2m. hit KKL-JNF sites on Passover

City Notes: Migdal Ha’emek man throws mom’s cat from third floor – twice; Musicians entertain patients at Tel Hashomer hospital; Jordanian singer cancels Jaffa concert following death threats.

By TAMARA ZIEVE
A KKL-JNF sign near Jerusalem 521 (photo credit: Ariel Jerozolimski)
A KKL-JNF sign near Jerusalem 521
(photo credit: Ariel Jerozolimski)
NORTH
Over two million Israelis flooded Keren Kayemeth Le’Israel-Jewish National Fund forests and sites over Passover – the largest number of visitors to KKL-JNF’s sites ever, according to the organization’s chairman, Efi Stenzler.
Visitors were allowed free admission to the sites every day of the holiday.
“We do not remember such a happy and active Passover,” Stenzler enthused, explaining that many Israelis had seemingly chosen to take advantage of the free entry to nature reserves rather than go abroad or spend their free time at hotels. Nature lovers made the most of the pleasant weather to go hiking, biking and picnicking. The North was the most popular area of the country over the holiday.
There was a 10- to 15-percent rise in the number of visitors recorded this year, matching last year’s increase.
For the most part – though there were exceptions – day-trippers took care to keep their surroundings clean and green. KKL-JNF also upped the frequency of cleaning services throughout Passover, and distributed garbage bags at all of its sites. The organization noted that the amount of waste was greater than in previous years, as the intermediate days stretched across all days of the week and thereby attracted more day-trippers, including from the religious community.
Youth drowns in Gan Hashlosha natural pool
A 17-year-old boy drowned in the Gan Hashlosha natural pool during Passover.
Paramedics from the United Hatzalah rescue service in Gilboa performed CPR on the boy and transported him to the hospital, where doctors pronounced him dead.
Man shot dead in Galilee
A man in his 40s was shot in his car and pronounced dead in the ambulance on the way to the hospital in Nahariya on Monday. The victim, who was shot in the torso, was found near the Galilee town of Beit Jann.
Karmiel Police were investigating the possibility that the man had been murdered.
Five-year-old critically injured after falling off roof
A five-year-old boy who climbed onto the roof of his home in Tiberias last weekend fell off and hit his head, according to police. Police said the roof was made of Perspex, a lightweight material.
The boy was critically hurt and was transported by helicopter to Rambam Medical Center in Haifa.
Migdal Ha’emek man throws mom’s cat from third floor – twice
During an argument with his mother, a resident of Migdal Ha’emek threw her cat out the window of her third-floor apartment last week, the Local website reported. When he saw that his mother’s feline friend had survived the fall, he retrieved it from the ground, went back up to the apartment and lobbed it out the window again, according to the report.
The 23-year-old suspect also allegedly attacked his mother and caused damage to her home. The mother alerted the police, who came to the scene, arrested the man and took the cat – which was still alive – for medical treatment.
CENTER
Musicians entertain patients at Tel Hashomer hospital
Dozens of musicians were set to perform in various wards of the Sheba Medical Center in Tel Hashomer this past Thursday.
Some 20 groups were scheduled to play a rich array of musical pieces for patients and their families, medical staff and visitors at the Sheba Cancer Treatment and Research Centers, the Sheba Heart Center, the Edmond and Lily Safra Children’s Hospital, the Geriatric Division and the Shai-Lev Hotel.
Organizing the event, called “Sheba Musical Day,” was the Chamber Music Network (ACMP), a non-profit association that facilitates informal playing and singing by people of all ages and nationalities, regardless of professional level, in collaboration with hospital management. The event was part of a global day of musical performances organized by ACMP.
“We have many classical groups, but also a band playing Latino music, a group that plays Israeli music, a jazz band and more,” said Joel Epstein, one of the organizers. “The musicians themselves come from all sorts of backgrounds: professional musicians, students and amateurs; lawyers, scientists, landscape architects and so on.”
ACMP encourages performances of chamber music through special projects and grants for workshops and institutes. The association publishes a list of some 10,000 musicians across the world and enables them to travel to different areas to connect with other musicians and perform together. All the musicians playing at the global musical day do so voluntarily.
Or Yehuda party-goers arrested for attacking police
Three Or Yehuda residents were arrested on Sunday afternoon on suspicion of attacking and lightly wounding four policemen while the latter were attempting an arrest in connection with a noisy house party in the city.
Patrol officers had come to the house and issued a report, but after they left, they received another complaint regarding the noise. When the police returned to the party, party-goers allegedly attacked them.
The police did not require medical attention. The suspects were taken for questioning.
NGO helps Alzheimer’s patients enjoy museums from home
The Alzheimer’s Association of Israel, EMDA, announced last week the launch of an an innovative aid kit that enabled people suffering from Alzheimer’s and dementia to enjoy Passover outings from the comfort of their own homes. The kit, called “In an Armchair with Picasso,” takes its users on a virtual tour of museums around the world via computer, making it possible for patients to relive memories and feelings, and helping preserve their ability to think, communicate and express themselves emotionally.
There are some 100,000 people in the country who suffer from Alzheimer’s, according to the organization. EMDA, founded in 1988, has hundreds of volunteers working in 55 branches nationwide, and aims to provide Alzheimer’s patients and their families with the best possible quality of life.
Jordanian singer cancels Jaffa concert following death threats
Jordanian star Basel Khoury canceled his participation in a concert featuring both Jewish and Arab musicians after receiving death threats from Palestinian organizations over his intended performance in Israel, Israel Radio reported Monday.
The event – scheduled to take place on the seventh night of Passover at the Jaffa Port under the banner of coexistence and tolerance – was to be broadcast on radio 88-FM and Israel Radio Arabic.
Herzliya: Police arrest man who allegedly attacked 76-year-old
Police arrested a man in his 20s accused of striking and injuring a 76-year-old man during an argument between the two over the use of a public park in Herzliya.
The victim allegedly complained to the suspect and an acquaintance who was with him that their dog was unleashed in the park, and he requested that they remove the animal.
The argument eventually became physical, and the victim and suspect began fighting each other. During the clash, the suspect hit the victim, wounding him in his leg.
The victim was evacuated to Meir Medical Center in Kfar Saba. The suspect was brought for a remand extension at the Tel Aviv Magistrate’s Court on Sunday and was released to house arrest.
Plane with wheel failure makes emergency landing
A Cessna plane carrying two passengers made an emergency landing on Sunday at the Herzliya airfield following an alert that the aircraft was experiencing wheel failure, police reported.
The plane landed safely, and there were no injuries.
SOUTH
Ashkelon celebrates Mimouna with music, dance
As is traditional, Ashkelon residents marked the end of Passover this week with Mimouna celebrations. The Mimouna is a Moroccan Jewish festival held the evening and day following the last day of Passover in honor of Rabbi Maimon, father of Maimonides, a beloved leader of Moroccan Jewry over 800 years ago. The festivities included performances by singers Kobi Peretz and Michelle Cohen, and children’s star Rinat Gabai, along with local musical and dance groups. The event was open to the public and free of charge.
Three injured in Beersheba hit-and-run
A car crashed into another vehicle in Beersheba last week and fled the scene, leaving three of the passengers with minor to moderate injuries. Police launched a search for the driver responsible for the accident.