Snow in Jerusalem

I have waited for snow and snow pictures for so long,

snow in Jerusalem

 it seems that everyone wants to see Jerusalem covered in snow.

snow  Israel Museum

After several recent failed predictions…finally on Friday morning 

snow was coming down hard enough to obscure the Israel Museum.

Nachalot, snow on roof

The red roofs of the Nahalot neighborhood were covered with white.

Knesset in the snow

The Knesset high grounds were coated with a little bit of snow.

Taxi companies did not answer their phones

and the buses stopped running.

water on steps

Icy water tumbled down steps like waterfalls.

 (Sorry I did not use video for this one as the sound was incredible).

traffic

Around Gan Sacher, Sacher Park, police came to direct the traffic, 

as hundreds of people came out for the white stuff.

cotton candy machine

White cotton candy sold near the entrance was popular, 

snow, snowman

but it was the snow that attracted the crowd.

small snowman

It was a chance to build 

boys making snowman

a snowman in the center of Jerusalem.

snow in park

OK, Gan Sacher is not the same as the Golan Heights, but

sledding

 kids of all ages managed to slide down the wet grass on makeshift sleds.

child splashing in puddles, flooding in Jerusalem

Children could not play in the flooded playground,

but they had a great time splashing in puddles.

flooded sidewalk

Walking was difficult and dangerous for everyone.

snowman

The finish line for the Jerusalem Marathon, as seen in the background,

was a soggy mess, but people were smiling for pictures.

Others were happy to put a plastic bag over their hat and go for a walk.

Palestinian family in Israel

All around Gan Sacher, people were happy for snow in Jerusalem. 

Shabbat Shalom – Our Heritage is to Live

Shabbat Shalom – Our Heritage is to Live

Another end of February approaches, not much has changed.

However, those little kitah aleph students are Bar and Bat Mitzvah age.

Last week began with a big disappointment,

as the predicted and much-hyped snow never happened.

It is a shame as Jerusalem in the snow makes for great pictures

Jerusalem street in the rain, man sleeping on sidewalk

while the hard rains do not make for pretty scenes.

But when the sun came out, there were puddles of water and birds, 

Anemones. red flowers in Jerusalem

 green grasses and red anemones. 

In 2000, Herman Wouk published a book titled,

“The Will to Live On, This is our Heritage.”

I thought of it not only for the weather conditions,

but also for the stormy situation in the Middle East and around the world.

In Israel there is no official Mother’s Day or Father’s Day.

children sitting and singing

 Family Day is celebrated on Rosh Chodesh Adar, the first day of Adar.

At one Family Day celebration children sang and danced,

parents sitting with chlidren

while the big people got to sit on little chairs 

grandmother and child light candles

and help light the candles at a Shabbat party.

Shabbat candles, Shabat candles, Shabat party in school

It is these lights of Jewish heritage and values that burn in Israel.

children singing in classroom

Songs of a Shabbat shalom, a peaceful sabbath…

not of war or hate.

“This is our heritage” as Wouk said, “the will to live on.”

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if these children had peaceful neighbors?

Mamilla Mall

While Mamilla Mall was under construction

Mamilla Mall  "Gap store sign" image of mall

there were many who doubted its potential.

It was a convenient route to the Jaffa Gate and the Old City,

but who would shop in the expensive stores along Mamilla Avenue?

"closed shoe store" image

Stores have closed,

Coffee store image

 but new businesses open immediately.

"Mamilla Mall shoppers"  "BDS" image , "apartheid image"

The crowds keep coming…Israelis, both Jewish and Arab, and lots of tourists.

"bride image"  "white wedding dress" image

Brides favor the location for wedding photos.

"mime" image, Mime as a tree image

Street actors and mimes often perform on the avenue

Balloon sculptures image, "balloon" hats

and colorful balloons are a common sight.

Mamilla Mall lit at night image, mall at night

Every night as the lights go on, it is the place to visit.

"Musical art image"  , "piano" image

Often tourists can be found posing with the works of art on display.

art sculpture image

Music is the current theme of the art exhibitions

image "Holocaust art" "Arbeit" signimage

and the pieces are varied.  

"violin image"  numbered stones of wall image

The original stones were numbered, taken apart, and put back up.

The results can be seen behind this piece of art.

"cafe" image, outdoor cafe image, Mamilla Mall image

And people come to eat…

often there are lines to get in to the most popular places.

united Jerusalem image

Most days you will find the “United Jerusalem” guy,

but you will not find any signs of BDS: boycott, divest and sanction

Palestinian boys in Jerusalem image, Arab teens image

or Israeli apartheid in Mamilla Mall,

 located in Jerusalem,

 next to the walls of the Old City.