VOA标准英语2010-Pilgrims Converge on Jerusalem as Passove

Covered in prayer shawls, ultra-orthodox Jewish men of the Cohanim Priestly caste participate in a blessing¹ during the Jewish holiday of Passover at the Western Wall, Judaism's holiest site, in Jerusalem's Old City, 1 Apr 2010

Jewish and Christian² pilgrims have converged³ on Jerusalem as Passover and Easter coincide.

Thousands of Israelis participated in a Passover tradition: the biblical Priestly Blessing at the Western Wall in Jerusalem's Old City. Jews who are descendants of the priestly caste of Aaron, the first High Priest in the Bible, covered their heads with prayer shawls and raised their hands to bless the congregation.

The event has added symbolism this year, coming against the background of Israel's rejection⁴ of demands by the United States to stop building in disputed East Jerusalem. The Old City with its Jewish, Christian and Muslim holy places is part of the eastern half of Jerusalem that Israel captured from Jordan during the 1967 war. Israel claims all of Jerusalem as its eternal capital, but the U.S. backs Palestinian demands that East Jerusalem should be the capital of a future Palestinian state.

U.S.-Israel ties have plummeted⁵ over the issue, but Israeli Rabbi David Rosen sees a silver lining⁶.

"We have a venerable Jewish tradition of lamenting⁷ the tensions," said Rosen. "But the most wonderful thing is that despite all those tensions, people are able to worship freely, there is such a variety of different devotion and celebration in the streets of Jerusalem, and that's the spirit that really should predominate at this time."

The narrow cobblestone alleyways of the Old City were packed with Israelis visiting for the week-long Passover holiday and Christian pilgrims who are here for Easter Holy Week. Bud Baker⁸ came from North Carolina in the United States.

"It's so wonderful to see so many people from different places who come together to pray," Baker said.

The crowds of Christian pilgrims are especially large because for the first time in years, the Eastern Orthodox and Western Churches are marking Easter – the day Christians⁹ celebrate the resurrection of Jesus – at the same time.

 

1 blessing   

n.祈神赐福；祷告；祝福，祝愿

参考例句：

• The blessing was said in Hebrew.祷告用了希伯来语。
• A double blessing has descended upon the house.双喜临门。

2 Christian   

adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒

参考例句：

• They always addressed each other by their Christian name.他们总是以教名互相称呼。
• His mother is a sincere Christian.他母亲是个虔诚的基督教徒。

3 converged   

v.（线条、运动的物体等）会于一点( converge的过去式 )；（趋于）相似或相同；人或车辆汇集；聚集

参考例句：

• Thousands of supporters converged on London for the rally. 成千上万的支持者从四面八方汇聚伦敦举行集会。
• People converged on the political meeting from all parts of the city. 人们从城市的四面八方涌向这次政治集会。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 rejection   

n.拒绝，被拒，抛弃，被弃

参考例句：

• He decided not to approach her for fear of rejection.他因怕遭拒绝决定不再去找她。
• The rejection plunged her into the dark depths of despair.遭到拒绝使她陷入了绝望的深渊。

5 plummeted   

v.垂直落下，骤然跌落( plummet的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Share prices plummeted to an all-time low. 股票价格暴跌到历史最低点。
• A plane plummeted to earth. 一架飞机一头栽向地面。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 lining   

n.衬里，衬料

参考例句：

• The lining of my coat is torn.我的外套衬里破了。
• Moss makes an attractive lining to wire baskets.用苔藓垫在铁丝篮里很漂亮。

7 lamenting   

adj.悲伤的，悲哀的v.（为…）哀悼，痛哭，悲伤( lament的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• Katydids were lamenting fall's approach. 蝈蝈儿正为秋天临近而哀鸣。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• Lamenting because the papers hadn't been destroyed and the money kept. 她正在吃后悔药呢，后悔自己没有毁了那张字条，把钱昧下来！ 来自英汉文学 - 败坏赫德莱堡

8 baker   

n.面包师

参考例句：

• The baker bakes his bread in the bakery.面包师在面包房内烤面包。
• The baker frosted the cake with a mixture of sugar and whites of eggs.面包师在蛋糕上撒了一层白糖和蛋清的混合料。

9 Christians   

n.基督教徒( Christian的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Christians of all denominations attended the conference. 基督教所有教派的人都出席了这次会议。
• His novel about Jesus caused a furore among Christians. 他关于耶稣的小说激起了基督教徒的公愤。