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All about the Weather

rjstreets

While much of the world is discussing politics,

in Jerusalem it is all about the weather.

As Chanukah ended,

weather forecasters warned of a big storm approaching from Europe.

On Thursday at sunset, clouds were gathering in the sky above the Judean Hills.

 Over the weekend, it rained,

dirt… not much water fell.

Day and night the winds were strong, enough to inflate this motorcycle cover.

Blowing sand looked like a snow storm in this night photo.

Finally, Sunday night the much anticipated rain started,

and by Monday enough rain fell to clean the cars.

 

Lots of trees came down from the winds and rain.

Branches were piled on sidewalks

all around the city.

Puddles of water

filled many streets.

On Monday, people started to come outside, the winds died down and it was possible to use an umbrella.

It is finally cold enough for winter clothing, unless you are a schoolboy,

some of the boys were wearing short sleeve shirts on the playground at recess.

 A street cleaner was out today, though I’m not sure what he was cleaning on the street.

Everyone is certainly glad that the air is cleaner.

Now it’s back to politics…

A Taste of Chanukah

rjstreets

 Chanukah 5771

For the holiday of lights

there were many,

many lights.

It did rain-finally-but not much; there was  plenty of thick fog the morning after.

There were celebrations

and decorations.

The Old City was busy day and night.

There were dreydels to spin

and Chaunkah gelt, chocolate coins to win.

The crowds and signs of the holiday were everywhere, even the buses said “Happy Chanukah”.

Tastes of Chanukah have come a long way, with exotic new varieties of suffganiot

and chocolates.

As the Chanukah season comes to an end, thousands of visitors are going home.

After eight days celebrating the holiday of oil, many people are not sad, but very happy…

as the strawberry season has begun.

Happy Chanukah! 

Just Chanukiot

rjstreets

In Jerusalem, the variety of chanukiot, Chaunkah menorahs,

seems without end.

In Mamilla Mall, a traditional style

is on display near the unusual

 and the hard to describe.

 There are chanukiot on top of tall buildings.

One ‘candle’ is added each night to the chanukiah on the Knesset building.

This store display of silver ones was dazzling, 

but the first night of Chanukah these simple wine bottles

in a bar window were also beautiful, 

as was the chanukiah on a fast food restaurant counter in the Old City.

The chanukiah in the Mahane Yehudah market, the shuk,

had lanterns for lights. 

Someone might assume there is religious significance to plastic chairs,

as there are so many

chanukiot placed on them.

Every night the Old City has been full of walking tours,

with people wandering  the streets looking for lights

in normally shuttered windows.

The chanukiah near the Kotel, the Western Wall, is very impressive,

as is the one which reads “Gilad Shalit lives” and

this chanukiah which remembers all the MIA’s.

And Chanukiot line some of the main streets.

 CHANUKAH SAMEACH

Happy Chanukah