attractive tourist destination – Page 166 – The Real Jerusalem Streets

Jerusalem Green and Accessible

April 25, 2013rjstreets

Wow, did I make a mistake;

I thought this was going to be a quiet week.

It began as the extra Israeli flags were taken down.

(Make sure you did not miss all blue and white photos

from Yom Ha’atzmaut, Israeli Independence Day in Jerusalem.)

Then came unseasonable, heavy rains and cold temperatures,

it felt more like winter than spring.

The doormen of the Citadel Hotel had out their large umbrella stand,

it was not an easy time to stay either dry or warm.

Then the rain finally stopped on Sunday evening and the sun came out,

and everything in Jerusalem turned green.

First, I went to see the Cool Globes on exhibit near Jaffa Gate.

These 18 large globes, each a unique work by a different artist, were

installed for Earth Day and will remain in place through the summer.

Then I walked over to the YMCA for the opening of the first

International Jerusalem Symposium on Green & Accessible Pilgrimage.

There were way too many events and speakers to list here, but

Forsan Hussein, CEO of the Jerusalem International YMCA

welcomed the many international visitors to the city of Jerusalem.

Deputy Mayor Naomi Tsur, who started the green and accessible initiative,

posed with Dr Jose Bernal-Stoop from Mexico on the left

and Count Phillippe Piccapiertra,

the Grand Chancellor of the Order of Saint Lazarus of Jerusalem.

While there are always thousands of international visitors

who arrive in Jerusalem, Israel, daily, this

gentleman is the only one who I know who walked here from Sweden,

and I have to add that

Nilsson Jorden, a Brother of the Military and Hospitaller Order

of Saint Lazarus of Jerusalem, has a great sense of humor too.

When I told him what I had written about him on the opening night

I was very relieved when he laughed.

I had not heard of this Order before, but their plan to make

The Old City accessible to all by way of special scooters sounds amazing.

Many Interfaith sessions and discussions were held,

Imam Farid Ansari of the Muslim America Dawah Center of Rhode Island,

seen here with Rabbi Amy Levin, came in specially for this symposium.

There was such an ambitious program with so many initiatives and

progressive ideas to improve use of natural resources for the future,

that I will have to share more on this another time.

But now on the Jerusalem streets, it is that time of year,

when young people have started gathering every bit of wood, old trees,

or beware, even watch out for your outdoor furniture,

and anything else that that will burn for the Lag B’Omer bonfires.

Safed Mayor Ilan Shochat, in his excellent presentation,

did mention what the four ancient Israeli cities have been known

for centuries for four elements,

Tiberias = water, Safed = wind, Hebron = land

and

Jerusalem = the city of “fire.”

Watch out for those fires this weekend!

Let’s hope we can keep Jerusalem green and accessible to all.

More photos from conference HERE

Yom Haatzmaut Favorites in Jerusalem

April 18, 2013rjstreets

Two grad rockets fired by jihadists in Sinai landed in Eilat .

Lately, it seems that every time I do a blog post there is a new rocket attack.

By now everyone has heard of the bombings in Boston.

The first year I lived in Boston I remember how surprised I was that

so many things shut down for the running of The Boston Marathon,

it is certainly not just another race in Boston.

So too, unless you are in Israel it is hard to imagine

how business as usual completely stops

for Yom Ha’atzmaut, Israel Independence Day.

However, there was so much to do and so many events

that it was hard to decide where to go and what to attend.

First, were many prayer services,

which followed the solemn Yom Hazikaron observances.

Then the serious partying for Yom Ha’atzmaut began.

One of the largest musical religious services was at The Great Synagogue

where Sephardic Chief Rabbi Shlomo Amar was the guest speaker .

A big favorite for most everyone is the aerial fly over

which was almost cancelled this year due to weather conditions.

Deciding which photos out of hundreds to share has been hard,

but here are a few that hopefully will show what is so special

about this time of year in Jerusalem.

The large flags draped down tall buildings.

The small flags on so many cars

and some buses.

Flags were out in the old Nachlaot neighborhood

and the new Arnona neighborhood.

Some neighborhoods had so many

flags on display,

they even lined the roof tops.

And of course flags are hung on the streets near and on the Knesset Building.

Yom Haatzmaut also marks the start of BBQ season, the time for mangals,

and grilling essentials are displayed everywhere.

Gan Sacher, Sacher Park, is usually is filled with tens of thousands

of people on Yom Ha’atzmaut.

Tents were set up for protection from bad weather by those

who came early to stake out their claim for a good spot.

Usually the choice spots are in the shade, but

this year it was so windy and cold that a spot in the sun was preferred.

The park was not nearly as crowded as most years,

making more space for those grilling meat

and having the traditional foam fights.

I could go on and on, but that would make this post really late.

Yom Haatzmaut night is one of only three nights a year

when noise is not restricted at 11:00 pm.

There were thousands of parties,

many with young people singing and dancing,

and many ending with firework displays.

I spent most of my day with one of my favorite groups,

shown here as these lone soldiers posed at the end of a major mangal.

From around the world these young people came to serve in the IDF

and now they help other new soldiers

who have also left their homes and families to serve their people.

They are the promise of the future.

As Boston comes to grips with a deadly terror attack,

I hope that they never have to learn get used to bombs as Israelis have.

Happy Independence Day.

#Israel65

Passover Has Passed Over

April 3, 2013rjstreets

What a busy two weeks have passed!

If we can still find a rocket left over from President Obama’s visit

in a Sderot school yard, then it seems not too late

to post a few favorite photos of the presidential visit

to Jerusalem, Israel just before Passover.

,

People waited on the roof tops to get a view

of the presidential motorcade as it arrived in the city.

Agippas Street, like so many other places, had lots of extra security,

and a lot less traffic for a day so close to a major holiday –

or any day.

No danger of getting hit crossing usually busy Ramban Street,

NO cars were allowed.

If you could walk there, then

it was a perfect time to go to the shuk, the Machane Yehuda Market,

which as always is a colorful place to shop.

Passover is such a busy time as there is so much happening,

especially this year with the Barak Obama visit.

As helicopters whirled overhead,

this cat really had the best idea, to crawl up in corner and hide.

President Barak Obama gave his speech at Jerusalem Convention Center.

One stand out moment,

was after a heckling Arab student from Haifa University shouted out,

secret service agents on both sides of the stage emerged from the flags.

This was a serious public event with serious camera lenses,

and many smiling faces,

but more about Barak Obama’s speech another time.

Such an Only in Israel moment occurred

as Israeli Ambassador Michael Oren left the speech

on his way to the State Dinner at Beit Hanasi, the President’s House.

While standing on the street corner waiting to cross, no one recognized him.

Oh, when they opened those streets that night was there traffic!

Passover night arrived,

and the family Seder was the main event for millions of people.

Israelis love to go to nature spots when there is a holiday.

Gan Sacher, Sacher Park, was almost empty

the week before Passover because of the Obama security,

but on Passover it was filled with thousands of families dressed up for

their holiday outings. This Minnie Mouse bag seemed photo worthy.

Again a very special favorite,

as last year Aleh Jerusalem crossed the Bridge of Strings,

on their annual March to raise funds and awareness for the very

special education they provide severely disabled children.

It was a traffic and heart stopper,

as hundreds of green and purple balloons were released.

Students, their families and dozens of young enthusiastic volunteers

brought a woman I spoke with to tears.

Sorry that it loses much in the translation, but

she slowly shook her head back and forth, repeating “Really something!”

The Old City was busy and crowded.

The crowds at the Kotel, Western Wall, were big, really huge,

with the Ethiopian leaders under their colorful umbrellas

arriving at the end of Birkat Cohanim, the Priestly Blessing.

They managed to slowly move through the crowd as they do every year.

Centuries ago when crowds came to the Temple in Jerusalem on Passover,

how did they manage without kosher for Passover pizza,

super kosher hot French fries, known as chips,

and plenty of ice cream for sale like there are now?

Passover was a great holiday time.

People were smiling in Mamilla Mall and taking photos every day.

And then,

a terrible sandstorm came in the last afternoon of Passover.

This was no April Fool’s joke, that is what the Knesset looked like.

The air quality made breathing outside difficult.

Winds blew away most of the sand the next day,

and as the rest of world celebrated an eighth day of Passover.

In Israel, Passover was official over, but still a school holiday.

The Moroccan custom of Mimouna has become increasingly popular,

so again Gan Sacher was filled with families grilling

and smoke filled the air.

Passover has passed.

Now it is time for the Mangal or BBQ season.

Since I started working on this, yesterday and today

there have been several more rockets

and new “projectiles” fired from Gaza into southern Israel.

Hamas starts firing just as children return to classrooms.

It looks as if things are heating up down there again,

For more ALEH photos, please click HERE.