Cold winter weather in Jerusalem, Israel,
but roses are blooming in
the gardens of Yemin Moshe.
שבת שלום
attractive tourist destination
Art and Music Brighten Jerusalem Winter
Weather.
What a wild week of weather!
It was so warm and sunny one day,
that after lunch at the Malha Tech Park,
people lounged at cafe tables in the mid-day sun,
reluctant to return to their offices.
Then,
came the rain,
along the light rail line on Jaffa Road,
at least this umbrella brightened the morning.
Yesterday, hail pounded down, along with high winds.
The challenge became to aim an umbrella so the wind
would not blow it away or inside out.
However, there is plenty
of music to brighten cold winter nights.
While restaurants come and go,
a new Art and Music Gallery opened on Yoel Salomon Street.
The Jerusalem Jazz Festival and the annual
Hullegeb Festival of Ethiopian music, and more events are this week.
Plus it’s another December weekend of Hamshushalim,
with dozens of entertainment and cultural options
at discounted prices, and many for free.
When it comes to discount options or free,
nothing tops the Yad Sarah organization.
“What’s the catch? What’s the cost?” everyone asks.
I took a tour this week.
The main equipment supply room
brims with medical assistance items,
the emergency hot line operates 24/7,
while the art therapy room has everything,
from this vintage sewing machine
to cabinets full of handmade pieces of art.
Thousands volunteer and are serviced by Yad Sarah,
its list of services and items is massive.
If their supply of hospital beds were piled up
it would be higher than Mount Everest!.
Tours are free, and recommended for all.
What’s the catch?
Yad Sarah has everything but adequate parking.
To end on an upbeat art note:
Besides the growing Bezalel Academy of Art and Design,
a new art center is to be built in downtown Jerusalem.
The $50 million complex is to be called
the Jerusalem Campus for the Arts.
I missed the rainbow yesterday morning,
but there is much happening to brighten
these Jerusalem streets.
Israel: Land of Diversity and Extreme Contrasts
Israel covers a tiny bit of land.
You can drive the entire country from north to south in less than a day.
We spent more time in the car trying to get from New York City
to Washington, DC, years ago for a Thanksgiving Day wedding.
Taking a trip outside of Jerusalem, Israel, this past week
inspired this post of amazing contrasts.
All photos are from this week,
a week in a month of no holidays.
The old white stone “igloos” of Kfar Etzion,
perched on a mountain blend into the wintry sky.
While construction across from the Jerusalem Theater
goes deep, deep into the earth.
This used to be my shortcut path,
soon it will be sight of a modern luxury tower.
Religious diversity was the topic of discussion
at the Israel Democracy Institute,
while poverty was discussed at Mishkenot Sha’ananim.
The Taub Center conference concluded with
a panel and MK Elie Elalouf’s Knesset poverty report.
We hear endless stories of barriers and borders.
How does that compare to the river border with Jordan?
On the other side of that simple pool rope is the Kingdom of Jordan.
The man in the white top on the left had just immersed in the river.
Can you spot the soldier on guard duty?
One huge contrast is the sky in summer and winter.
While in summer the sky is pure blue,
the winter sky is often cloudy.
Through these low clouds on a mountain top,
you can almost see the windmills on the right.
Drive out of hills of Jerusalem,
you will find the desert.
No rain, but blue skies and white clouds.
These two white vehicles were parked,
one day I may photo shop them out.
This was an everyday scene at an Israeli rest stop,
with the prerequisite camel nearby.
The ancient Roman ruins at Bet Shean park
are worthy of a blog post of its own.
It is only a short drive to modern Tel Aviv.
And certainly do not forget the diversity
of the Israeli population.
Ethiopian-Israelis are integrating
as judges, rabbis and members of Knesset,
but this man is just in costume, he is not a real Kes.
The clouds make for amazing sunsets this time of year.
My friends were raving one night at this scene,
so I took a little photo liberty with this photo,
adding a some color to the scattered clouds.
One more before I go,
the number and diversity of the street musicians,
old and young, male and female,
religious and who knows what, is amazing.
Some performers may be down on their luck.
However, from the streets of Eilat to Israeli stardom,
the Brothers Gat were the entertainment for the gala opening
of the Jerusalem Jewish Media Summit 2016,
performing for international Jewish editors, publishers
and journalists.
For a “quiet” month with no holidays,
there was so much happening,
I’m glad I had a few moments for the “Sounds of Silence.”