rjstreets – Page 163 – The Real Jerusalem Streets

Jerusalem Marathon 2012 is Coming

February 14, 2012rjstreets

The Jerusalem Marathon is coming.

Signs announcing the March 16th event seem to be everywhere.

For months now, the grounds near Gan Sacher, Sacher Park ,

both along the marathon route around the park

and in the park have been improved.

Roads leading into the park have new bollards installed.

While around the world “Occupy” tent cities have been emptied,

often by police on horseback in riot gear,

the tents near the main entrance of Gan Sacher

are still occupied.

In spite of a rainy and cold winter,

families live in the makeshift dwellings.

These young people may be on the ultimate social justice field trip,

wanting to interview people who have refused offers of temporary housing.

With thousands of people expected in Jerusalem for the marathon,

it is hard to imagine that this scene

and these structures will still be here next month

when the Second Jerusalem Marathon is run.

If you missed the marathon last year, be sure and see:

The 2011 Jerusalem Marathon

Cat Power

February 11, 2012rjstreets

Female singer Cat Power is not coming to Israel to perform,

she says because of the Israel-Palestinian conflict.

However, in Jerusalem,

one

thing

we

have

plenty

of

is

cats,

and

more cats!

Your loss Cat Power, hope you feel better soon.

We have plenty of powerful cats on the streets of Jerusalem

and as the garbage piles up during this strike…

they are very happy cats now also.

Update:

Strike is over, but the mess may be around for awhile.

Tu B’Shevat in Jerusalem

February 7, 2012rjstreets

School children all over Israel learn by song that

on the holiday of Tu B’Shevat, the new year of trees,

“Shkadea Porachat,” the almond trees are blooming.

In Jerusalem,

it is much easier to find roses blooming than almond trees.

The fifteen day of the Hebrew month of Shevat is also

the holiday when dried fruit displays fill the shopping malls.

Machane Yehuda market, the shuk, always a source of dried fruit and nuts,

has even more piles and varieties on sale this time of year.

The dried chillies in the shuk yesterday

and these little rogalach seemed really special too.

Generations of American Jews

associate Tu B’Shevat with “bokser” or dried carob pods.

However, I prefer our lemon tree full of fruit as a symbol

of the start of the growing season.

Many people will attend a special Tu B’Shevat seder at night at a

table set with red and white wine and dried fruit and special prayers.

But some stores have been ready for a while with costumes and props,

and for some… it is never too soon to get ready for Purim.

Happy Tu B’Shevat where ever you are!

See Tu B’Shvat from last year for a rainbow of beauty in Jerusalem:

http://rjstreets.com/2011/01/19/tu-bshvat/