem at Aleh, a very special home and school

for children with special educational needs.

The weather was perfect

for the annual Aleh Jerusalem March as it left the school grounds.

Participating were many of the dedicated staff members and their families,

(full disclosure, my daughter-in-law is a teacher at Aleh

and we are very proud of her work)

dozens of young volunteers,

along with lots of balloons and a nurse on duty.

Streets were closed to traffic as the Aleh Jerusalem March moved

toward the new Gesher HaMeitarim, the Chord or String Bridge.

After waiting for everyone to arrive on the bridge,

hundreds of balloons were released over the city of Jerusalem.

Then everyone crossed the bridge

and the celebration continued with live music and dancing.

In a country where on chol hamoed traffic is heavy and people creep along,

this crowd was really moving.

I can share a few scenes of the tremendous care,

affection,

and attention given to the students who participated,

but for reasons of privacy I cannot share their radiant smiles.

This was an event short on publicity and politicians,

only MK Aryeh Eldar said a few words.

But it was big on love and full of holiday spirit.

A very happy Passover!

If you found an Aleh balloon…I would love to hear how far they flew.

Many more photos on The Real Jerusalem Streets Facebook page .