Judy Lash Balint Posted: April 13, 2000 *************** Allow me to compare..... Pesach in chutz l'aretz (outside Israel): Mad cleaning, shopping, prepare for and sit down to two seders. Explain to the boss that you need two days off for another Jewish holiday. Sit and observe two days of yomtov while the rest of the world goes about its business as usual. Return to work during chol hamoed (intermediate days), with a briefcase full of crumbly matzah sandwiches and hard boiled eggs. Get ready for the last days of yom tov--two more days of shul and food. Pesach in Israel: Mad cleaning, shopping, prepare and sit down to one seder and one day of yomtov. During chol hamoed (intermediate days) : Go up to the Western Wall. Join the rest of the country in a seven day vacation from work and study. Make plans for major tiyulim (trips) with family and friends. Enjoy the sunshine. Make a pilgrimage to the graves of our forefathers. Ma'arat Hamachpela in Hevron, for example --stand and pray inside the main hall which is only open to Jews nine days a year. Or sit outside in front of the ancient structure together with about 25,000 other Jews, listening to a great concert of the best Israeli entertainers and rousing speeches from Israel's spiritual and political leadership. Return to Yerushalayim and join the tourists having coffee at night on the balcony of the Jerusalem Hilton which looks out on the magnificent panorama of the walls of the Old City. With the full moon and 75 degree temperatures, the Old city lit up is like a dream....which it was for more than 2,000 years! Wake up and trek over to the kotel just in time for Birkat Kohanim (the blessing of the priests) when thousands of Jews receive the blessing of peace from hundreds of Kohanim. Watch the grand entry of about 15 kessim, leaders of Ethiopian Jewry, together with their entourage shielding them from the sun with brightly colored umbrellas. Look on as the group, draped in white robes and holding their special canes, advances slowly toward the kotel, the crowds parting in front of them. Witness the sudden appearance of Shabak (secret police) agents as Kahane Chai militants argue with ultra- Orthodox Jews over the appropriateness of efforts of the Temple Faithful group to ascend the Temple Mount. Take a nap in the noonday heat to be ready to spend the evening at a Shlomo Carlebach celebration at his moshav of Mevo Modiin. Sing and dance to some great bands under the moon and stars at Mevo Modiin until past midnight. In the Diaspora, Pesach is observed...in Israel it's Celebrated . **************** Judy Lash Balint writes from Jerusalem.