It’s raining again, flooding the Jerusalem streets.
All week, there has been heavy rain, on and off, call it “cats and dogs” or plain pouring.
I lived in Vancouver, Canada, where it could rain for days and days.
I lived in Melbourne, Australia, where the weather could change in a minute and turn to rain.
I walked a mile to the synagogue on October 7, 2023, but the rain has kept me in much of this week.
Could it be a sign of becoming Israeli?
Missiles, no big deal. Rain- yikes.
However, when the sun came out, I got out.
Here are photos from days between the grey skies, with two highlights of the week:
What a view it was after heavy rain cleared the sky over the Jerusalem streets.
Look closely, and you can see the hills of Jordan over the Dead Sea in the distance.
This epic view was from the home of Walter Bingham.
I started the week by celebrating the 102nd birthday of Walter Bingham.
His life story fills volumes. You can search online for some of the details.
For his 99th birthday, President Isaac Herzog paid a visit, and the photo was on display.
For this party, US Ambassador Mike Huckabee attended.
Walter showed his wife, Janet Huckabee, the photos on his office wall of the Ambassador.
She responded, “There’s none of me.” So I took one of them to add to the wall.
Nothing like a party for an active person, the world’s oldest working journalist at 102.
The Beit Hanasi, the Israeli President’s Residence, had chairs set for official photos.
President Isaac Herzog hosted the annual civil New Year Reception for Christian leaders in the Holy Land.
Theophilos III, Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem, spoke on behalf of the religious leaders.
A father-son duo provided entertainment; their rendition of Jingle Bells was not as I remembered.
What was noticeable was the diversity of those attending.
Who knew there were so many religious sects, only distinguished by their attire?
It was a week when days with heavy rain cleared the air for beautiful sunsets.
Life on the Jerusalem streets moved along at a fast pace (when not sitting in traffic).
Jerusalem streets, between construction and heavy rain, were driving nightmares.
The fast train ran on schedule. The stickers of fallen loved ones are posted at the Navon train station.
It is impossible to forget we are still at war, an Israeli hostage is still held in Gaza, and the regime in Iran is threatening.
“We are one nation” is lit at night on the building where the announcement of the UN resolution was made in 1947, to a joyous celebration.
Under the rainy or sunny skies, olim (immigrants like Walter) or the clergymen of many religions, we are in this together, waiting to see what will happen next.
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Am Yisrael Chai!