Warm Story for a Cold Week

It is foggy, grey and wet outside.

The white snow seems so long ago.

Last week the colors were so beautiful,

Jerusalem marathon

 it was perfect weather to train for Jerusalem’s marathon next month.

Even now, tree cuttings  still block many parks and sidewalks, 

rainy street photo Jerusalem

with even more cuttings appearing after the first cleanup.

So much talk this week was of weather and elections.

It wasn’t just branches that were blocking sidewalks in Jerusalem, Israel.

Israeli Jerusalem street photo

These TV news trucks were parked on the sidewalks near Beit Hanasi,

the President’s residence, as they waited for official election results.

However, before the rain started on Monday,

wedding photos

 there was a very special wedding in Jerusalem.

photo Elisheva Chai sons

The oldest of these three young men was 16 years old

when their father was shot and killed by terrorists and

their mother instantly became a widow with 7 children,

the youngest 4 months old.

Gil Efrati photo

Their mother Elisheva Chai was getting married to Gil Efrati of Jerusalem.

Rain drops fell as the chupah stood ready outside,

  heavenly tears lightly covering the ground.

chatan tish photo

The chatan sat with friends before the ceremony,

dancing at Jewish wedding photo

then the dancing began as the bride and groom were led 

chuppah at night photo

to the bright and still dry chupah at Ramat Rachel.

Jewish wedding

But were there any dry eyes at this celebration?

Gil Efrati has never been married before,

and now he is the father to seven beautiful children.

wedding photo children

After Rabbi Meir Avshalom Chai z”l was murdered, 

Elisheva Chai was able to raise a wonderful family.

She gives credit to the support they received from OneFamily.

Cars are honking, people are cranky and trying to stay warm.

I am so glad for this wonderful story to warm up

an other wise cold and dreary week. 

To see more of this story and special simcha please, click HERE

Favorite Sukkot of Sukkot

The Sukkot holiday is over and as the tourists are heading home,

 I would like share a few favorite Sukkot from this year.

warning sign

In some neighborhoods there were so many visitors

that warning signs were posted asking for quiet.

In the Nachlaot neighborhood, 

Sukka

I found this tiny sukkah down a narrow lane

Sukka

and another one almost hidden up on a roof top.

sukkah

At the Kotel, the Western Wall Plaza, where there was a large sukkah 

as well as smaller ones for the huge crowds of visitors.

peres

The public was invited one morning to visit the sukkah at Beit Hanasi,

the official residence of Israeli President Shimon Peres.

Arriving inside the building after a long wait outside,

Israel president

 many stopped to peak in 

to the President’s Official State receiving room,

sukkah

before passing through to the sukkah.

sukka

As usual the President’s sukkah was not designed for eating,

but rather for showcasing the fruit and agricultural wonders of Israel. 

sukka

Many hotels had large sukkot, where thousands of visitors ate.

large sukkah

The large sukkah at Kikar Safra, Safra Square,

looked the same as in recent years, but

sukkah decoration

inside it was decorated with unique decorations using recycled plastic.

sukka

Sukkot ranged from the most simple,

sukka

to a ‘political’ sukkah on poles,

sukka

to this colorful beer bottle decorated bar sukkah.

Perhaps the biggest difference from last year was Jaffa Road.

Jaffa Street

Jaffa Road was lined with sukkot and crowded.

The Jerusalem light rail trains were running and filled with people,

last year they were going, but filled with sand bags on trial runs.

Jaffa Road

The city center was busy day and night.

sukkah

Our sukkah was a busy place too, I just wish it hadn’t rained

so hard during the main course at dinner the first night. 

sukkah

It was indeed a very happy Sukkot holiday in Jerusalem, Israel.

If you missed it perhaps, next year in Jerusalem?

President Peres Sukkot Show

It happened at the second performance at the annual Sukkah Open House

on the grounds of Beit Hanasi, the official residence of the Israeli President. 

President Shimon Peres

President Shimon Peres was sitting on stage,

when a small gust of wind

President Shimon Peres

 toppled a pot plant, an Israeli flag and the state seal on to him.

President Shimon Peres near miss

His security detail rushed over

Shimon Peres accident

and removed the sign from the president’s lap.

Shimon Peres falling

He assured everyone that he was ok,

President Peres Sukkot

then stood and waved to the crowd.

Peres after accident

After fixing his hair, he replaced the comb in his pocket,

President Shimon Peres

and posed on the newly rearranged stage.

Shimon Peres sukkah

And the show went on with lively song 

Israel president sukkah

and dance.

President Shimon Peres photo

On the way back to the residence, Peres posed for a few photos,

President Shimon Peres sukkah

then proceeded inside. 

That sign that fell came way too close for comfort,

but for an 89 year old man, Shimon Peres

 responded quickly in a difficult situation.