attractive tourist destination – The Real Jerusalem Streets

Secrets, Robotics, Waiting and Timing in Jerusalem

June 20, 2018Sharon A

Timing.

Oh how many times have I said, “Timing is everything!”

The Prime Minister is in Tel Aviv giving his innovation speech to a Cybersecurity conference. I think I know most of it by heart, especially his example of agritech, where Israeli drones can water one thirsty plant out in the field.

In Jerusalem, Israel, conferences on health, society, and more are filling numerous hotels.

Last week Security Minister Gilad Erdan hosted international leaders in a Homeland Security Forum at the Orient Hotel.

What a difference a week makes! I had to research the US delegation head last week.

Minister Gilad Erdan listened as head of US Homeland Security Kirstjen Nielsen spoke.

I would bet she enjoyed the Israeli conference much more than being chased by protesters from a Mexican restaurant last night in DC .

Besides hundreds of police officers and international officials, the heads of Israel security also attended.

Sorry some slides are top secret, but I thought this one was interesting and shareable.

Room #2 was off limits. But these three 3-d copying machines were going strong for all to see.

Israel President Reuven Rivlin attended, spoke for a few minutes, and was on his way in no time.

Shame he missed getting one of these key chain holders made by the copying machines.

They tell me 3-d chocolates are next. Now that is something worth waiting for.

On the topic of timing and waiting, there are two very short videos clips I have been waiting to share.

Student robotics champions were at Beit Hanasi, the Israel President’s residence, in the room to greet official dignitaries, to demonstrate their winning entry.

Oh dear, that is me trying to be quiet and not succeeding.

A demonstration of how a few tense seconds, less than a minute, can feel so long.

But there you have it, after a bit of delay, the robot threw the ball as intended.

Tense? Time for international yoga week.

For those who cannot read Hebrew, the orange sign in the middle announces that it is Yoga week from June 17-22.

The Big Dream poster on the left is a special event in honor of International Yoga Day, with music and decorated yoga mats in Hinnom Park near the Old City walls.

Another one of those “you never know what you will find next” on Jerusalem streets.

Innovation and tech. The big deal tonight is at WeWork Creator awards in the Arena. From the 1300 videos entered into a competition, 10 finalists will be on stage to present to thousands of participants coming by free shuttles from around the country for food, entertainment and more. Perhaps next week I will share my video.

Out on the streets, one simple pleasure.

Appreciating the simple things, new white lines have been painted to make pedestrian crossing a lot safer at this busy corner.

White crossing lines painted so all can see the crossing: How many times have cars zoomed past recently as I waited to cross.

Smoke and dust filled the air at this planned building demolition. Old Jerusalem buildings are coming down to make way for new towers to be built near entrance of the city.

Still waiting for the fast train to Tel Aviv.

However, construction goes on…and on.

As always, something new is happening on the Jerusalem streets.

From Jerusalem, Education Uniting and Empowering

June 13, 2018June 13, 2018Sharon A

Another incredible week in Jerusalem, Israel, as tens of thousands filled hotels and their buses made their way through the Jerusalem streets.

The Unity Prizes were awarded at Beit Hanasi, the Israeli President’s Residence. With the Gesher Foundation and Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat, the Fraenkel, Ifrach and Shaar families initiated these awards four years ago.

The families of the three murdered teens Eyal, Yifrach, and Naftali z”l wanted to find a meaningful way to express their appreciation for the unity and support they felt during those difficult days.

$Unity Prize founders three families Fraenkel, Ifrach and Shaar at Beit Hanasi for Unity Awards Ceremony$

The program was held in the main hall and included music and entertainment, with the families and prize winners filling the room.

Boca Florida won a prize for Jewish Engagement, unity in Jewish education. Representatives from Florida came to Jerusalem to receive their award.

Other winners were Runners without Borders, TEC Center, Koolulam, and a special Global life achievement went to Birthright.

Three video clips were included in last week’s Shabbat Shalom greeting. They can be seen HERE.

Soon after I left Beit Hanasi, there was another event in the gardens of OneFamily.

Photo ops with former NYC Mayor Rudy Giuliani were popular that night.

Giuliani was mayor at the time of September 11 terror attack. He spoke of dealing with victims of terror in the aftermath and emphasized the good and important work of OneFamily helping victims of terror in Israel.

Not all of his remarks would be considered politically correct, but here is one short clip on Arafat and the PLO.

Beit Hanasi, as usual, was a busy place all week. The presidential gardens were ready for numerous international guests.

The leadership of American Jewish Committee (AJC) lined up so politely to enter. Should I confess that I smiled and went in the other door to bypass the line?

At AJC closing plenary, one of the many faces of Israel, Ahlam Alsana, stressed the importance of education in her remarks.

For locals, it was the annual Shavuah Hasefer, Hebrew Book Week, again held in First Station. As every year, thousands of volumes were for sale, attracting young and old.

A volunteer student theater group performed as families gathered before the entry gate opened.

After their performance, confetti covered the ground and the actor/painter was back at his easel at work.

Another “you never know what you will find” scene for sure.

You never know what you will find at those end of school year performances filling schedules in June. Mega events, with professional staging and lights, lasting well into the night – for elementary school. Interesting, as college graduations in Israel are so low key compared to US.

The new Orient Hotel was the scene of a gala dinner celebrating the 80th year of Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz and Steinsaltz Center contribution to education.

What other dinner gala featured a wall of impressive books, under the authorship of one person?

Rabbi Steinsaltz was escorted into the full banquet hall by his son and grandson.

Popular singer Avraham Fried gave a powerful performance.

The key note speaker was Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks, who spoke about power and knowledge.

To end with some inspiration, take two minutes and listen to a brief clip from his insightful remarks.

So much is happening in Jerusalem.

Israel Festival has ended. Jerusalem Design Week has begun.

Then on June 27, begins another week of the annual Light Festival in the Old City.

But for this week if there was one overshadowing theme, it was that education is the key.

Education should be everyone’s birthright, not only the privileged.

Am Yisrael Chai.

Out of the Blue, Out of the Box, and Out on the Streets in Jerusalem, Israel

June 6, 2018Sharon A

Blue. Blue is the color of the week.

Blue is the color for good luck, and many doors and windows in Jerusalem, Israel, are painted blue.

Crayola announced it is looking to name its new special blue crayon.

The Bible Lands Museum Jerusalem (BLMJ) opened a new exhibit called “Out of the Blue.”

The Hebrew word for blue is not mentioned in the Bible. However, tekhelet, is mentioned in Biblical literature dozens of times.

At a special press event before the exhibit officially opened at BLMJ, there was a demonstration of dyeing tekhelet wool.

Exposure to sunlight and oxidation causes the wool which was dipped into the dye (which is made from the secretions of a gland in one particular snail, the murex trunculus) to become tekhelet.

This permanent blue dye and the royal purple, are the basics of a new exhibit in honor of Israeli 70th year. A variety of ancient pieces are on display.

Not bad looking, this blue necklace from South Mesopotamia, dated 2700- 2600 BCE, made of gold and lapis lazuli, a semi-precious blue stone used by ancient royalty.

Rounding out the exhibition is the Israeli flag, modeled on the blue stripes of the talit.

Yad Vashem also opened a new exhibit this week on theme of Israel 70 years. Not blue, but showing the longing for Zion and Jerusalem in letters and memorabilia from the 1930’s of Euroepean Jews yearning to go to Palestine.

“Thinking Out of the Box” was the theme of a special Science and Technology conference held in Jerusalem. Australian Ambassador Chris Cannan and I walked in at same time. For a photo to post on Twitter I told him not to pose so stiffly. Only later did we realize, that above the big, blue word BOX he was pointing to there was a typo which ran through the printed materials.

Inside the First Station hangar, once your eyes got used to the dark, was the entrance to a cocktail reception.

At the sit down dinner for hundreds of international guests, the first course was demonstrated and explained by its celebrity chef. No printed menus, so no typos.

The Ministerial level conference featured Israeli Nobel Prize winners, many who attended the gala opening.

This is table #1 as dinner was served.

It was fascinating speaking with science and technology officials from Belarus, Tokyo, and India.

In one of the video segments, I learned that Israel is ranked number four in world in uploading of videos on to YouTube.

Ovadiah Hamama, sang Ana BeKoach, so of course, I uploaded a video to YouTube.

The “Out of the Box” conference was held at the Orient Hotel and was very exclusive.

The Wolf Prize ceremony at the Knesset, without Sir Paul McCartney, was hardly noticed, photos HERE.

But out on the Jerusalem streets the annual Israel Festival was well under way for all.

Multiple dance, music and drama performances were held in Jerusalem venues for this cultural festival which is in its 57th year.

But one dance performance by Willi Domer, “Bodies in Urban Spaces” was not only out of the box, but out on the Jerusalem streets, and in phone booths,

and multiple unusual spaces for photo op stops along the way from the Ticho House to the YMCA.

Not all appreciated the creativity and uniqueness of the young Israeli dance troupe from Tel Aviv.

The choreographer has done performances in 100 other locations, but this was the first time in Jerusalem, Israel, on King David Street, for this pose.

More unbelievable poses and photos from “Bodies in Urban Spaces” HERE

The Jerusalem Theater, with a large blue poster for the Israel Festival, held multiple music and dance events as usual, which ran from May 23 to June 9.

Out of the box? Ping Pong was in the plaza in front of the theater.

Across the street, at the Islamic Museum a new exhibit opened. A big blue Khamsa or Hamsa, was outside on the wall, while hundreds are on display inside.

For the Muslim holiday month of Ramadan at the National Library, on display were rare copies of the Qu’ran and rare Islamic treasures.

Phew. Not enough yet? There was the international stamp exhibition last week too, and admission was free.

In Jerusalem, as soon as June comes around, it is time to worry about summer programs for children who will be out of school soon.

For older students, there is an all night end-of-school year Summer Rave party in Gan Sacher, Sacher Park, with a huge stage, several bands and lots of beer. It means less sleep for many tonight.

However, after a busy day there is nothing more pleasant than to attend a beautiful June wedding in Jerusalem as the sun sets.

Unless it is with a bottle of special blue label wine.

L’chaim!