Eight Days of Hanukkah: Not Enough in Jerusalem

Eight Days of Hanukkah: Not Enough in Jerusalem

Hanukkah time in Jerusalem, Israel,

is always a busy time of year.

This past week the world has had Jerusalem

in its headlines after US President Trump acknowledged

Jerusalem as the capital of the State of Israel.

US flags flying in Israel on street where US consulate is located.

US, Israeli and Jerusalem flags

were flying on Agron Road

along the street of the US consulate building.

No photos are allowed of that building,

so this corner view of the

Jerusalem Waldorf Astoria will have to do.

Old city walls of Jerusalem Israel seen from King David Hotel with US, Israel and EU flags near pool

The Israeli, US, and EU flags were on display behind

the King David Hotel with

 the walls of Old City in the background.

Chanukia on display in Mamilla Mall as people walk under in mall

Hanukkah menorahs are placed in hundreds of locations.

Choir performs at Hanukkah performance for grandparents in Gush Etzion Efrat

Thousands of school performances

large, and not-so-epic, have been held.

So what about the “tense” situation?

On road to Efrat red warning Israel prohibiting Israelis to enter way to Bethlehem

Those red signs and IDF security posts

are the norm for the outskirts of Bethlehem.

Muslim woman and child in Liberty Bell Park in Jeremiahs Israel

Parks may be a little less crowded,

but I did not find the that the “situation”

was much different than usual.

There are neighborhoods of New York,

Washington, DC, and Chicago,

I would never walk through,

and where driving can be dangerous.

The Tower of David Museum opened a new exhibit,

A General and a Gentleman

Allenby at the Gates of Jerusalem;

there was no way I was going to miss this event in the Old City.

Macabees to Allenby poster

Since the viewing Balfour-Allenby Exhibit

at the Israel National Library,

I have anxiously awaited December 11, 2017.

December is an important month for religious holidays.

Exhibit in Tower of David Museum for 100 years Allenby

Hanukiot are on display,

text description Allenby

this photo has the explanation.

There are dozens of original photos.

Keep in mind that World War I was first time soldiers

had cameras on the battlefield.

Not exactly Facebook live, but they captured memories

now frozen in time for over 100 years.

Three photos were ordered destroyed for proper procedure of British Narrative of war

The collection of authentic items and research is impressive.

Three official photos from the series are missing;

they were destroyed as they did not fit the British war narrative.

The exhibit runs until the fall of 2018,

but on December 11, 1917,

General Edmund Allenby entered through Jaffa Gate

to an impoverished Jerusalem.

100 years after actor dressed as General Allenby enters Jaffa Gate Jerusalem Israel

Actors recreated the event,

and thousands of spectators, local and international,

Actor as General Allenby on steps of Tower of David Museum

crowded in to watch the reenactment of the original ceremony.

‘General Allenby’ spoke, and his heirs who came from England

joined local dignitaries, past and present.

Thousands were in the streets of the Old City,

without violence – so not news.

But about that rusty key of the city,

Actors Allenby and Lawrence of Arabia at Tower of David Museum after reenactment holding key

Mayor Nir Barkat did not keep it.

Allenby took it out of his pocket as he spoke to

Lawrence of Arabia after the program

inside Tower of David.

Facebook photos of A General and A Gentleman

Street sign in Hebrew for Chaukkah event in Jerusalem

Here’s hoping people will not miss the multitude of events

Poster in Hebrew for Hanukkah event in Old City Jerusalem Israel

 planned this week in Jerusalem.

School is out.

Museums are free for children.

Too many events to list, but here is a link

to some of the Jerusalem Hanukkah events.

Menorah for Channuka on roof top in Jerusalem Israel

From Cinema City to Safra Sqaure to Yes Planet,

look up and look around.

There is, as usual, too much to do on Hanukkah.

In Jerusalem, eight days are not enough.

חנוכה שמח

Happy Hannukah!

Hebrew sign on bus in Jerusalem Israel Old City

Time to get going,

the first day is almost over.

Hanukkah and Holiday Time in Jerusalem

Hanukkah and Holiday Time in Jerusalem

In Jerusalem, Israel, as December begins

the holiday season gets going.

Ethiopian Israeli Festival held in Jerusalem Israel

Signs are up for a new Ethiopian-Israeli Festival.

Tourists from Nigeria pose for photo in Jerusalem Old City Western Wall Plaza

International tourist groups have been enjoying

the unusually warm, sunny, and dry weather.

Chanukah Lights on poles for Hanuka

These holiday streets lights are up

and new signs of Hanukkah

are everywhere:

Poster for Hannukah events in Jerusalem Israel

some with neighborhood activities

Jerusalem Israel posters of Hanukkah donuts

and this series of signs with holiday treats to eat.

Chanukah donuts displayed in sop window Jerusalem Israel

Suffganiot have been in the shop windows

Donuts on large tray carried by man through shuk before Hanukkah

 in Machane Yehuda Market, the shuk’

and in Jerusalem bakeries for weeks.

But one of my favorite holiday foods are

Strawberries for Hanukkah in Jerusalem Israel Machane Yehuda market

those big red, delicious strawberries

 that are just coming into season.

In the shuk, they are for sale, but not yet piled high.

It is not only the Hanukkah season;

Old City Christian Quarter Santa Claus

 Santa Claus is in the Old City,

Jerusalem Israel YMCA Christmas tree in lobby

and the YMCA has decorated trees both inside

Christmas tree at YMCA Jerusalem Israel

and outside in the front garden.

On Friday, while on the bus to the Old City,

Muslim prayer on Friday in Jerusalem Israel Muslim men and women walking

we saw thousands of Muslims coming

Jerusalem, Lion's Gate on Friday afternoon prayer time.

from all directions for Friday prayers,

while at the same time

Counter protester against Women in Black is dressed in Israeli flag

these characters were waving Israeli flags

Pro-Israel supporter with sign in Jerusalem Israel

and holding signs.

It was a wonderful peaceful week in Jerusalem.

We will have to wait and see what will happen next.

But to end on a festive note,

one of my all time holiday favorites,

from two years ago,

is this wonderful sound and light projection,

on  Walls of the Old City.