Purim Old, New and Ignored in Jerusalem

Purim celebrations went of for days and days,

in Jerusalem, Israel.

bus sign Happy Purim

As usual, the bus signs said, “Purim sameach.”

Purim carnival

Families celebrated with carnivals and rides for the kids.

Purim Jerusalem, Israel

Groups like the scouts had loud parties.

ice skating Israel

For the first year in Cinema City an ice skating rink was open,

image woman with face painted as animal

and this woman had her face painted to purrfection.

image man in skeleton costume

People in costumes,

cinema city Jerusalem

and well, even this whatever it was.

There was a lot happening on the streets,

Purim fun Jerusalem

 with people in a good mood having lot’s of fun.

Celebrations and huge meals,

and yes, many people drank too much.

News film crews were out

and got videos of drunken men on the street.

But, not one international film crew came on Purim

to the Israeli Foreign Ministry Building,

first votes for Israeli elections

where for the first time, some Israelis working overseas

were able to vote in advance of the March 17 election.

Israel elections

A live feed from Tbilisi, Pretoria, New Delhi and Berlin,

showed some of the locations where diplomats were voting.

photo Salim Joubran

Israel Supreme Court Justice Salim Joubran,

chairman of the Central Elections Committee,

on Purim, Thursday, March 5, 2015,

visited the situation room in the Foreign Ministry in Jerusalem

to observe the elections taking place at Israel’s diplomatic missions abroad.

A prominent Arab juridical figure overseeing Israeli elections,

discussed Israel’s being a democracy.

This topic may not fit the media narrative,

but it is what was happening in Jerusalem.

Jerusalem Cinema City Open

Hezbollah is escalating its activity near Syrian border.

The Israeli navy stopped an Iranian rocket shipment headed for Gaza,

from Syria around to Sudan, under a Panamanian flag!

Spending so much time and effort on terror makes sense to them?

Government foreign service workers are striking.

Hundreds of thousands of haredi protesters went home.

The Sandstorm from Egypt is finally over.

image Jerusalem cinema city, photo Jerusalem Cinema new, picutre Jerusalem Cinema City

And the new Jerusalem Cinema City is open.

photo Cinema City Jerusalem, image Jerusalem Cinema City, picture Cinema City Jerusalem

The area outside is landscaped with trees, flowers and signs.

Wish I knew why they used so many tall thin cypress trees?

image Jerusalem cinema city, photo Cinema City Jerusalem

Inside the fountain is flowing,

image movie theater, picture Jerusalem movies, photo films in Jerusalem

and huge chandeliers and bright floors shine.

picture cinema city Jerusalem, photo inside cinema city, picture Jerusalem movie place

The theaters are down, down under the ground.

image Jerusalem building, photo Jerusalem, picture cinema city

The foot bridge is closed off for now,

image Jerusalem cinema city, photo cinema city Jerusalem

but some shops are open.

cinema city Jerusalem image, photo Jerusalem cinema city, picture new theater

There are plenty of ticket sellers with little to do,

and freezer case in the ice cream store is empty.

There seems to be something for everyone,

image Uncle Sam, photo Cinema city Jerusalem, picture inside cinema city

Uncle Sam wants you,

image Elvis, Elvis photo, picture of Elvis

even Elvis wearing brown shoes, but with a blue guitar.

We used to use the expression “Bigger than Ben-Hur.”

But while I did not see him,

image Moses, photo Moses with ten commandments. picture inside Cinema city

 Moses is here with all Ten Commandments.

image Noah's ark, photo large ark with animals, picture Cinema city

Outside on the roof is Noah with his ark and animals,

image Smurfs, photo cartoon, picture Jerusalem unusual

and colorful Smurfs too.

image cinema city, fancy stairs photo, picture of stairs in cinema

The Zipora Express restaurant was quite full and busy.

Unfortunately, not all the escalators were working.

I did a lot of walking up and down these steps,

image disabled walking, photo woman with walker, picture woman walking in cinema city

but one woman was there with a walker.

photo Jerusalem cinema, new cinema photo, picture cinema city

So many lights, colors and busy stuff,

anyone with a seizure disorder should beware.

Actually, you could probably develop one if you walk around long enough.

image cinema city, Jerusalem new photo, picture cinema city

Jerusalem, Israel, ‘city of lions’ has a new attraction.

Lights, action, camera, but for now, the theaters are closed on Shabbat.