Going Up To Jerusalem

In ancient Israel it was traditional for the people to go up to Jerusalem for Passover, and for the holidays of Shavuot and Sukkot, each in a different season. They might also do so on special occasions as well, to crown a king or on the appointment of a new High Priest.

For us, it was the impending marriage of my grandson in Israel that moved us from where we lived thousands of miles away. We went up to Jerusalem where his family is located, my Bride and I, to celebrate the occasion. As befits the magnificence of such an event in a beautiful park-like setting, all my children from various parts of the globe, and my grandchildren as well, assembled for the occasion. Of course the new bride’s family, and mutual friends, added materially to the throng. The crowd rivalled what we see at five-star events.

As one would expect when such occasions take place, particularly in such a historic location, we encountered more than our share of mystery and magic and plenty of the unexpected. What was expected was much joy, beauty and celebration that is naturally evident when two families join together through marriage to create a blossoming new reality. What was unexpected was the happy completeness of the family gathering from all corners of the earth.

There were difficulties and some disappointment in the accomplishment of the gathering of the clan. The grandmother had a cardiac event and missed the actual marriage ceremony, but arrived in good health. Some of my children and grandchildren encountered bacteria and viruses of known and unknown origin that limited their participation in some of planned events. When one has travelled thousands of miles to bear witness to a momentous occasion, it is painful not to be able to fully share the festivities. I felt the pain with them.

We participated in a host of family events during our brief sojourn. We ascended the temple mount, traversed the Old City, left private notes of well-wishing in crannies of the Wall that testified to the presence of our ancient Temple, destroyed more than 2000 years ago.We shopped in the fabled central market. The unique Jerusalem stone, almost pink in color, everywhere displayed, evoked memories of my earlier visits. As  in a ritual, I bought the Jerusalem Post every day to get the news. Speaking Hebrew was rusty as we tested our memories and knowledge of the language. We reveled in the Sabbath in the Holy Land. It was fun shopping for groceries to consume together on our shaded terrace. Having a latte in the Jerusalem sun in the early morning reminded us we were in the Judean desert. I danced like a Dervish at the wedding.

What was evident before our eyes, as we traveled through the city and the country, was the incredible energy of development on every side. The State which began with a population of 600 thousand Jews in 1948, is now almost 7 million, almost half the world’s total, with a total population approaching 10 million. In spite of controversy and continuing efforts by outside forces to thwart its development, this country of tiny size, Israel, has become an important actor on the international stage in a number of important areas.

Where once its principal export was Jaffa oranges, countries are now lining up to buy Israel’s energy products, defensive weaponry, the latest in medical and agricultural technological advances created in this country. The US invests billions each year to access the products of Israel’s high-tech sector. Israel is the third-most important contributor of new issues on the NASDAQ each year.

For me, the thrill of participating in this venture over the years was crowned by the way my family is flourishing in this new old land. The chance to hold and commune with my five-month old great-granddaughter compounded the thrill of going up to Jerusalem again. The emotional rewards from this trip down memory lane were a highlight of our trip.

Like an exploding volcano, the flood of emotions sweeps away all other considerations. The past and the future collide in the mind. How we got here from the past illustrates how the present was made possible. From my youth I associated myself with the rebirth of Israel. My family has imbibed something from the spring associated with that flowering. A sibling and a child set down living roots in that parched soil, adding more of the stuff of life to our connection. The events of this recent time have their origins in the power of the dream that has had its realization in the rebirth of ancient Israel as a sovereign state.. We have gone up to Jerusalem to see again the realization of our dreams, to witness the strides being made into the future, and my family’s part in it.