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Jerusalem March on Sukkot Amazing International Event

Jerusalem March on Sukkot Amazing International Event

Sharon A

 The 60th International Jerusalem March

took place during the intermediate days of the Sukkot holiday,

the Feast of Tabernacles, and again this year was a huge event.

Little boy in Jerusalem with international flags collected at Jerusalem Parade

Flags from 60 countries flew from the flagpoles

and small ones were given out to spectators.

Major Jerusalem streets closed for Jerusalem March on Sukkot

Major streets were closed for the 60,000 participants.

The starting point in Gan Sacher, Sacher Park,

Cl;owns in Jerusalem March pose for photos before the start of parade

was colorful, and not just because of these clowns.

Crowd in Gan Sacher watches as parade participants line up to march

Thousands of Israelis came

Sacher Park with thousands of people prior to Jerusalem March

and gathered in the central Jerusalem park,

to join in the parade,

Women with flags and shofar and colorful dress in Jerusalem March 2017

and to see the international visitors.

Jerusalem March 2017 gathering in Gan Sacher before walking to First Station

The weather was sunny and warm,

Ice cream cone treat on day of Jerusalem March in Gan Sacher

 a perfect time for an ice cream treat.

United Nations banner in Sacher Park for Jerusalem March

Here is the banner of the United Nations for Israel.

Shofars being blown by women in Gan Sacher before the Jerusalem March 2017

There were shofars blowing,

Jerusalem March participants in matching hats for parade to First Station

matching hats,

Blue stars on their cheeks and feather head dress for Jerusalem March

and more distinctive headgear,

Entertainment for children in Sacher Park on Sukkot

entertainment for children,

Two women taking selfies in park as Jerusalem March participants go to walk

and of course, selfies.

March for Zion banner in Jerusalem March on SuccosThousands walked and watched this March for Zion,

Jerusalem Parade on Sukkot

singing love from Philippines,

China participants in Jerusalem March

waving Israeli flags,

Flag of Jerusalem as banner in Jerusalem March 2017

or carrying a Jerusalem flag as a banner.

China participants in Jerusalem parade

This group from China,

besides distributing a flag or candy treat,

Young woman got a necklace from woman from China walking in parade

gave this woman a pearl necklace.

Costumes in Jerusalem March

One marcher’s costume had a US-Israel theme,

while right behind him came

Costume like huge gold wings in Jerusalem March

this woman spreading her golden wings.

Flags and marchers in Jerusalem on Succos

The enthusiasm and colors,

Jerusalem March man gives flag to spectators

the flags small and

Flags from around world in Jerusalem March on chol hamoed Sukkos

large, were everywhere.

Banner with bible reference in Jerusalem March

There were Biblical banners

Flags on international Jerusalem March

and Israelis flags, from countries far and wide

Indonesia marching in Jerusalem March

including Indonesia.

Banner saying Yerushalayim in Jerusalem March 2017

The love for Yerushalayim,

50 years of a unified Jerusalem,

overflowed,

Two police horses watching as Jerusalem March starts

as tens of thousands marched out

of the park and through

Jerusalem March leaving Gan Sacher on Sukkos

 the streets of Jerusalem, Israel, on Tuesday afternoon,

ending at First Station.

What a way to celebrate a beautiful day.

Sukkot Surprise in Jerusalem

Sukkot Surprise in Jerusalem

Sharon A

The Bible Marathon was held October 6.

People raced from Rosh Ha’ayin to site of ancient Shilo,

a distance of 42 kilometers, a full marathon track.

I did not have time to go,

I was on a personal marathon,

racing through a packed holiday season.

So much happening in Jerusalem,

it is really hard to keep up.

For the first day of Sukkot lunch, we were 22 people,

from US, Mexico, USSR, Australia, France, South Africa

Table ready in sukkah for meal

and more, all gathered in our sukkah for a meal.

Amazing if you take time stop and think about it.

President Rivlin honored a long-time tradition

Beit Hanasi on sukkot ready for public

and opened the gates of Beit Hanasi,

the Israeli President’s official residence, to the public.

As usual the Presidential sukkah featured

Israeli grown agricultural products,

Sukka Beit hanasi on Sukkot 5778 map with flowers and fruit of Israel

this year a map of world was unusual and special.

From Beit Hanasi in the morning,

I had planned on walking into town to attend a bar mitzvah.

But also special on that day, was the weather.

Sure they had called for rain in the morning.

But first rain usually is a few drops of wet dirt.

But, surprise!

Thankfully, I made it to a bus stop,

before the heavens opened up.

Below is one of several videos,

in case you think I am overstating.

I made it to the bar mitzvah.

It had moved inside from the sukkah,

but cleared enough to come out again for dessert.

So much more, but for now here is

Happy Holiday sign at Israeli President's house on Sukkot 5778 - 70 years.

one special photo from Beit Hanasi Sukkah Open House

“Happy Holiday”

Check back next week for holiday highlights,

Jerusalem March, Kites at Israel Museum, sukkot, etc.

Now back to kitchen to prepare for end of holiday week.

חג שמח

9 New Holiday Scenes in Jerusalem

Sharon A

 Jerusalem, Israel,

is old and new and constantly changing.

These birds flying over the ancient walls of the Old City

Jerusalem migrating birds

are migrating as they have for centuries,

though those powerful lights are new.

Waldorf Astoria Jerusalem Israel new window display

The Waldorf-Astoria has new window displays.

Jerusalem Israel sunset view

New towers are being built,

 the Jerusalem skyline is changing.Mamilla Mall view at sunset from near Jaffa Gate

At the David Citadel Hotel, those white things in the distance

are balconies being prepared for Sukkot holiday meals.

View of Jaffa Gate from outside Jerusalem Israel

I was at Jaffa Gate at sunset

and looked up at the Tower of David,

Tower of David, Jerusalem Israel Old City

to see something new on top.

That is a special cork sukka designed as part of the

 3rd Jerusalem Jewish Contemporary Art Biennale,

by artist Avner Sher.

At the Jaffa Gate below there is nothing new,

Keporos at Old City with live bird

just this man performing the kapparot ritual

moving around a live chicken.

Man waving bird over head of two women for Keporos at Jaffa Gate Jerusalem

These women did not look as comfortable with

the ancient custom to absolve one’s sins before Yom Kippur.

Jerusalem Old City train for tourist to Western Wall

The new Old City Train was ready bright and ready to go.

Lights of new food places above Cardo in Old City Jerusalem Israel

Here are two new bright signs above the Old Cardo.

Jerusalem Israel new sound and light show City of David

The City of David has a new sound and light show.

Jewish second temple stone found in excavation under site of new police station

This decorative stone from the Second Temple is a new find

 by archaeologists near the Kotel, the Western Wall.

I went to the Old City before Yom Kippur,

Western Wall selihos booklet for late night Selihot at the Kotel.

Synagogue Old City Sephardi

While the synagogues were quiet that night,

New police station and roof of building near Kotel for selihot

from the new observation spot above the

new police station building

Western Wall Plaza full of people for sehlhos after midnight

the crowd stretched further than my lens could capture.

Kotel for Selihot 5778 Jerusalem Old City Israel

Tens of thousands of people kept arriving

though it was well after midnight.

Women at Kotel for Selichot 5778

Would selfies at the Kotel be considered new?

Jerusalem Israel Old City view of Western Wall and dome of Rock at night

The dome and wall are certainly not new,

but always impressive sight lit up at night,

so late that no transportation was in sight.

For the last time this year,

Bus from Old City with sign Gmara Hatima Tova

here is a bus with the Yom Kippur greeting,

“Gmar Hatima tova”

“May you be sealed for a good year.”

Now that is old too.

As soon as Yom Kippur ended in Jerusalem,

Jerusalem Israel sukka on a balcony

sukkot started popping up.

If you would like to not only see the Kotel scene,

but hear a bit of the selihot prayer,

I am sharing this short video:

Now it is time to prepare for new holiday and guests.

חג שמח

Chag sameach.