Beit Hanasi – Page 24 – The Real Jerusalem Streets

US Vice-President Biden Returns to Jerusalem

March 10, 2016rjstreets

US Vice-President Joe Biden was in town this week.

When he visited five years ago,

it was a blog-worthy occasion, a very no-frills visit,

as compared to a US Presidential visit to Jerusalem, Israel.

But this visit was not like last time.

The big red no-parking signs were not warnings for the

upcoming Jerusalem Marathon street closings,

but for Vice-President Biden’s visit to

President Reuven Rivlin at Beit Hanasi,

the official residence of the Israeli President.

The red carpet was unfurled,

and for an extra layer of security, this blue tarp was erected.

Flags, flowers and podiums were arranged.

Hamentashen were among the sweets served to munch.

There was a long delay and wait,

because the VP stayed longer than planned

with Prime Minister Netanyahu.

Finally, it was show time.

Key players were in their positions.

The motorcade arrived.

A huge US vehicle with DC license plates

and adorned with US and Israeli flags

pulled up along the carpet with swarms of security,

and the United States Vice-President.

International press lined the way ready to report.

Such coordination,

even their ties matched.

I was late for a meeting and left after the speeches,

right after the official hand shake.

The waiting cars of the motorcade filled the driveway,

while security shades blocked the view.

This was a full scale production,

everyone knew that Joe Biden was here this time.

And don’t you know it,

as soon as I turned around to leave there she was–

another one of those Arab girls!

Crazy layers of security, a street lined with police cars,

bomb squads whose photos I cannot share,

and there was an Arab girl having a driving lesson.

After Hail on Passover, What Next?

April 15, 2015rjstreets

Hail in April,

in Jerusalem, Israel?

Not only was there a hail storm as the holidays ended,

but this was the scene the next day also.

It looked and felt like winter, not spring.

The city looked black and white,

as 4 mm hail stones fell.

But now,

the Passover things are put away,

and visitors have returned home.

The Happy Passover signs on buses have changed,

to wish Jerusalem riders “have a good trip.”

The skies have cleared

and people have returned to the streets,

some of which are lined with flowers.

Two hundred and fifty invited guests associated with OneFamily

filled the main room

at Beit Hanasi, the Israeli President’s Home,

with President Reuven and First Lady Nechama Rivlin,

to launch a new cookbook.

“Tastes of Life” features foods that mothers made for their

children who were victims of terror.

Each mother shares not only a recipe,

but memories of their loved ones that are gone.

Very different,

but still another way to remember a lost loved one,

a new Healing Garden was dedicated by a New York family

in the Hosptial Saint Louis Francais.

In the sunshine, supporters of Kashouvot,

an organization advancing Pastoral Care,

heard the story of Randie Malinsky z”l

who passed away in October

after losing a battle with cancer.

Now hospice patients and families can sit in the garden,

to talk or watch the light rail and the rest of the world go by.

The “French Hospital” was built in the mid-19th century

and stands next to the Notre Dame,

across from the Old City Walls, near New Gate.

It boasts the only strictly kosher nunnery in world.

Also this week for all to see,

the first Israeli flags are flying from car windows.

And the large trucks have gone around hanging Jerusalem,

and large Israeli flags over the Jerusalem, Israel streets.

The radio is playing sad, slow music,

as soon it will be Yom Hashoah,

Holocaust Remembrance Day,

and the beginning of another busy holiday season.

After Jerusalem Snow of Century Clean Up Time

December 19, 2013rjstreets

While the rest of Israel and world goes about its business,

in and around Jerusalem it is not back to normal yet.

Snow and fallen trees are piled higher than a bus stop.

This is just #blizzrael – Blizzard – Israel – Unreal.

If you have lived through a large snow storm,

then you are familiar with these grey piles of plowed mess on street corners,

trying to walk around them,

and sharing the space on the cleared streets with slow traffic.

But this is Jerusalem, Israel, not Boston, Buffalo or Brooklyn,

so there are plenty of palm branches on the ground too.

Another difference, people here do not leave a piece of furniture

on the street hoping to save their parking spot.

Most of the pretty white images from yesterday are gone.

There was one pretty scene in front of Beit Hanassi, the President’s residence,

I guess the President’s staff gave up on clearing the sidewalk,

hoping the sun would do the work for them.

It was warming up finally,

and this man was out in shorts.

The Jerusalem cats were back in their favorite spots,

but the Paris Square Fountain was not flowing.

I have dozens more not-so-pretty photos of mountains of snow,

but I won’t bore you with so many of them.

The clean up equipment was out,

only I always seem to find them on a break.

It is still a great time for tree-trimmers who work with large chain saws.

Along with the sounds of cars honking in blocked traffic,

is the welcome sound of buzzing of chain saws.

Just look at the amount and size of some of timber that was cut

and left in front of the Jerusalem Theater.

Now is a good time to collect wood for your fireplaces.

With so many scenes like this one on Emek Refaim Street,

and these dangerous snowy and icy walkways,

it is no wonder that a few guys’ crazy idea to run to Eilat,

doesn’t seem so crazy anymore.

That is confetti not snow, as the runners

left First Station at the start of their 36 hour, 360 km relay race.

Good luck guys!

We finally got full power back after a week,

so as long as it lasts I am going to

keep my feet dry

and hibernate.