What are Feeds?
Jerusalem welcomes thousands for Passion Week despite high security alert
April 15, 2006
As Israel remains on a high security alert, thousands of tourists gather in the city of Jerusalem to celebrate the holidays. Jewish travelers arrive to celebrate Passover with friends and family, and Christian pilgrims come to celebrate the Passion Week of Jesus Christ. The Ministry of Tourism estimates 90,000 tourists will arrive in Jerusalem this week alone, an increase of 20% over last year.
Israel is a country which remains at a constant level of high security. In the past few weeks that level has been elevated to Level C, the second highest level in Israel's ranking of security. Several events have transpired in the past six weeks that have consistently raised security here in Jerusalem. Hamas won a landslide victory in East Jerusalem and in the Gaza Strip raising the already heightened security. Israeli elections were held propelling the Kadima party back into power and now Israel is attempting to form a new government coalition. Hamas claims Israel is declaring war by closing a joint security coordination office in Jericho, just outside of Jerusalem. And in the past week over 70 confirmed warnings of intended terror attacks planned against Israel have been reported by the Israeli Defense Forces. All of these factors and many more have prompted the military to be on an extremely high level of alert during the holidays.
Despite the tensions surrounding the state of Israel and the city of Jerusalem in particular, thousands of tourists are still streaming into the city. Passover celebrations are well underway and will continue until the 19th of April. Judaism celebrates seven days for the feast of unleavened bread beginning on the 14th day of Aviv (this year that falls on the 12th of April). The first evening is known as Passover. Jewish people all over the world celebrate the Exodus out of Egyptian slavery and the "passing over" of the death angel upon sight of the blood of a slain lamb on the doorposts some 4,000 years ago. During Passover celebrations the Jewish family will usually say "Next year in Jerusalem," indicating their desire to be in Jerusalem for the next Passover. Many Jewish people travel to Jerusalem each year to celebrate the Passover with friends and family.
As residents of Jerusalem, my family has witnessed many Passover traditions observed by the Jewish community. Most Israelis are off of work and school for the week of the feast and we spent much of our day on Friday in the largest city park in Jerusalem with thousands of vacationers.
No leaven is allowed in a Jewish home during the seven days of the feast, and on the eve of Passover we saw several families thoroughly cleaning their houses and ceremonially burning the last bits of leaven found in their homes. Israeli stores will close off many isles in the supermarket which contain items that are not to be eaten during the feast. Today when my wife and I went to do our weekly shopping we were unable to buy bread, which we expected, but we were also unable to purchase ketchup, soy sauce, tomato sauce, oatmeal, and many other things, which we were not expecting. McDonalds even serves a Kosher bun during the week of the Feast of Unleavened Bread.
Even though there are many dietary restrictions, Jewish families seem to have a great time of celebration and the atmosphere is very festive. Our neighbors last night were up well past midnight heartily enjoying a Passover Seder. As they say in Israel "Hacsamaya," which means "Have a great holiday."
This year is unique because Passover and Passion Week occur simultaneously. Not only are Jewish travelers arriving in Jerusalem, but also thousands of Christian pilgrims are streaming in to celebrate the week in which Jesus died and rose again from the dead, right here in Jerusalem. Today thousands of Christians jammed the old city to witness the reenactment of Jesus bearing his cross down the Via Delarosa. Sunday morning there will be literally tens of thousands packed into the courtyard of the Garden Tomb to observe a sunrise service celebrating the greatest event in history, the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. There are so many tourists that attend the Sunday morning service, that this year there will be two identical services held at the Garden Tomb, one at 6:30 and one at 9:30. There are also many other Christian celebrations happening around the city of Jerusalem this week and each one of them will be well attended by Christian tourists.
Whether you practice Judaism or Christianity, this week in Jerusalem is a must see event. Religious fervor is evident in every community and the atmosphere is electrifying. There are no Easter bunnies or painted eggs, but there are many who look for a deliverer and there is an empty tomb in Jerusalem. "Next year in Jerusalem."
Israel is a country which remains at a constant level of high security. In the past few weeks that level has been elevated to Level C, the second highest level in Israel's ranking of security. Several events have transpired in the past six weeks that have consistently raised security here in Jerusalem. Hamas won a landslide victory in East Jerusalem and in the Gaza Strip raising the already heightened security. Israeli elections were held propelling the Kadima party back into power and now Israel is attempting to form a new government coalition. Hamas claims Israel is declaring war by closing a joint security coordination office in Jericho, just outside of Jerusalem. And in the past week over 70 confirmed warnings of intended terror attacks planned against Israel have been reported by the Israeli Defense Forces. All of these factors and many more have prompted the military to be on an extremely high level of alert during the holidays.
Despite the tensions surrounding the state of Israel and the city of Jerusalem in particular, thousands of tourists are still streaming into the city. Passover celebrations are well underway and will continue until the 19th of April. Judaism celebrates seven days for the feast of unleavened bread beginning on the 14th day of Aviv (this year that falls on the 12th of April). The first evening is known as Passover. Jewish people all over the world celebrate the Exodus out of Egyptian slavery and the "passing over" of the death angel upon sight of the blood of a slain lamb on the doorposts some 4,000 years ago. During Passover celebrations the Jewish family will usually say "Next year in Jerusalem," indicating their desire to be in Jerusalem for the next Passover. Many Jewish people travel to Jerusalem each year to celebrate the Passover with friends and family.
As residents of Jerusalem, my family has witnessed many Passover traditions observed by the Jewish community. Most Israelis are off of work and school for the week of the feast and we spent much of our day on Friday in the largest city park in Jerusalem with thousands of vacationers.
No leaven is allowed in a Jewish home during the seven days of the feast, and on the eve of Passover we saw several families thoroughly cleaning their houses and ceremonially burning the last bits of leaven found in their homes. Israeli stores will close off many isles in the supermarket which contain items that are not to be eaten during the feast. Today when my wife and I went to do our weekly shopping we were unable to buy bread, which we expected, but we were also unable to purchase ketchup, soy sauce, tomato sauce, oatmeal, and many other things, which we were not expecting. McDonalds even serves a Kosher bun during the week of the Feast of Unleavened Bread.
Even though there are many dietary restrictions, Jewish families seem to have a great time of celebration and the atmosphere is very festive. Our neighbors last night were up well past midnight heartily enjoying a Passover Seder. As they say in Israel "Hacsamaya," which means "Have a great holiday."
This year is unique because Passover and Passion Week occur simultaneously. Not only are Jewish travelers arriving in Jerusalem, but also thousands of Christian pilgrims are streaming in to celebrate the week in which Jesus died and rose again from the dead, right here in Jerusalem. Today thousands of Christians jammed the old city to witness the reenactment of Jesus bearing his cross down the Via Delarosa. Sunday morning there will be literally tens of thousands packed into the courtyard of the Garden Tomb to observe a sunrise service celebrating the greatest event in history, the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. There are so many tourists that attend the Sunday morning service, that this year there will be two identical services held at the Garden Tomb, one at 6:30 and one at 9:30. There are also many other Christian celebrations happening around the city of Jerusalem this week and each one of them will be well attended by Christian tourists.
Whether you practice Judaism or Christianity, this week in Jerusalem is a must see event. Religious fervor is evident in every community and the atmosphere is electrifying. There are no Easter bunnies or painted eggs, but there are many who look for a deliverer and there is an empty tomb in Jerusalem. "Next year in Jerusalem."
