The Real Jerusalem Streets – Page 360 – Jerusalem, Israel – what is really happening

Warm Story for a Cold Week

January 31, 2013rjstreets

It is foggy, grey and wet outside.

The white snow seems so long ago.

Last week the colors were so beautiful,

it was perfect weather to train for Jerusalem’s marathon next month.

Even now, tree cuttings still block many parks and sidewalks,

with even more cuttings appearing after the first cleanup.

So much talk this week was of weather and elections.

It wasn’t just branches that were blocking sidewalks in Jerusalem, Israel.

These TV news trucks were parked on the sidewalks near Beit Hanasi,

the President’s residence, as they waited for official election results.

However, before the rain started on Monday,

there was a very special wedding in Jerusalem.

The oldest of these three young men was 16 years old

when their father was shot and killed by terrorists and

their mother instantly became a widow with 7 children,

the youngest 4 months old.

Their mother Elisheva Chai was getting married to Gil Efrati of Jerusalem.

Rain drops fell as the chupah stood ready outside,

heavenly tears lightly covering the ground.

The chatan sat with friends before the ceremony,

then the dancing began as the bride and groom were led

to the bright and still dry chupah at Ramat Rachel.

But were there any dry eyes at this celebration?

Gil Efrati has never been married before,

and now he is the father to seven beautiful children.

After Rabbi Meir Avshalom Chai z”l was murdered,

Elisheva Chai was able to raise a wonderful family.

She gives credit to the support they received from OneFamily.

Cars are honking, people are cranky and trying to stay warm.

I am so glad for this wonderful story to warm up

an other wise cold and dreary week.

To see more of this story and special simcha please, click HERE

Real Colors of Jerusalem, Israel

January 25, 2013rjstreets

Much of the world is experiencing freezing temperatures,

but yesterday it was so warm here, that is hard to believe

that snow covered the city just two weeks ago.

The palm trees against the blue sky made for a great photo.

Some Cypress trees are still bent from the weight of the snow,

but the YMCA tower stands straight as usual.

A new exhibit on satire and humor (humour) opened in Mamilla Mall,

making it hard to get through there quickly to meet friends.

So many tourists were out enjoying the day and the weather.

The regular Thursday Bar Mitzvah crowds included many

that came from overseas to celebrate at the Kotel, the Western Wall.

While yesterday the topic of discussion for some

was the meaning of the Israeli election results,

what was truly impressive was the color and diversity on the streets.

Was this woman with green herbs getting ready for Tu Beshvat?

In the Old City I saw nuns dressed in blue,

monks in brown passing Arab women dressed in pink,

and groups os Christian tourists following a red and white flag.

People were eating outside and walking around.

Not everyone was smiling the entire time,

and these boys were riding golden lions?

There were lots of soldiers in green uniforms,

they came for a special swearing-in ceremony in the evening.

At least one soldier took the time to pray at the Kotel, the Western Wall.

On the way home I saw a sign announcing that the Kaiser

is coming to the Tower of David Museum.

Would the Kaiser in 1898 or anyone else imagine that Jews

and friends from all over the world would come to Jerusalem, Israel.

And who a few years could ago imagine that at the Kotel

people would Sykpe on an iPhone to families back home?

Only Some Israelis Vote for Knesset 19

January 22, 2013rjstreets

Today is Election Day in Israel for the 19th Knesset

and some are calling it a celebration of democracy.

For a hi-tech country voting is decidedly low-tech,

with a cardboard ballot box and voting booth in a school classroom.

Inside the booth, write-in votes are possible with a pen on white paper.

The nice workers in our polling place were happy to pose for a photo.

Across the hall the scene was similar,

and though the turnout is described as heavy,

the lines were short at midday.

BUT,

in order to get to the voting place you had to climb stairs, lots of stairs.

While I was trying to get a good angle to show a serious problem,

a friend who had moved to Haifa came up the stairs to vote.

However, for the disabled and many elderly in the neighborhood,

there was nothing to smile about.

Outside, to get in the building there were more stairs,

and for some getting down could be as hard as going up to vote.

As I left, this woman with two walking sticks tried to vote,

and I do not know how long it took her to do all those stairs.

The situation for access of the disabled and elderly

is terrible in many of the old buildings in Jerusalem, Israel.

One thing no one could complain about was the weather.

Even though many sidewalks are still blocked by trees downed by the snow,

today was a day to get outside and enjoy the spring-like weather.

The temperatures certainly added to a party atmosphere,

but access for disabled must become a priority.

I still think it is outrageous that someone in a wheel chair

has a hard time to vote in a democracy.

There are locations for wheel chair access,

but isn’t it time to make public buildings accessible?