Our World Tuesday, Dutch Traditions, Queen's Day

Today the Queen celebrates her birthday, although her real birthday is on 31st January. She had chosen this day, because it was her mother's birthday and 31st January is not a day fit for outdoor activities. Queen Beatrix always visits two towns on Queen's Day. Today was a very special day, as the Royal Family was not complete. The Queen's second son is in a hospital in London due to the serious ski accident he was involved in at the beginning of this year.
She is an admirable lady, for she joined the festivities as ever and spoke with many people. In the end she thanked everybody saying that she was grateful for the day, but that it was sad that some members of her family couldn't be here.
Here in my village we had a market, but I stayed at home watching the TV. I had a friend visiting. She brought delicious cakes with orange coloured icing on top, so we had a nice cup of coffee.

Welcome to Our World Tuesday! This meme continues in memory of the work of Klaus Peter, whose "that's My World" brought people together from around the world every Monday to share the wonders therein--big and small.Please click on our new logo for "Our World Tuesday" in the sidebar.

Sorry for the poor quality of the photos

Monday Doorways, Israel, Old City

In one of the narrow alleys we saw that this door was open. A sign told us, however, that there was no entry on top of the stairs, because it was private. What does an open door mean to you? For me it is like an invitation to come in and have a chat, or even better to have a cup of coffee.


Inspired by a post by Eric Tenin of a Parisian doorway, «Louis» began posting on Mondays photos he had taken of doorways in Paris.To participate click on
Monday Doorways.

Sky Watch, Israel,

I added this song of Pete Seeger which was sung today by a great Norwegian crowd in front of the court of law where the lawsuit against Anders Breivik is going on, as a protest to his ideas.Anders Breivik hates this song. He says that children are brainwashed with it.

En himmel full av stjerner.
Blått hav så langt du ser.
En jord der blomster gror.
Kan du ønske mer ?
Sammen skal vi leve
hver søster og hver bror.
Små barn av regnbuen
og en frodig jord.

One blue sky above us
One ocean lapping all our shore
One earth so green and round
Who could ask for more
And because I love you
I'll give it one more try
To show my rainbow race
It's too soon to die.


Sky Watch is hosted each week by the Sky Watch team of Sandy,and Sylvia. And this week as every week, we remember Klaus and know that he joins us in spirit! .
It's always a pleasure to participate, and see all the other skies around the world. If you want to see other skies please click on the logo in the side bar.

One day we walked in a woody area outside Jerusalem. It is a beautiful, hilly place. In the distance we could see Hadassah Medical Center high on the hills.Then a little bit further we had a good view of Jerusalem. The sky was clouded with here and there some blue, but we had no rain.

To see more details you can click on the photos!

ABC Wednesday, O for Old City in Jerusalem

There are eight gates giving access to the Old City. Seven of them are open to people and even cars. The eighth is called the Golden Gate and is sealed. It will only open on Judgement Day.
It was wonderful to walk in those narrow winding streets and seeing them full of life like 2000 years ago.

The Old City is probably the most interesting part of Jerusalem and the most important site in Israel.
The walls around the Old City are over 400 years old.The Turkish ruler Suleiman The Magnificent was responsible for most of what remains today of the walls, which were constructed during 1538 and 1541. Other parts date back to the Crusaders and even further back to King Herod. The walls represent layer upon layer of history.

With thanks to Denise Nesbitt, who created ABC. For more interesting ABC posts click on the logo in the sidebar or Here. This week we are looking for words beginning with O.

Weekend Reflections, Sky Watch, Israel

We made a trip with our group to visit a birds sanctuary at Agamon Hula. It was raining. We were sitting in a kind of railway wagon drawn by a very big tractor. The benches were placed lengthwise. We saw a large number of cranes, which visit this area every year. The rain, the cranes and the water made a wonderful reflection.

 Sky Watch is hosted each week by the Sky Watch team of Sandy,and Sylvia. And this week as every week, we remember Klaus and know that he joins us in spirit! .
It's always a pleasure to participate, and see all the other skies around the world. If you want to see other skies please click on the logo in the side bar.

 Weekend Reflections was started on 27 September 2009, by  James. You can join this meme at some time during the weekend. Just post your photo and go to  James to tell him that you are on, or click on the logo in the sidebar.This meme is created for any type of reflection.

ABC Wednesday, N for Naphtali

NAPHTALI

Second son of Jacob and Bilhah, Rachel's handmaid, and younger full brother of Dan. According to Gen. xxx. 8, the name means "my wrestling," and has reference to the jealous rivalry of the sisters Rachel and Leah.  In the Blessing of Jacob  the passage which concerns Naphtali has reference to the qualities of the tribe, rather than to those of the individual. "Naphtali is a hind let loose: he giveth goodly words"; i.e., "He is alert, nimble, free-spirited, and has poetical or oratorical gifts" (Driver, Commentary on Genesis, ad loc.).Naphtali was a swift runner and came first to Jacob with the good news that Joseph was alive.


 With thanks to Denise Nesbitt, who created ABC.For more interesting ABC posts click on the logo in the sidebar or  Here. This week we are looking for words beginning with N.

This is one of the twelve windows created by Marc Chagall in the Hadassah synagogue.

Monday Doorways, Israel

 Inspired by a post by Eric Tenin of a Parisian doorway, «Louis» began posting on Mondays photos he had taken of doorways in Paris.To participate click on
Monday Doorways.

The doorway of this Monday is the entrance door of the Jerusalem Great Synagogue. The windows of this synagogue are also worth seeing.

The style of the building was modeled on the Jewish Temple which once stood in Jerusalem. The inauguration took place on Tu B'Av  1982. Naftali Hershtik was appointed the chief cantor of the synagogue, a position he held up to 31 December 2008 succeeded by Haim Adler.

The sanctuary seats 850 men and 550 women.

A comprehensive private collection of mezuzah cases is on show inside the lobby. See post of last week's ABC.

The outside of the doorway of the Great Synagogue. 

The inside of the same doorway.

Sky Watch, Israel,

So Tzeitel, Tevye's eldest daughter, does not marry Leiser Wolf, the butcher who is much older. She marries the young Mottel. See post of  3rd April about Fiddler on the Roof.


(Father Tevye)
Is this the little girl I carried,
Is this the little boy at play?

(Mother Golde)
I don't remember growing older,
When did they?

(Tevye)
When did she get to be a beauty,
When did he grow to be so tall?

(Golde)
Wasn't it yesterday when they were small?

(men)
Sunrise, sunset (x2),
Swiftly flow the days.

(women)
Seedlings turn overnight to sunflowers,
Blossoming even as we gaze.

(everyone)
Sunrise, sunset (x2),
Swiftly fly the years,
One season following another,

Laiden with happiness and tears.

(Tevye)
What words of wisdom can I give them,
How can I help to ease their way?

(Golde)
Now they must learn from one another,
Day by day.


(everyone)
Sunrise, sunset (x2),
Swiftly fly the years,
One season following another,
Laiden with happiness,
And

 Sky Watch is hosted each week by the Sky Watch team of Sandy, Wren and Sylvia. And this week as every week, we remember Klaus and know that he joins us in spirit! .
It's always a pleasure to participate, and see all the other skies around the world. If you want to see other skies please click on the logo in the side bar. 

ABC Wednesday, M for Mezuzah

The Jerusalem Great Synagogue

With thanks to Denise Nesbitt, who created ABC.For more interesting ABC posts click on the logo in the sidebar . This week we are looking for words beginning with M.


In the Jerusalem Great Synagogue we saw several showcases displaying all kind of mezuzot. We saw the most beautifully decorated ones fit for the doorposts of palaces.
Wikipedia says:"A mezuzah (Hebrew: מְזוּזָה‎ "doorpost"; plural: מְזוּזוֹת mezuzot) is a piece of parchment (often contained in a decorative case) inscribed with specified Hebrew verses from the Torah (Deuteronomy 6:4-9 and 11:13-21). These verses comprise the Jewish prayer "Shema Yisrael", beginning with the phrase: "Hear, O Israel, the LORD our God, the LORD is One"

A mezuzah is affixed to the doorframe in Jewish homes to fulfill the mitzvah (Biblical commandment) to inscribe the words of the Shema "on the doorposts of your house" (Deuteronomy 6:9). The parchment is prepared by a qualified scribe (a "sofer stam") who has undergone many years of meticulous training, and the verses are written in black indelible ink with a special quill pen. The parchment is then rolled up and placed inside the case."
The last one is mine!! But it has no parchment.

Happy Easter

     
    Happy and blessed Easter with love and warmth to all of you!