Jerusalem, Israel – what is really happening
Long lines were in Jerusalem, Israel supermarkets as people prepared for holiday meals.
Soon after Shabbat,
on Rosh Hashana we will change from 5778 to 5779 as new year begins,
with sounds of the shofar.
Praying for a peaceful, healthy, good,
prosperous, and fruitful new year.
שבת שלום
שנה טובה וכתיבה וחתימה טובה
Amazing how morning rush hour traffic seems to have disappeared from many Jerusalem streets. Many families are away on holiday until the end of August.
These little girls in Mea Shearim were so cute lined up on their first day of school, which began the beginning of Jewish month of Elul for many religious schools.
“I love Jerusalem” was spelled out in flowers near the Montefiore Windmill.
Pomegranates are almost ready to pick from the trees lining Jerusalem’s streets.
No event signs were posted here near the Knesset.
Is there nothing new happening or are the workers away?
For those of us who did not go away, there are things to do beside hang out in the malls.
The Jerusalem Bible Land Museum has free entrance for children.
The Tower of David does as well, and so does the Israel Museum.
At the Israel Museum, the special summer exhibit “I to Eye” includes a craft area set up outside the Children’s Wing.
The Israel Museum is a popular summer day activity for families.
Inside are multi-sensory exhibits, including one with virtual reality googles.
The Israeli Fashion exhibit is still on, attracting mostly adults.
Years of Israeli fashion design are displayed with 150 outfits.
How cool? I downloaded the Israel Museum App. Now, using the app at home, I can listen again to the descriptions of both what I saw and did not see today in the various exhibits.
Across from the fashion exhibit is art of the Jewish life cycle, from this Moroccan bridal dress to a Hungarian funeral carriage.
In the background, you can see three of the dozens of Israeli soldiers who were in the museum on a tour.
Museums and malls are especially popular on extra hot summer days.
As evening approaches, a modern bride and her wedding party were taking photos.
This Jerusalem city park, Bloomfield Gardens, is in back of the King David Hotel.
On Jerusalem Photo Walks, I like to show the beautiful part of this hidden area to visitors.
But in August for a number of evenings, I take thee there for ‘Hamlet, in Motion.’
Shakespeare is not studied in Israeli schools.
So while the production of the Jerusalem Theater in the Rough is not quite Shakespeare in Central Park, “to be or not to be” is no longer their question.
This troupe of actors have been sharing the Bard with whomever comes to the park.
To watch Arab families sit and watch along with religious Jewish family groups is part of the unique Jerusalem experience.
Minutes away is the entrance to the 42nd annual International Arts and Crafts Festival.
The entrance next to the Artist Colony has the walls of the Old City in the background.
There is food, music, and 150 artists showing their work. Dozens of local and international artists have booths.
As night falls, the lights go on and people come out as the summer ebbs.
Special bus lines aim to get late-night party animals home safely.
Even with so many residents away, tourism is high, and there is plenty happening on the Jerusalem streets.
Plus, Wednesday morning, as the sun rose, 239 new olim arrived in Israel.
If mainstream media news and summer heat gets you down, check out the smiles and excitement.
Her shirt says, “Tell the world WE’RE COMING HOME!”
Facebook Photo album on NBN Charter Flight is HERE
Summer time. Israelis travel. It is reported that half the population goes overseas.
Having traveled plenty, especially when we lived in Australia and circled the globe numerous times, I am staying closer to home.
However, I gladly accepted another chance to go see more of the Shomron.
There are vast expanses of land, with magnificent views as seen from the bus.
This is all new Arab construction, and many are empty summer homes for people living overseas.
Leshem, the future home of hundreds of young Israeli families, is growing.
Near Ariel, only an hour drive from Jerusalem, our destination was the Twitoplast factory in the Barkan Industrial Park.
In the Ariel and Barkan Industrial Parks, Israelis and Arabs come together and work together.
I was in the factory on a previous visit and saw some of the plastic pieces being made,
plastic components which are sent around the world.
This is where Arab workers, many second generation, get a decent wage and benefits.
Last time I noticed their cars parked outside.
This visit, however, the green house constructed in the parking lot was our point of interest.
Moshe Lev Ran, VP of International Sales, spoke for the owner, Yisrael Twito.
Twito has built and maintained a successful business, in spite of BDS activists trying to shut him and other businesses down.
I decided to let you hear Moshe, an individual too hard to describe in one caption.
Twito not only employs and supports hundreds of families, but in this greenhouse he is teaching their children the importance of education. The children are learning about agriculture and animals, and more importantly, about innovation and motivation.
Israelis traveling in Europe have noted it is hard to find kosher food. European labeling laws and BDS initiatives have affected some “Over the Green Line” businesses.
Twitoplast is only one business. There are dozens more. From over two years ago:
What the Main Stream Media is Not Reporting: The Arab Jobs at Risk
Ariel and Barkan Industrial Parks, carved out of hills, have been developed over the past 30 years.
BDS does not “help Palestinians,” rather they are ones hurt most if companies like TwitoPlast and SodaStream are forced to move.
One small, growing business in the Shomron is the Kabir Winery in Elon Moreh.
The Kabir Winery is one of several wineries with tastings and food options.
New vineyards are being planted. Listen to the wind on the mountain top looking down on Shehem, or Nablus.
If you miss the annual Wine Festival at the Israel Museum, take a trip and see these boutique wineries. The quality of the kosher wine and food options might surprise you.
While I marvel how much Israel has accomplished under difficult circumstances, in 70 years, in 50 years Israelis in Judea and Samaria have many accomplishments of which to be proud.
I only regret that it took me so long to go and see for myself what was really happening over the “Green Line.”
If you want to see for yourself, let me know and I will connect you.
Finally, if you missed my other recent trip to Shomron, those 7 stops: HERE.