Jerusalem Prepares for Purim

Posted on March 4, 2015 by therealjerusalemstreets • Posted in Jerusalem • Tagged attractive tourist destination, costumes, culture, Israel, Jerusalem, Jerusalem Photography, Jerusalem photos, Jewish holiday celebrations, Noa Erez, Purim, Ruth Colion • 1 Comment

Purim is a big deal in Israel,

Especially in Jerusalem, where celebrations go on and on,

not for a day or two like the rest of world,

but starting at the beginning of the Hebrew month of Adar

and continuing for two weeks.

This year it has been hard to figure out,

what is real.

What is Purim nonsense?

What is satire?

What is a joke?

You can see trucks like this one driving around

all the time blasting happy music.

This van, however, is also promoting a political party running for Knesset seats.

No joke, and there is an official pot party too,

as in marijuana, in the race for our new government.

This year an Anglo Vote Event was held in Cinema City,

two of my favorite characters were with the hot chocolate cakes.

Some of the political parties were represented

and candidates answered questions in English.

As one friend noted, no female candidates were in attendance.

However, there is one new party where women do have a voice.

Ruth Culian (right) and Noa Erez are two of four women

running in a new party of religious women,

בזכותן B’Zehuton which means “in their merit.”

To their credit, this is trail-blazing effort.

It took a lot of guts for Ruth to go to law school

and start a political campaign in her community,

maybe even more than for the Prime Minister

to make a speech in Washington, DC.

.A sign wishing Bibi well was hung on the String Bridge.

There were more talking heads in the media,

for and against the speech,

than I could count.

Here former Ambassador Yoram Ettinger

was headed to the Jerusalem Press Club for one pre-speech debate.

The speech is over.

The Prime Minister is back,

but the talking is still going on and on.

And on the real streets,

the snow felt like ancient history,

as a new ice skating rink opened in Cinema City.

The cats enjoyed the warm weather,

and wild flowers exploded in open spaces.

However, the real color and excitement was for Purim.

Children are wearing their costumes everywhere.

Adults wearing Micky Mouse ears while driving in cars.

People dressed in wild outfits and

crazy hats while eating in restaurants.

Most anything can be seen this week on the streets,

at least through Shushan Purim and the weekend,

we can assume it is all in the holiday spirit.

Happy Purim.

Protesting the Histadrut Protest

Posted on March 1, 2015 by therealjerusalemstreets • Posted in Jerusalem • Tagged Israel, Jerusalem, jerusalem israel, Jerusalem Photography, Jerusalem photos, middle east current events, Pepe Alalu, politics • 2 Comments

It is Israeli election season.

Again.

And way too soon for most of the people that I know.

Anglo Voters are not being ignored for a change.

Among the numerous election banners,

was this sign, “Us or Him”

opposing Bibi for Prime Minister

posted across from his house in Jerusalem, Israel.

Mostly I have tried to avoid sharing the unpleasantness.

But today a large Histadrut rally was taking place,

in front of the Prime Minister’s official residence,

and streets were closed off for more than two hours.

These men were blowing loudly on their whistles.

Jerusalem Council member Pepe Alalu

of Meretz political party

was on his way to join the bus loads of protesters.

I was on my way back home from a meeting

after the protest rally ended,

and I saw this sign by a trash can,

as bus loads of people wearing white Histadrut hats left.

Freedom of speech.

Protest away, as loud as you want,

block traffic and inconvenience others,

but how dare they leave our streets lined with liter!

At least one person got employment from today’s event.

Look who was cleaning up afterwards,

a Jewish man wearing zizit under his yellow safety vest.

Bibi was not even around for the event,

as he was on his way to the airport and his flight to the US.

His parting remarks:

“A few days before the Fast of Esther,

I am leaving for Washington on a fateful, even historic, mission.

I feel that I am the emissary of all Israelis,

even those who disagree with me, of the entire Jewish People.

I am deeply and genuinely concerned for the security of all Israelis,

for the fate of the nation, and for the fate of our people

and I will do my utmost to ensure our future.”

At least the Histadrut could clean up after themselves.

Shabbat shalom

Posted on February 27, 2015 by therealjerusalemstreets • Posted in Favorites • Tagged attractive tourist destination, culture, Israel, Jerusalem, Jerusalem Photography, Jerusalem photos, Old City Walls, shabbat shalom, Tower of David • 1 Comment

One of my favorite spots,

at favorite time of day.

שבת שלום

Good February Signs in Jerusalem

Posted on February 25, 2015 by therealjerusalemstreets • Posted in Jerusalem • Tagged attractive tourist destination, Church of Holy Sepulchre, culture, Hebrew University, Israel, Jerusalem, jerusalem israel, Jerusalem Photography, Jerusalem photos, Jewish holiday celebrations, the Jewish Agency for Israel • 3 Comments

The sun is shining.

The sky is blue,

and it is warm enough to open the windows.

The snow has melted and it is history,

except for some ugly piles of plowed black stuff

and fallen branches that need to be removed.

February used to be the “quiet” time,

down time between holidays and peak tourism seasons,

but not this February,

and it was hard to keep up with all that is much happening.

This week the Jewish Agency for Israel had a meeting

of its Board of Governors, with delegates coming

from around the world to Jerusalem, Israel.

The International chess championship may not be a great photo op,

but a tour with 500 tourism professionals from India certainly was.

Starting with the view from Hebrew University on Mt Scopus,

this tour went to The Old City.

Within a few minutes while standing outside

the Church of the Holy Sepulchre,

were other groups of Indian tourists,

a large orderly group of Estonians,

and these Christian pilgrims who left too fast to ask where they were from.

Another great view and new to me,

was the Jerusalem Winner Marathon 2105 launch,

on the grounds of the St. Andrew’s Guest House.

Mayor Nir Barkat, holding his official run shirt for the March 13 race,

was all smiles that morning.

But so was Ilanit Melchior,

Tourism Director at the Jerusalem Development Authority.

Though many residents resent the street closings and inconvenience,

this event has brought thousands of tourists

from all over the world each year.

There are signs for things as diverse as

a contest for app developers,

and special programs for children at Islamic Museum.

But, Purim is a week away.

Perhaps, this sign for Shavuot holiday is a joke.

There is to be a Purim Spiel at the Train Theater,

and a sign for reading the Megillah at First Station–

Happy Purim.

Then,

time for that other “P” word – Passover!

16 Photos Snow in Jerusalem

Posted on February 20, 2015 by therealjerusalemstreets • Posted in Shabbat Shalom • Tagged #Snow2015, #Snowmageddon2015, attractive tourist destination, Israel, Jerusalem, jerusalem israel, Jerusalem photo, Jerusalem photos, shabbat shalom, snow, The Israel Museum • 7 Comments

A few weeks ago there was supposed to be a big snow storm

in Jerusalem, Israel,

and the word “blizzard” was used a lot.

A little snow started to fall just as it was time

to light Shabbat candles,

so I only managed to take and share two quick photos,

and by the next day it was all gone.

This week I did not hear the “b” word,

though a heavy snowfall was forecast.

The snow started to fall on Thursday night,

and this could be one of the first snowballs.

The streets were slippery

and mostly deserted.

I took one flower photo,

if the warnings were wrong,

I had one ready for the Shabbat Shalom post.

But by morning the snow had accumulated,

and the Jerusalem streets looked like a winter wonderland.

Heavy fog and a white sky added to the wintry scenes.

When fog cleared the Knesset grounds were covered.

This Israel Museum view shows trees covered.

against the white sky.

Heavy snow stuck to power lines and branches,

and just about everything.

Most people stayed off the roads in the morning.

The monastery in the Valley of the Cross,

a beautiful and serene scene,

was like a picture postcard.

But lemon trees

and sabra plants covered in snow?

Only in Jerusalem, Israel!

שבת שלום

Shabbat shalom.

Shemitta in Jerusalem Botanical Gardens

Posted on February 18, 2015 by therealjerusalemstreets • Posted in Jerusalem • Tagged Botanical Gardens, culture, Israel, Jerusalem, Jerusalem Photography, Jerusalem photos, Jewish holiday celebrations, middle east current events, Rabbi David Lau, Rabbi Rimon, Shmitta • 2 Comments

Most people know there are Jewish dietary laws

which require the separation of meat and milk.

But I just separated sweet potatoes, peppers and carrots,

from cucumbers and tomatoes.

Why?

Shmita (or spell it shemitta) is Biblical law.

We are well into the shemitta year,

which takes on special meaning for those who live in Israel.

Rabbi Yosef Tzvi Rimon has written books on the subject.

He composed colorful charts and calendars to simplify the laws.

Now in the Jerusalem Botanical Gardens,

Rav Rimon has initiated a special section

to show the laws of shemitta.

For the opening ceremony, Chief Rabbi David Lau spoke,

and then took time to speak to a group of students who participated.

The park is aimed to get children’s attention,

and to make things simple enough

for anyone understand.

With information in Hebrew and English,

there are many examples of what is permissible

and what is not to be done in gardens this year.

The Shemitta Park is simple to reach,

and it is an attractive area

with more interactive features to come.

Check it out if you are in Jerusalem, Israel.

The Botanical Gardens are a great place to visit.

Once a garbage dump,

it is now a beautiful and educational outing.

Last Jerusalem International Book Fair?

Posted on February 15, 2015 by therealjerusalemstreets • Posted in Jerusalem • Tagged attractive tourist destination, culture, Disappearing Wall, First Station, International Book Fair, Israel, Jerusalem, jerusalem israel, Jerusalem Photography • 9 Comments

Could this be the last Jerusalem International Book Fair?

The 27th Jerusalem International Book Fair (JIBF)

was not held in the Jerusalem International Conference Center.

For the first time, it was in a new location, in First Station,

where some entered from the First Station parking lot.

(In case you are wondering about the sky here,

being inside during a sandstorm was a good idea.)

While others came in through the main area,

past the First Station food mall and shopping area.

These people stopped to see the “Disappearing Wall,”

5000 small blocks of wood with German quotes written,

also in Hebrew and Arabic,

(some of which were lost in the translation) that attracted all ages.

At night the wall was an empty acrylic form,

as people were happy to remove the blocks and keep them.

Austria, Spain, Romania, Germany, Poland, Russia,

United Kingdom, Italy and United States were represented at the fair,

but it was a small fraction of former years.

One night, a crowd gathered by the German booth

for this food and wine.

Opening night of JIBF had more than one event,

that attracted large crowds.

There were lectures and programs all week, some held in

the Jerusalem Cinematheque, Mishkenot Sha’ananim

and the Khan Theatre, all auditoriums that are located near by.

As usual, not just books

but also magazines were for sale.

Authors were available to meet readers and fans,

Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz–Rav Adin Even Yisrael–

was available at JIBF one night.

Besides Germany, Austria had a nice size display.

But books from the United States and some Israeli sources,

were noticeably missing.

Each time I went to JIBF,

it was great fun to see and talk with friends,

looking at books and even buying some.

But as an international book fair,

it felt like the international and book components

were sadly lacking this year.

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