Israeli Election Top 10 Observations

With only hours to go until Israeli elections, many are still undecided,

but at least we now we are down to only 32 parties to select from.

With so many parties and candidates it is impossible to keep track,

so we decided to share just a few pre-election observations.

election sign Jerusalem photo

1. A “Bibi is a strong leader for Israel” poster is up in the spot

where Tzipi Livni was hanging just a couple of weeks ago.

Jerusalem photo campaign election

2. Bibi is good for the rich,

according to Shelly Yacimovich of Labor banners.

photo Zipi Hotovely

3. Zippi Hotovely is one of our favorite candidates,

she was often available to speak and so easy to photograph.

Jeremy Gimpel photo

4. In September, Jeremy Gimpel was campaigning for Anglo votes,

an old video comment got him roaring into the headlines this week.

photo Eli Yishai

5. Shas MK Eli Yishai took time out to meet with a group of AMIT

 supporters from US in his office even though they can not vote.

photo Chief rabbi Jerusalem photo

6. Chief rabbis are allowed to give brachot, blessings in person,

but a brachot ‘phone app’  before elections was ruled against the law.

election poster Jerusalem photo

7. A large banner for Naftali Bennent could be found in German Colony

Jerusalem photo, election poster

and a small green and blue sticker on this graffiti nose on Jaffa Street.

He is gaining popularity, but is he everyone’s brother as his ads read?

election sign Jerusalem picture

8. This is an old Moshe Feiglin sticker.

Interesting that he has kept a low profile this week.

election sign photo

9. So tomorrow is the time to decide which letters to put in the ballot box.

election sign Israel photo

Not going to bore you with all 32 letter combinations here,

I will leave that for someone else.

Predict what you want, but things can change quickly,

Avigdor Lieberman photo

just ask Avigdor Lieberman,

one day he was near the top and the next day out of the running.

Israeli election photo

In May, Dov Lipman was posing in the Knesset

with MK Amselem and heading Amselem Anglos group.

Today, Dov Lipman is running with Yair Lapid with Yesh Atid party.

And finally, 10. my favorite sign from this week,

sign Jerusalem Theater

a very clever ad for the Jerusalem Theater.

After the election noise quiets, it is time to subscribe for some culture.

At a recent class on Nevi’im, the Biblical prophets, our teacher mentioned,

a characteristic of a prophet is that victory is important over personal glory.

This election session personal egos seem to be a reason to run for office.

Let’s hope that after election day the winners and losers will indeed work

for the good of the people and the land of Israel.

Meanwhile, everyone also has to decide what to do tomorrow,

as Israeli election day is a day off from work.

Time for Tu B’Shevat in Jerusalem

Last week Jerusalem, Israel, was a winter wonderland,

DSC_0604e

snowing hard enough that even friends from Norway and Canada commented.

snowman melting, Jerusalem photo

However, by Friday afternoon it had warmed enough that

 our snowman was not looking so good and had lost one radish eye.

Jerusalem after snow photo, Jerusalem photo tour

A few dirty old piles of snow and ice are still around,

Jerusalem photo, tree fallen

while piles of downed branches line many Jerusalem streets.

Jerusalem photo. tree dwon

Large limbs of trees fell near the Prime Minister’s residence,

Jerusalem photo tree down

and many large trees like this one came down because of the weather.

Jerusalem photo tree damage

In the Davidka Square, all the newly planted trees were ruined; 

only one branch was left dangling after the snow damage was cleaned up.

Jerusalem photo tree down

When the sun came out and temperatures warmed up, not everyone

seemed to be bothered by the branches that littered the sidewalks.

Jerusalem photo at night

Post-snowstorm,  there is still plenty to clean up on the streets,

 but if you are looking for ice,

fish store, Jerusalem photo shuk

 you’ll have to go once again to the Machane Yehuda market, the shuk,

where the fish shops are filled with fresh fish on ice.

shuk, market, Machane Yehuda photo

At the shuk, fresh figs were on sale yesterday ahead of Tu B’Shvat,

the New Year for trees, ten days from now:

a perfect time to plant new trees.

Snow, Snow and more Snow in Jerusalem

Yesterday I was complaining that a 20-year-old photo

was posted showing snow in Jerusalem, Israel.

snow in Jerusalem photo

Then overnight it snowed in Jerusalem, 

snow in Jerusalem photo

and snowed 

Snow in Jerusalem

and snowed.

Snow in Jerusalem photo

Black and white photos?

No, at times everything looked white and grey.

Jerusalem snow photo

Lemons were still yellow, frozen lemonade anyone?

Snow photo Jerusalem

Israeli flags were still blue and white,

Jerusalem snow photo

and at least one cat was out.

Jerusalem snow photo

The Knesset Building as seen in a lull in the storm,

Jerusalem snow photos

The Israel Museum could not be seen some times in the storm.

Jerusalem snow photos

People came out to play and walk in the white stuff.

Jerusalem in snow photo

Nachlaot red roofs were colored white, as was the Valley of the Cross.

Jerusalem snow photos

When the sky cleared it was a beautiful sight.

Jerusalem snow photos

Some larger vehicles ventured out.

I wanted snow in Jerusalem,

Jerusalem photo snow

and we got it!

Snow photo Jerusaelm

I got my Jerusalem snow photos, so please share them,

 I have had enough snow today for the next 20 years.