A rare spring in Israel.
The year is 2020, January is a highlight since many consider this a crossover into the new year for the Solar Calendar, which most if not all nations all over the earth follow, all is well and there is little premonition of what lies ahead in a few weeks to come, the corona virus epidemic is about to blow up globally and cause unprecedented loss and shake ups in Israel’s Spring activities among them millions of pilgrims who patronize the Holy Land for the Spring Feasts.
Covid – 19 outbreak effect in international travel
February in Israel, winter is fading away and spring is slowly but surely manifesting and this is a time even in the nations many are preparing to visit Israel for the Spring feasts ie:
- Passover
- Shavuot
Including the Christian celebrations of Easter (Passover) and Pentecost (Shavuot), in Kenya as Erez Africa we were in the middle of preparing tens of pilgrims from different churches who were travelling to the Holy Land for the feasts, professional purposes, medical reasons and education. Then came in the big interruption, Covid – 19 virus outbreak which was largely connected to air travel, the virus originally spreading from China. Israel like may nations was forced to close down her boarders to commercial flights.
According to Central Bureau Statistics in comparison to 2019 Israel saw a 99.6% in arrivals and departures as most fights are local operated by the local carrier Isaair.
The outcome billions of dollars lost in travel, tons of inconveniences and unforeseen future for all intending to travel to Israel. We can only pray that God will restore all that has been lost and bring increase to supplement, as of today 30th May 2020 Israel is planning on resuming commercial flying with nations that have a low and contained count in Covid – 19 cases starting 1st July 2020.
In Israel schools reopened in May only for about 130 schools and kindergartens to be shut as a resurgence in the virus cases spiked with a lot of public activity now resumed in all the major cities in Israel. This also led to the delay in the resumption of public rail services which was to be resumed on Monday 8th June 2020. Railway services in Israel were shut in March 2020 to help curb the virus.
In other news Russian Chief Rabbi has been diagnosed with Covid-19 with mild symptoms. However, it is to be noted that as of June most of foreign students in Israel are back for their studies.
Mashav Trainings
Every year there are hundreds of Africans trooping to Israel for developmental studies in various fields eg.
Public health
Agriculture
Education
Entrepreneurship and innovation
Water technology
We organize for numerous business and government delegations to Israel who will help grow Israel – Africa relations through Mashav, the agency responsible for international development cooperation with nations all over the world. This year throughout spring there has been no travel as such somewhat stalled plans in growing relations through the trainings offered by Mashav.
Rwandair the national carried for the East African nation, Rwanda launched her direct flights to Tel Aviv in July 2019 and we had barely enjoyed the service, however we are positive in due time things will shift and we will have the schedule flights back and hopefully more airlines from East Africa now flying direct to Tel Aviv.
Independence day Celebrations
The month of March, April and May beyond hosting Passover/Easter/Purim/Shavuot/Pentecost have always been the months when Israel remembers her soldiers who have died in the line of duty and all victims of terrorism a day before the official independence day celebration.
The national remembrance day is known as Yom HaZikaron and independence day is known as Yom Ha'atzmaut both are very important days in Israel and in the diaspora. This year though the celebrations were different, in the year 2017 I was in Jerusalem in Spring and the independence day celebration which began on the eve of the day was a serious fanfare with crowds of over 30,000 in the streets attending various concerts put up in the city with community fireworks, parties and barbecues. This year was rather quiet with most in their homes and a short ceremony attended by few on Mt. Hertzl.
In the diaspora, East Africa, Nairobi hosts the Israeli embassy which serves Uganda, Tanzania, Seychelles and Malawi. The numerous celebrations that incorporate multi culture and the locals are always looking forward to great Israeli music and cuisine were just but a memory, this year Nairobi Embassy office held a virtual celebration through the internet, we are looking forward to next year’s celebration, we hope for better and favourable times.
We all hope against hope for a better Spring in the coming years.
Njeri Yvonne, Erez Africa.
