Jerusalem Day Flags, Favorite Photos

Of all the gazillion photos I've ever taken some of my all-time favorites are photos of Israel flags. One of the photos was used by Sarah who used to have a blog and did my blog banners.

Here's the photo on its own. Of course it's untouched.

It was cropped for the banner and originally posted in Shiloh Musings in the article Now for the Third Time, which tells of the third annual march to Jerusalem in memory of Avihu Keinan of Shiloh who was killed by Arabs in a very poorly planned army operation.

I have another favorite flag photo from that march.

I really can't say that they are better than the photos from yesterday, Jerusalem Day, but for me the excitement of those marches can still be felt when I look at the pictures.

There's something very kinesthetic, alive you can see in flags as they wave, furl and unfurl uncontrollably in the breeze or from the movements of whomever is holding it. Here are a few photos I managed to shoot yesterday in Jerusalem on Ben Yehuda Street, Jerusalem Day 5774.

Too Slow!

This computer is much too slow, especially once the avg virus check kicks in, like now, or when I have youtube or iba tv or radio on. So, as soon as I finish planning my Start Fresh kosher diet meals for today, I'm switching to the too heavy to schlepp laptop, even though the keyboard isn't at all comfortable to use. That's also where I upload videos, and here's the latest.




It was taken the last night of Chanukah, here in Shiloh. Moshe and Chana Keinan invited us to the Avihu Memorial Park for candle lighting. Their son, Avihu, was killed in a badly planned army action in Gaza a few years ago.

To Be Free in Eretz Yisrael

I remember when we were first looking for a yishuv to move to. We visited a few and I was repulsed/repelled by the sight of the barbed-wire fences surrounding small communities of tiny prefabricated homes. There was no way I could live in such jail-like restricted conditions. One of the things that attracted me to Shiloh was its lack of a fence.

Fence in the criminals, the terrorists, not innocent Jewish citizens.

There was a time when Jews wandered freely on the roads, paths and villages in Judea and Samaria. Now it's rare, and that's one of the great thrills of our annual Od Avihu March from Shiloh to Jerusalem. At least we walk freely on the roads. Yes, there's "security" at the beginning and end, and some of the route is by bus, but we're on our feet on our Holy Land.

Here are some pictures of the most recent one, Succot, September 30, 2007.

Join the March to Jerusalem!

Aliyah l'Regel

The Great Succot Pilgrimage to Jerusalem

The Avihu Chai

March to Jerusalem

From Shiloh

You can meet us

on the way

or in Jerusalem!

Sunday of Succot

September 30, 2007

Avihu Keinan, of Shiloh, was killed in a badly planned army action. He was one of Israel's top combat soldiers, but he wasn't even given a chance to defend himself. Due to the perverse morality imposed on the army, the soldiers were forced to endanger themselves unnecessarily, to prevent any possible harm to Arabs. Because of that, Avihu was killed, just before Rosh Hashannah, four years ago.

Upon hearing the terrible news, they type of news every parent dreads, Avihu's father Moshe pledged to march to Jerusalem and confront the President of the State of Israel.

So that Succot, two and a half weeks after Avihu was killed, we, neighbors, men, women, teens and toddlers in strollers, joined Moshe. We marched to Jerusalem. We marched, unprotected, where many fear to travel, even in bullet-proof vehicles.

A Succah was set up across from the President's Residence, and Jews from all over the world, including other bereaved parents and rabbis and politicians came to see him. He was also invited to meet with the President.

Every Succot since then, we have been marching from Shiloh to Jerusalem. People from all over join us. You can, too.

In total honesty, I must say that it is an amazing feeling to be back on the roads in Eretz Yisrael, hiking as free men. This is our Land. We can only possess it by walking it.

For more information about the exact route and program call the office, 02-940-1111 or Orit, 0545-649-140 and 0525-666-687 or Natan 0524-317-333.