Jerusalem, Israel – what is really happening
It’s raining. It’s pouring.
The sun was out for a few seconds today in Jerusalem, Israel.
But it’s been wet and cold for days.
Remember those animals from Noah’s Ark on top of Cinema City?
Noah’s animals knew to get out of winter rain.
Students had to be rescued from a school.
People had to be rescued from cars in flooded valley.
So glad weather was warm and sunny earlier in week.
But now it seems like a perfect time to stay inside.
שבת שלום
Shabbat shalom from wet and windy Jerusalem, Israel.
The Israeli Prime Minister is on his way to Moscow.
The Israeli President hosts visitors from Greece and Cyprus.
The Israeli spacecraft Beresheet is on its seven-week journey to the moon.
The privately-funded Israeli space capsule was launched from Florida.
If successful, Israel will be the fourth country to land on moon.
Back here on earth, in Jerusalem, in Israel, life is a balancing act.
On the one hand, new modern roads stretch for miles over former donkey paths and barren sand.
New lodgings in Jerusalem are too many to list now.
But on the first really cold night in awhile, this homeless man was sleeping in the underground passageway to the new Navon fast train station and Jerusalem Central Bus Station.
At the same time, on the fourth floor of the bus station, Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Lion was speaking at the launch of Urban Place, a new co-sharing work space for nearly 100 businesses.
Also this week, Lion hosted mayors from around the world at a conference which opened in Kikar Safra, Jerusalem’s City Council Chambers.
Around Jerusalem, construction fences surround building projects, which descend many stories down into the ground, and are covered with graffiti.
It is always exciting to see when these projects finally reach street level.
Nearby a market on Agrippas Street is busy when weather permits.
But rain or shine people come to the city center to shop.
I was on my way to hear about Arab voting patterns in the upcoming elections.
My only comment on elections, these two men from Abraham Initiatives were well prepared and extremely impressive in their presentation in English.
Also that afternoon, Elan Carr, gave his first major address after being appointed the US Special Envoy for Monitoring and Combating Antisemitism in Jerusalem.
The Jewish Agency Board of Directors also met in Jerusalem this week.
New head Isaac Herzog also spoke on countering antisemitism.
Meanwhile, a new synagogue building nearby is approaching completion.
When the sun came out after rain, so did the wild flowers in fields of green.
Around Jerusalem, the nature areas are lovely.
But I am not sure these petals will outlast the hard winds blowing up now.
At night for the Shaon Horef I was not sure what this was.
The many new street art installations are better appreciated by day.
Mamilla Mall has some new out-of-the-box, out of this world, art on display.
At least the sculpture figures are still reading books.
Real people seem to interact more with their phones these days.
The world, politics, and weather seem so uncertain one minute to next.
But, on a clear day from Jerusalem, you can see still Jordan not so far away.
I liked this poster at the end of hall of offices at Urban Place.
“Adventure begins at the end of the road you know.”
Beresheet may or not get to the moon.
But it is still a wonder.
With all the problems, from near and far, amazing what tiny Israel has been able accomplish.
Elan Carr gave such a powerful speech, I thought I would share a few minutes of it.
And to end on a high note, these young Israeli dancers with so much energy are hope for good things in the adventures ahead.
Hard to believe, but much more was happening on the Jerusalem streets this week.
Jerusalem, Israel, winter nights are cold, but some sites are as photo worthy as by day.
On the way home from the Jerusalem Winner Marathon launch, I passed through Teddy Park to Mitchell Park to see the new ice skating rink. This was the view. The Teddy Park fountain is not nearly as popular in winter as on hot summer days when it is filled with people, but still worth pausing to appreciate.
שבת שלום