Music, Lights, Shabbat and Happy Hanukkah

Music, Lights, Shabbat and Happy Hanukkah

How could I forget?

With a post last week of musical events in Jerusalem, Israel,

Jerusalem Theater Pianos

I forgot to include the annual Piano Festival

taking place once again at the Jerusalem Theater.

In the ‘what will they do to top last year’ department,

Jerusalem Theater Piano Festival

chairs were set up outside in a large tent.

Piano performances will be held over three days,

and piano bars stocked with wines

will help keep visitors warm in the cold nights.

Meanwhile,

Jerusalem Theater lobby

inside the theater,

Jerusalem Theater singer

musicians and singers who immigrated to Israel

Jerusalem Theater singers

performed throughout the building.

Jerusalem Theater snack time

Some were more interested in the snacks

Painted glass at Jerusalem theater olim event

than the music or art works on display.

With the holidays approaching, visitors are arriving

Jerusalem street lights with hanukiot lit up for chanuka

and decorations are lining the streets.

Street signs for hanukah

Chanukkah celebration signs are posted.

Jerusalem street sign for lights of hanukah

Festivals, performances and happenings

will light up the city for Hanuka,

 too many events to list.

The lights of Shabbat

Lighting the lights of Hanukah

will be followed by the lights of Hanuka.

Yes, I spelled חנוכה different ways in English,

but the wishes are the same.

First

שבת שלום

Shabbat Shalom,

then

חנוכה שמח

Happy Hanukkah

 And if you want more lights and music

to get in a holiday mood,

here is my favorite video from last year.

Hanukkah – Holiday of Lights

 Hanukkah is called Chag Ha’Urim, the Holiday of Lights.

Haunkiah at Kotel, Menorah at western Wall , Wailing Wall

 At the Kotel, the Western Wall, is one of the most famous hanukiot.

One of my favorite things in Jerusalem at this time of year

is that the usually shuttered windows at night-time

Jerusalem at Hanukkah time

are opened to show the burning candles.

oil menorahs, Jerusalem photos chanukah

 They are wide open to let the Hanukkah lights shine out to the street.

menorah in window, Jerusalem photo

At this yeshiva, there were hundreds of lights burning,

oil menorahs, Jerusalem photo tours

wow, they use a lot of olive oil.

The view in the windows upstairs in the Bet Midrash,

Menorah, Jerusalem photo tour

 revealed the main celebration.

We not only saw the light, but also heard the music on the street below.

Jerusalem photography tour, candle lighting, oil menorahs, chanukios

May the special beauty of the Hanukkah lights from Jerusalem, Israel 

spread throughout the world.

Chaukah candle lighting, Jerusalem photography tour

Chodesh tov and Shabbat shalom

decorated Hanukkah cake, a great miracle happened here, Jerusalem photography tour

Hanukkah sameach!

Happy Hanukkah!

10 Signs that Chanukah is Coming

It can be spelled differently in English every year,

but the Hanukkah season in Jerusalem is very consistent.

There are 10 sure signs that Hannukah is on its way.

1. The piles of sufganiot in all bakeries

begin to disappear at an astonishing rate.

2. Street decorations are up

and lit up at night.

3. Hanukkah menorahs are placed in public spaces and on roof tops.

This one is on top of the entrance to Bet Hanasi, the President’s official residence.

4. Dreydels and spinning tops of all sizes and colors

 and shapes can be are for sale everywhere.

5. Shopping mall aisles are filled with sweet treats.

6. At nursery schools adults are sitting on little chairs with their children,

as families race from one child’s holiday performance to the next.

7. Shoppers fill the malls

and go to Machane Yehuda Market, the Shuk, where…

8. Strawberries are in season

 and ready to taste.

9. Citrus fruits are at their peak color and flavor,

but more unusual tropical fruits are also offered for those special occasions.

And 10…you know Chanukah is here when,

the signs on the crowded buses change to Hanukkah Sameach.

Happy Hanukkah!