With a week of Chol Hamoed (intermediate days) Pesach, Israelis took the opportunity to visit nature reserves and picnic with family and friends, writes Michael Kuttner…
Tourists are once again a welcome sight as they arrived to celebrate either Passover or Easter.
Ben Gurion airport resembled one big traffic jam as thousands either arrived or left in advance of the holidays.
MEDICAL NEWS
Once again Israeli researchers have developed what is hoped will be a game changer in the relentless battle against cancer.
While our detractors work tirelessly to boycott and destroy, our scientists devote all their energies in trying to save lives.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q88d4GVq9KM
PRIESTLY BLESSING
For those who were unable to physically be at the Kotel during these intermediate days of the Festival here is a video of the Birkat Hacohanim (Priestly Blessing) live from this holy site.
Warning: anyone who considers this “occupied territory” should be aware that watching this might endanger their politically correct sensibilities.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1wN928HA5hE
IT HAPPENED NOT SO LONG AGO
The Gurs transit camp was a place where French and German Jews were incarcerated prior to their transport to Auschwitz.
It was there that my paternal grandparents were taken from southern Germany and then by courtesy of the French railways taken to be murdered at Auschwitz.
Despite the horrors of the time, Jews were determined to observe the Festival of freedom and redemption.
Watch this short description of how they did so.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BUyt17C0i6Y
Michael Kuttner is a Jewish New Zealander who for many years was actively involved with various communal organisations connected to Judaism and Israel. He now lives in Israel.
[This article was originally published on J-Wire and is reproduced here with permission from Michael Kuttner.]
