THROUGH THE LAND OF ISRAEL III: December 2009

Sunday, December 27, 2009

MERRY CHRISTMAS 2009 FROM BETHLEHEM.

Christmas and if you are in Israel, where else you can celebrate other than in Bethlehem. We spent the whole night in the Nativity Church of Bethlehem during this Christmas eve. Though we couldn't attend the Latin Mass; after 2 am the church was opened for the non-ticket holders and we were lucky enough to be there till 6 am. I have uploaded three short movies made inside the grotto/cave of Bethlehem where Jesus was born. Since I am way behind uploading photographs, give me more time to come with the X-Mas 2009 snaps from Bethlehem. Till then do enjoy the videos. The links are as follow:

1). http://www.youtube.com/user/lajupaulk3#p/a/u/1/9kEv9r7XvG0

2). http://www.youtube.com/user/lajupaulk3#p/a/u/0/Nh5R_pvQNs4

3). http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cdqIT9GjWRQ

BEN-GURION MEMORIAL DAY CELEBRATIONS: BEN-GURION'S TOMB-SEDE BOKER. 23rd NOVEMBER, 2009.

David Ben-Gurion (1886-1973) is the Founding Father and the First Prime Minister and First Defense Minister of the Modern State of Israel (1948-1953 & 1955-1963). Every year, the 6th day of the Jewish month Kislev (N0v-Dec; the Hebrew date of his death ) is celebrated as Ben-Gurion Memorial Day. The day is celebrated in Sede Boker near the t0mb of Ben-Gurion with an official ceremony attended by all the high ranked political figures in Israel including the President, Prime Minister, Defense Minister and Chief of General Staff of Israel Defense Forces (IDF). For me its the second time to be part of the 'Ben-Gurion Memorial Day 'celebrations in Sede Boker. As all the big names of Israeli politics assemble in the gathering, one can expect the extremely high level of unprecedented security measures adopted. Find a few photographs taken from the function.

From the Ben-Gurion Memorial Day Celebrations:Ben-Gurion's Tomb, Sede Boker.

1P: Nothing special: just a snap of a climber near my apartment.

2P: A typical view from the Sede Boker Campus.

3P: Look for the baloon installed just above the venue of Ben-Gurion Memorial Day celebrations.

4P: I have been told that the baloon supposedely have devices to get a bird's eye view of the whole area. Yes you have guessed it right. It is a step for strengthening the overall security, as all the big shots of Israeli politics arrive at this day to Sede Boker.