Oh, time seems to fly in Jerusalem, Israel.
One holiday and major event goes into another on the Jerusalem streets.
Yom Yerushalayim, Jerusalem Day, with its multiple events, is over.
Only a few leftover signs and flying flags remain.
Italians were here for an international travel bloggers summit and posed in First Station.
They did not realize the colorful shades were for the Jerusalem Pride Parade.
Before the parade began, near the Liberty Bell Park starting point, I saw this group of security personnel gather for afternoon prayers.
The American Center is still lit with rainbow-colored lights at night.
There were tens of thousands of visitors in Jerusalem for Shavuot. Synagogues and streets were filled day and night. In this photo, you can see a few of the hundreds of lectures and classes offered.
Though it’s called the Israel Festival, the decades-old festival is held in Jerusalem, in various venues. This year it runs from May 30 to June 15, with enough programs to fill a newspaper supplement.
I want to share one production by the Elad Theatre held at the Museum of Natural History.
This was the main entrance, back in days of the protests to save the Nature Museum.
Coming up the stairs from the parking lot near Emek Refaim as the sun was setting, lights were on at the Jerusalem Museum of Natural History.
Was there always a pond on the grounds? For sure there wasn’t special catering.
The Nature Museum was best known for its large live snakes and tortoises.
But on the grounds this night there was a table set for a banquet dinner. Dining, dancing with live music, and Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet was on the menu for this Israel Festival event.
Here was Juliet on the balcony of the Nature Museum for the Masquerade Ball.
At the opening scene, the audience donned masks and mingled with the actors. After drinks, the party was getting going with enthused production extras.
Romeo and Juliet met at the ball, but the main scenes were held as the audience dined on the catered food and more wine.
The actors used the entire area, including on the tables. There were no bad or back row seats. There was interaction with the audience throughout this Hebrew language adaptation of the Bard.
Shakespeare is not routinely taught in Israeli schools. So in case, you do not know the conclusion of this famous story, I will end with one photo of the fight scene.
The location and weather were fabulous. It was a great production, even if I did not try the food or drink. I hope this is not the last production of this type.
But as soon as the Israel Festival is over, Tzamid Festival, Arts without Boundaries, begins.
Design Week at Hansen House looks to be bigger than ever.
And the annual Shavuah Hasefer, Hebrew Book Week starts tonight at First Station.
I tried to get a photo of the new signs on the other side near the entrance from the parking lot. But an overly conscientious security guard would not let me get close enough after I walked all the way around.
Graduations and end of year performances, an International Freedom of Press Conference at the Jerusalem Press Club and a Camera event on antisemitism in the mainstream media were all happening last night, along with a concert at the Tower of David for the Israel Festival.
And the annual Jerusalem Light Festival is coming soon.
Amazing and diverse things happening on these Jerusalem streets!
More Romeo & Juliet – The Last Supper – photos HERE
