Hi Mici

Thanks for the Passover greeting. I hope you enjoyed your holidays. I have just been in Ireland to visit my in-laws, nieces and nephews. I was in Dublin on the day of the commemoration of the Easter Rising in 1916 when the Irish State was proclaimed by an idealistic group of poets and teachers. Within a few years an Ireland independent of England was a reality. Not dissimilar in many ways from the way Israel won her freedom from the English in 1948. Both dramas revolving around charismatic people with Romantic notions and a driving idealism, backed by practical resolve. The picture above is of the GPO [General Post Office] in Sackville Street (now O'Connell Street) on whose steps the Republic was proclaimed on Easter Monday. Last Sunday, a woman officer from the Irish Army read out the Proclamation on its 91st anniversary.

From crucifixion/resurrection to miracles - I watched 'Walk on Water' and really enjoyed it, great recommendation - I would never have seen it without your drawing my attention to it. A good strong narrative with substance. Eyal, the brother and sister were all really well played. I loved the scenes on the Sea of Galilee. The Nazi family doing Israeli folk-dancing at the big birthday bash was also very amusing. Any similar recommendations for me? (I love good thrillers with a bit of meaning.)

The Israel-England match turned out to be a bit of a damp squib. A goalless draw - a good result for your lot, not great from the England point of view. I was in Tel Aviv a couple of years ago for the Israel-Ireland match which was a 2-2 draw, everyone went home happy and a good party was had by all, centred on Irish bars in the city. Many of the Irish supporters had such a good time, they extended their trips and traveled round a bit, well impressed with the country.

Talking of which, my partner's cousin (also Irish) has just arrived downstairs on a short stop-over in London on her way back to Dublin from an Easter trip to Jerusalem, staying in a monastery overlooking the Dome of the Rock. She seems to have had a great time so I'm going off now to hear all about it.

Hope your exams went well.
A