SNOW in Jerusalem – photos!

Snow.

Snow in Jerusalem is big news.

It is international news. People seem to love Jerusalem covered in white.

The last significant snow accumulation was in 2015, large enough for an individual post. Fascinating some of the latest photos from Elpis (that is the official name of this storm) are very much the same as the big snow in 2013.

The weather has been wet and cold so when the sun came out I walked to the Old City. It felt almost normal seeing people again was exciting.

There was an international tour group! Smaller groups also were on the Kotel, Western Wall Plaza on Tuesday afternoon.

Snow was predicted in Jerusalem and other higher elevations.

First came heavy rain, and then the snow started after dark.

Coming down heavily, trees were bending under the weight.

The white stuff was piling up all night long. You could hear the excited voices of children (of all ages) who ran out to play in the snow, some seeing it for the first time.

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Very few people were out after the earlier snowball fights and fun.

Looking out at 3:00 am, it was interesting to see other lights on!

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By dawn, the sky was clearing and snow covered the Jerusalem streets.

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Jerusalem was again appearing as a winter wonderland.

My finger was too cold taking photos, to avoid frostbite I went back inside.

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But clearing in the morning sun, the fog was hovering over the new taller buildings in town.

The grounds near the Knesset were covered. You can tell the new snow photos from old ones, as here with a new hotel in the image.

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The Israel Museum had the heat on with smoke rising after the cold night.

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What a lovely morning in Jerusalem, with blue sky, white clouds, and snow covering the ground.

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The cactus plants were still visible in their pots.

And the inches of snow were similar to the serious snowfalls of the past.

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Not in the past was the roof of the new Israel National Library.

During the day the Kotel had snow and slush, and not as many visitors as the day before. The afternoon turned cold and wet, and I had missed the moment, since being up too much at night made for a late start.

So Friday morning I was determined no matter what to get to Gan Sacher, Sacher Park. Tree branches were down in many locations.

Besides branches blocking the sidewalks piles of plowed snow blocked crosswalks.

This tunnel was filled with people partying Wednesday night as it snowed, but Friday morning it was wet with water leaking from above. Serious runners were also out in spite of the weather.

While snow is big news in Jerusalem, two years ago we had a different kind of white stuff covering Jerusalem streets and many streets were closed.

I had wanted to get Gan Sacher not only for the snow, but also the Candle Memorial on January 27th, but it had started to rain.

On Friday, again the rain started. It was wet and tree branches blocked the path. Oh the top right, you can see that hotel which is next to Cinema City.

Jerusalem Candle Monument

So I headed home and decided to reuse these previous images,

text Candle Memorial

of the monument dedicated two years ago on January 27th when world leaders including Putin were in Jerusalem for the Holocaust Memorial.

Top of Candle Memorial in Jerusalem

I wrote about the Candle Memorial last year remembering the liberation of Leningrad from the Nazi occupation.

Israeli families were out in the rain and cold and in the new play area.

The lower areas of Gan Sacher were a soggy mess of melted snow with branches down on the wet paths.

But there was still enough snow on the higher parts of the park for attempts at sledding, and one lone large snowman built the day before was still photo-worthy.

This should have a masterpiece on the pedestal the day before the rain.

So one serious snow day with no school in Jerusalem was enough for me.

I decided instead of looking for more photos to share to head home and make a pot of chicken soup before Shabbat.

Snow in Jerusalem.

Most everyone loves it.

There was plenty of snow for great creations and lots of snow angels.

Plus mountains of broken branches to clean up now.

I am looking forward to warmer weather.

Hope to see you soon on the Jerusalem streets.

Did You See these Jerusalem Photos?

Do you find some days it’s easier to get started than others?

When the Jerusalem winter days are gloomy and cold outside (and in), it takes extra effort to put on boots and jacket (and mask) and get going.

Each day I try to walk a different route to find new images to share.

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One day it was possible to get a photo of the menorah across from the Knesset with no people around it. A Knesset guard stopped me as I walked by to ask where I was going. “Gan Sacher” I told him and he let me pass by.

Day after day, the plaza outside of Jaffa Gate has been deserted. Jaffa Gate is shut and the security personnel at the road entrance check identification.

Stores in Mamilla Mall are preparing to open, but no one knows when.

At Machane Yehudah Market some stores were closed, but others were open.

Along busy Agrippas Street people were shopping for Tu Bishvat treats.

To enter the shuk, everyone had to stick out a hand to have their temperature taken. Oh, how security checks have changed this year!

Young families try to get out of the house when the sun is shining.

Zoom school for young children, week after week, is not going well. Report cards were given out to students who only had one day in a real classroom.

A new sign “Jerusalem is Giving a Shoulder – all of us in Jerusalem are getting vaccinated and continuing to abide by the regulations – together we will win and return to our routine” was also published in print media.

Meanwhile, motorcycle food delivery is a fast-growing business. This lunch was going to someone in an Israeli Financial Office.

But my favorite sighting was the hand over of food delivery to a guard outside Beit Hanasi, the Israeli President’s Residence.

Did you notice the white tent in the distance of this photo?

In these tents outside the Rose Garden, across from Finance Ministry, major Israeli hospitals joined together to protest their inadequate funding.

January 27, 2021, was International Holocaust Remembrance Day.

Yad Vashem conducted its annual event for the International Diplomatic Corps serving in Israel online, featuring a message from President Reuven Rivlin and a lecture entitled “The Path from Mass Shootings to the Final Solution.”

In the past the diplomatic event was held in the Yad Vashem Synagogue.

In 2017, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke to the international diplomats in the synagogue as part of Yad Vashem’s annual programming.

Jerusalem Israel Yad Vashem

Last year Yad Vashem hosted the huge international event with kings and world leaders in attendance, shutting down many Jerusalem streets.

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This section of Gan Sacher, Sacher Park was covered with white security tents last year for the dedication of the “Memorial Candle.” At the beginning of last week, they were again at work on the monument.

But by January 27th, the site finally appeared completed.

The Memorial Candle monument commemorates the heroism of the defenders and residents of Leningrad during the years of siege in the war against Nazism.

An explanation was added in multiple languages with stones at the bottom.

The monument was placed in the park in view of the Israeli Supreme Court.

During World War II, from September 8, 1941, until January 27, 1944, the city of Leningrad (now St. Petersburg) was under military siege by the German Nazi forces. Some 490,000 residents and defenders of the besieged city died, including tens of thousands of Jews.

The top of the “Candle” was cleaned and polished this week.

In memory of the Jewish soldiers in the Red Army, and citizens who died during the siege of Leningrad, flowers were placed at the base.

Also, on the night of 27th the holiday of Tu Bishvat began.

After a warm winter, there were signs of spring in Jerusalem.

I assume this location would be hard for most people to figure out?

The green roof of the Jerusalem Bird Observatory was looking good again.

The former President Hotel on Ahad Haam Street was finally, after over a decade in disrepair, going down, on a wet gloomy day.

While the lights were on again at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel.

No doorman was outside, but inside the door, there was a “Disinfection Stop.” Not only a guard at the entrance but also large bottles of sanitizers.

Fresh flowers were in the lobby, but no guests were visible inside.

Also the Prima Kings Hotel had lights on and signs of life inside and out.

What a week it was. Warm, and cold and wet outside. But unlike in the past, much of the action could be viewed from inside at home.

The Jerusalem Symphony performed online Tu Bishvat broadcasts on January 27th – here is a link for one.

KKL-JNF produced a special celebratory tablecloth kit, with unique games and activities for use with its online celebration. The kit was distributed in numerous countries and in various languages for Tu Bishvat.

There was even an online Israeli Earthquake Conference held this week.

What next on the Jerusalem streets?

You never know what you will find.

However, this man was fly-casting in Gan Sacher, Sacher Park last week.

More on the park next time, there is plenty changing there for another time.

Jerusalem’s planning to be ready in the spring to welcome back visitors.

The week of Tu Bishvat, blooming trees, new growth, and hopes for the future from Jerusalem, Israel.

Take care and stay well out there, hope to see you soon Jerusalem streets.