Jerusalem

‘Twas the Week Before and More

rjstreets

As in the past the Jerusalem Municipality and the Jewish National Fund distributed free trees to those residents celebrating Christmas. The advertised times were 9:00 am to 12:00 pm at the Jaffa Gate Square, but by 10:30 am this was the scene.

There seemed to be more photographers than trees or customers…certainly more beigelach.

Santa  got his tree and  media attention, but no snow for him or anyone else.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In the nearby Liberty Bell Park families were out in the sunshine all day.

 

 

The YMCA, located across the street from the King David Hotel,

had a very  modestly  decorated tree and carol service.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thousands of visitors, some going to  Bethlehem, a few minutes drive away, were in Jerusalem for the holiday season.

Thousands of people came to celebrate Bar Mitzvahs at the Kotel,  boys from all over Israel and as far away as Australia and the United States.

 Most of Monday the celebrations kept coming…

But to get to these celebrations everyone had to endure progress.

Work has begun on the infrastructure and development project at Jaffa Gate Plaza. It is to include streamlining of pedestrian traffic alongside vehicular traffic, installation of street furniture,  and refurbishing of street lighting.

For the next year and a half, 24 hours a day…

drivers beware.

Everyone beware!

A quiet November afternoon                                                                                   and now

 

 

 

 

 

 

 This week also marks one year since Operation Cast Lead,

242 missiles landed in the Sderot area in 2009

down from more than 3,200 rockets and mortars in 2008.

Endings and Beginnings

rjstreets

 

Sadly, this week Jerusalem saw the passing and funeral of the Bostoner Rebbe, Rabbi Levi Yitzhak Horowitz. Having lived in the Boston, MA area when “The Bostoner” was in his prime, we witnessed how he related to some of the thousands of students who came through his Brookline Center.  Hundreds of people seeking medical treatment  in the Boston area would come for extended stays and find help with everything from getting a car to language translation. When the Bostoner moved to the Har Nof area of Jerusalem, many of his American congregation followed and made aliyah. “The Bostoner” may have looked like many a religious rabbi with a hat and beard, but when he got up to speak he sounded  like President John F. Kennedy.  The Bostoner Rebbe’s  good nature and good works should be a role model to all.

Changing foliage in Jerusalem no way compares

 to the Bostoner Rebbe’s former home

 in the Northeastern United States,

but look hard and you could see that a

few autumn colors

remained this week.

 

 

 Hamshuslim, the three weekend

 Jerusalem festival with special rates

on hotel rooms, food and events

came to an end.

Farmers from the Arava ended their long trip by arriving in Jerusalem to protest the lack of Thai workers they need to harvest their crops. The announced building freeze has brought construction in many areas to an end, a large rally is planned for Wednesday evening in Paris Square to protest.

Beginning a new era and energy,

Kisufim, the Jewish writer’s international

conference is meeting for the second

time in Jerusalem.

For the physically disabled getting around Jerusalem is often a nightmare. The streets and many public and private buildings are difficult or impossible to access.

Hopefully, the celebration of the International Day for People with Disabilities this week will be the beginning of a new era of awareness.

 

                                                                                                                                                                            

The real Jerusalem streets are  beginning to get into holiday mode as  gift ideas, parties and children are  the focus, the  Hanukah holiday  sesaon rapidly approaches.

Large trays of suffganiot,

large jelly donuts,

are everywhere,

                                                                                                                                                    gloves and coats

                                                                                                                                                    and hats are  beginning                                                

                                               to appear

                                               and  there was finally

                                               a day with rain.