Oh my goodness, we are off to an interesting start for the new year 2022!
Red countries are now green, as rules and regulations changed overnight.
Oh what an upside-down world. Children out during what should be a school day buying ice creams, as their classrooms return to online instruction. Testing positive is bad. Test negative–all is good. The lines for testing are long and longer and the variants seem endless.
A big balloon for 2022 was displayed in Jerusalem’s Takana Rishona, First Station at one eatery.
The winter igloos for restaurant guests to isolate were ready.
But the crowds of tourists were noticeably missing.
At least there was no snow, and the sun came out for a few hours this week.
But the big news to cloud the week was not the weather, but Omicron.
The highly contagious coronavirus variant has the government issuing the go-ahead for the 4th injection for those over 60 years of age and health workers. Free test kits are to be supplied to every child in Israel – in pre-schools and primary schools, as well as teaching staff.
At least our health center was well run and, without the news cameras, the halls were quiet and orderly as people arrived for their appointed times.
Again this week the scene at Jaffa Gate was too quiet without tourists.
The birds resting on the Tower of David above Jaffa Gate seemed to be more than I had ever noticed in the past.
While some areas were lovely scenes not appreciated by visitors,
the food places at Mamilla Mall below were busy with lunchtime crowds.
At Kikar Safra a few people were enjoying the sunny weather and blue sky.
But what caught my interest was the new art on display at Jerusalem’s municipal square, posters by 13 illustrators curated by Dov Abramson.
The artists each portrayed one of the 39 types of work not allowed on Shabbat to create a clever poster.
The colorful posters lined the main Safra Square area
and brightened the way and day for those who stopped to look.
The Jerusalem Theater also had new and different art on display.
Prize-winning quilts lined the wall in the Jerusalem Theater main lobby.
The colorful and clever fabric designs are spread out on various levels throughout the building.
Here is the display outside one of the auditoriums above
and another below the main theater lobby. As you can see I had the entire space to myself on the afternoon I ventured in. Wearing a mask was required, but I saw no other people except staff.
Jerusalem Theater hosts the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra. These past weeks of closings the JSO has performed and also posted regularly online. From the Hallelujah Festival – Leonard Bernstein’s Chichester Psalms | לאונרד ברנשטיין – מזמורי צ׳יצ׳סטר was the video shown last night. Check it out.
I had never noticed this sign at the Montefiore Windmill in the past -“Guy’s Hope,” but thought it amusing that there was one guy sitting alone on the overlook.
I was on my way to check the new art on the walls at the Mishkanot Sha’ananim gallery by Ilan Baruch, “A Painter Facing the Land.” With so many events canceled and going online, I hope this guy’s exhibition is seen.
With a week with too much not-good news, how good on my way home to see a bride having her photos taken on the stairs at Yemin Moshe.
The old British post boxes were freshly painted. And wonders, since I was last in the area – new public restrooms have been installed!
Jerusalem billboards have been updated announcing upcoming arts and culture, music, and song. Everyone I know is hoping events will be able to go ahead as planned, though many things are going back online this week.
When the sun shines and one can get out to walk about, even stop and talk to a friend or two, along with the gorgeous views, you can almost forget the news.
In spite of the latest health scene, nature can be a source of hope. So good to see the almond blossoms will be ready in time for Tu BeShevat.
Some weeks are harder to find, but good and colorful things on and off the Jerusalem streets await those who take the time to stop and look.
