Looking forward to a quiet Shabbat,
what could be more calming than cool colors
of Kinneret, Sea of Galilee.
שבת שלום
attractive tourist destination
Israel Going North: Old and New
It does not happen often,
but we got away from Jerusalem, Israel,
for a few days and we drove up north.
Nothing is far in Israel,
and in two hours you can be at the Kinneret,
the Sea of Galilee.
It looks so cool and calm,
but on the other side,
Syria is on the other side of the Golan Heights.
It used to be on the other side of the lake.
The Galil seems filled with prosperous
Arab villages along the main roads.
Check out this sign in Arabic
for the Israeli (Chinese) dairy company Tnuva.
A special ceremony honoring fallen Bedouin soldiers and security officers
was held this week at the official memorial park
established in honor of Bedouin IDF soldiers, police and scouts.
It is beautifully landscaped with large symbolic stones.
In this photo, three stones represent those hung as spies by Syria.
Despite the community pride in the fallen security forces,
no names were permitted to be photographed and published.
All those names are listed this in memorial wall shaped like a tent,
but I was told not to share the names.
Not far away,
rising above the valley is Mount Tabor,
with its narrow winding road leading up to the top.
Buses have to park at the bottom,
as only smaller vehicles can make the multiple crazy turns.
It is truly is a wonder how the Terra Santa friars
built the original structure so many centuries ago.
But what a view from there now!
Jerusalem is not the only place of contrast,
old and new, for much of Israel today is amazing,
and constantly changing.
Ok, it was fun to see one of those
old fashioned baby transporters,
new and in use in the restaurant parking lot.
Established under difficult conditions,
in 1901, Kfar Tavor,
has a museum with old milk cans,
while a few kilometers away, huge tank trucks come and go
from the state of art Tnuva factory.
The highways are not like the old days,
Highway 6 with its large trucks reminded us
of the New Jersey Turnpike traffic.
While driving it was possible to check
the phone for email and updates and more,
but the Kfar Tavor Museum has the one phone,
for all of the Palestina (Eretz Yisrael) area in 1926.
Wine is still processed the old fashioned way
in wooden, hand-crafted barrels.
Looks like this is as close as I am getting to
the Jerusalem Wine Festival this year.
Last night I attended a special event,
in the Kfar Shmaryhu residence
of the US counselor for Press and Culture.
3 teams of Ethiopian Israelis presented
entrepreneurial projects done with mentors
in a new Tech-Career incubator program.
In 2002,
no Ethiopian Israelis were trained in hi-tech in Israel,
now there are hundreds.
A few highlights of week, old and new and change,
the sunsets were picture-perfect every night,
but it is good to be back home in Jerusalem.
Jerusalem: Old, New, Constantly Changing
Jerusalem, old and new and constantly changing,
has been a constant theme
throughout the years at Real J Streets.
Once a derelict No Man’s Land,
a bullet-holed war zone between 1948-1967,
now Mamilla Mall is a huge success story.
Thousands of people come to shop and eat daily.
Often the parking lots are so full
that traffic backs up and honking cars are the norm.
On King George Street,
this abandoned building
has been an eyesore for years and a home to squatters.
But in Jerusalem what a difference a month makes–
now it is gone!
A white construction fence has appeared in its place,
which surrounds extensive excavation work.
From one opening,
you can see the Great Synagogue across
King George Street and the dome of Heichal Shlomo.
Work on the future Knesset Museum is
hidden behind these huge tarp coverings.
The difference that has occurred in a month
to the future We Work offices
at the old Mashbir site is obvious.
On the downtown Jerusalem streets,
change can be seen not only looking up,
but also be sure and look down.
Artists have produced new works
on mats laid down in busy plaza areas.
For the best angle from which to appreciate this street art
you have to take the time and stop.
Not enough?
Signs are up at Beit Avi Chai advertising
neighborhood tours with story-telling.
Gan Haatzmaut, Independence Park,
has been a construction site all week.
But the barriers and the large stage to be built there for
the annual Beer Festival are only temporary.
However,
as always the end of August,
the biggest deal on the Jerusalem streets
is the first day of school tomorrow.
For working parents, childcare
during the last two weeks of summer vacation
is often provided by grandparents and friends.
But, those without children also appreciate start of school,
as children were often brought to offices,
banks and many parents’ workplaces.
News outlets have started their annual interviews.
Yikes, now there are songs about school on radio.
The Prime Minister, President and mayors
will go to be photographed in a classroom.
I love how starting Kita Aleph, first grade,
is such a huge event in Israel.
Wishing all a good
and successful new school year.