Sheputzim

 The heat wave is over, normal summer weather has returned.

Now it is just plain hot, but unlike Moscow,

we can open our windows at night for a breeze.

Not having rain does not seem so bad either,

compared to the severe flooding in much of the world.

In all weather though, sheputzim, renovations, are a part of life in Jerusalem.

  Whether it is an old apartment being gutted and redone by new owners,

or an old house being enlarged

      or a new floor or two added on top of an old building,

someone is always sheputzing.

 The noise and dust of drills and hammers working on stone often fill the air.

     Change seems everywhere… 

 The area close to the Old City’s Jaffa Gate has experienced some  drastic changes.

   Across from recently completed Mamilla Mall,

the Waldorf Astoria construction is finally above ground.

The area between these construction sites and

Gan Haatzmaut, Independence Park was in need of a sheputz.

  

November 5, 2009 

  

August 10, 2010 

    August 11, 2010 

   The land is now clear, cleaned of everything except for a few trees.

 

At the other end of the road,

near the fence where the Museum of Tolerance is being excavated,

     on June 6, 2010 a man was smoothing fresh cement.

Construction bags were near by.

 

  August 10, 2010  large sheputzim bags

were at the other end of the old Muslim cemetery.

Fresh new stones

seem to be everywhere.

What a sheputz, 

 from one end to the other it is hard to find any litter.

 Now Agron Street leading to Mamilla Mall has a new look.

Could it be that the “clean up building material” signs in the city are working?

UPDATE

August 13, 2010

Seems that over 300 of the new tombstones were fake and have been removed.

Festival Time

Kids are still on their long summer vacation,

most summer camps are over, and it is hot.

During the month of August,

parents have to find a way to entertain their children.

  It is festival time. 

In the center of Jerusalem, on Shamai Street, the Friday afternoon happening

was hard to find.

The second week we did find live music

and a street entertainer.

But to be fair,

Funkenstein was happening around the corner at the same time.

The first week of the Children’s Story festival held in the Liberty Bell Park

did not have the usual large crowds of young children.

 

It could be that it is just too hot outside and

the children’s movie festival will draw larger crowds.

Even in the heat, the street actors are performing.

Located in the area just outside the walls of the Old City,

is Khutsot Hayotser, the International Arts & Crafts Festival,

an annual summer entertainment highlight. 

 It is costly compared to other events,

 but there are many activities and it is popular with families.

Before the opening, local Israeli artists were busy getting ready.

They count on this annual event to draw visitors to their often empty lane,

which is not far from the Jaffa Gate.

The set up for this massive event

 and its security involves hundreds of people.

There are many musical and dance performances throughout the park area

 and exhibits with sales displays 

from 35 countries.

 Every night a different  musical performance is featured

in the Sultan’s Pool amphitheater,

with its huge stage

and seating stands.

 This is the 35th year of Khutsot Hayotser, 

which runs from August 2 to August 14.

Enough family fun and summer culture?  

 The beer festival is coming up next!

1500 and Still Counting

Gilad Shalit did not celebrate his 24th birthday with family and friends in Jerusalem.

He has been held captive by Hamas in Gaza for 1500 days, 

unseen by any representative of the International Red Cross and unaware of his family’s endeavors.

The original protest tent sent up on the street near the Prime Minister’s Residence was quite modest.

The number of days in captivity shown on the top getting larger every day.

Family and friends marched from the Shalit home in the North

to the Jerusalem protest tent.

Noam and Aviva Shalit settled in the begining of July, receiving visitors,

 tourists who come by

and other supporters.

Counter protesters across the street were louder than usual the evening of 1500 day “milestone” .

Police separated the opposing sides.

The media was on the scene, as the traffic backed up the length of Azza Street.

The tent city is expanding,

1501 days and still counting, the tragic situation continues.