Shabbat Shalom and Chodesh Tov

The Jerusalem Municipality has invested a lot in landscaping and vegetation.

Flower beds are planted near many Jerusalem, Israel streets, and intersections.

Chodesh tov, Rosh Hodesh Elul poster made from floral butterfly at Sacher Park

This floral butterfly near Gan Sacher, Sacher Park is in full bloom.

Though similar to four years ago, these are new flowers.

Shabbat Shalom written on Jerusalem Israel flowers

שבת שלום

חודש טוב

On with the Show In Jerusalem

On with the Show In Jerusalem

Jerusalem in August is usually not the most popular place to be.

It’s hot. It gets humid at night in Jerusalem.

It’s summer vacation time when residents go north to find cool waterways and nature trails.   In past years, tens of thousands of Israelis flew overseas to foreign destinations for a holiday. With COVID-19, nothing is usual this summer.

But even during a pandemic in Jerusalem, the attitude is that the show must go on.

Kotel Plaza divided during coronavirus restrictions night view

The Western Wall Plaza is divided up to meet the latest prayer limit restrictions and, as you can see in this image taken after Shabbat, the sections were filled.

Jerusalem family walking in summer

Families are doing their best to keep children busy and safe. With hats, sunglasses, and masks it can be difficult to recognize friends.

Cloudy day in Jerusalem view of Malha in distance

Last week the clouds over Jerusalem were impressive.

Clouds in sky over Jerusalem view toward Malha

For two days in a row, there was no rain, just massive clouds over the city.

Pretty sunset in Jerusalem summer

Those white billowing clouds can make for colorful images at sunset.

Jerusalem Valley of the Cross Israel Museum at top of hill

By day even weeds growing wild make for a colorful image.

Man is distance reading while sitting on old stone hedge

These are the slow days or the end of summer. Instead of attending crowded festival events and conferences with hundreds of participants, walking these nature trails in Jerusalem has been a daily activity. There is a man sitting and reading alone in the distance. There are a few runners, occasionally a person sitting alone on a bench meditating, even a young couple sitting together, with the girl wearing a hijab covering her face with her hands.

Lizard on a stone in Valley of the Cross Jerusalem

I refrain from taking photos of people to respect their privacy. But this guy I had to get.

Jerusalem monastery bird perched on high window

Days of walking slowly, not rushing to a scheduled meeting, one can look and see a bird perched.

Building cranes in Jerusalem

Look up, there are building cranes in most directions over Jerusalem streets. These working on the National Library and Jerusalem Gateway seemed to be in sync.

Jerusalem path in Valley of the Cross

Oops, the water company was on site for a water leak.

Path in Valley of Cross on way to Gan Sacher

The next day it was repaired and all was back to normal.

Protest at Paris Square to reopen theaters

However, not all is quiet. The protests near the Prime Minister’s Residence continue. Members of the IPO played a concert and various culture groups also joined protesters.

Poster on Jerusalem street for Israel Festival in September

Theaters have not been allowed to reopen. However, the 59th Israel Festival, originally set for June, has rescheduled for September 3-12. The “show must go on” for the annual Jerusalem event with local and foreign artists, events, and performances.

September 2020 Jazz Festival sign in Jerusalem

The 2020 Jerusalem Jazz Festival is planned for September 8-10.

The Jerusalem Municipality is holding a series of events at Jerusalem’s bars and nightlife businesses. Every Monday, during the month of August, the Shaon Horef events are happening.

Jerusalem summer festival musical performers with people watching on Hillel Street

Jerusalem School of Rock student performers were out entertaining the public. One of the many Jerusalem street actors passed by and danced to the beat for a bit on his way up Hillel Street.

A warm-up for August 20-21, the two-day family-friendly smoke-free, second annual Jerusalem Community Woodstock event. Featuring the best of the Woodstock era bands with music, food, camping out

Jerusalem Israel restaurant in old silos

The jamming to the “greatest music in rock history” is planned at Silo, a vegetarian eatery, off the First Station parking lot. At this Jerusalem Woodstock, don’t expect to find mud, smoking, or drugs.

Jerusalem Israel Museum day before reopening after coronaviurs closing

The Israel Museum finally reopened after being closed for months due to corona.

After corona restrictions and closing the Israel Museum in Jerusalem reopens

The first visitors came on Thursday with masks, tickets, and special security.

Water on the Israel Museum Dome of the Book over Dead Sea Scrolls

The water is back on and flowing over the Shrine of the Book.

The Bloomfield Science Museum is to reopen this week.

Jerusalem Theater 2021 membership sign and Hadassah Hospital future

Planning for the future, The Jerusalem Theater opened its 2021 membership season.

Jerusalem purple flowers Israel

Here are some on my favorite Jerusalem flowers, the בוגונויליה – Bougainvillea.

Want to get out of Jerusalem and see more Israeli flowers?

See the latest wildflower walking tours  HERE.

And to end on a positive note, the night shows at the Tower of David were fully booked! So they added more. Only Friday nights the lights and sounds are silent.

Rosh Hodesh Elul is Thursday and Friday.

Only one more month in the Hebrew year תש”פ.

In Jerusalem, the streets and shows are slowly happening again.

Wherever you are headed this week take care and stay safe.

The skis are opening up to tourists.

Hoping to see more visitors again on the Jerusalem streets.

Jerusalem Riding the Waves of August

Jerusalem Riding the Waves of August

From Jerusalem, there is good news and bad news.

Rollercoaster days with ups and downs.

Highs and lows with COVID-19.

Beautiful, happy weddings and sad, sad funerals.

Crazy times with closings and openings.

Yet 140 new Olim arrived from France.  We know that others are arriving daily without a big reception, to go into a two-week quarantine, before starting their new lives in their new home.

The seasonal international tourists are missing from the Jerusalem streets.

The Pianos Festival went online this year.

However, the seasons and nature are consistent.

Jerusalem Valley of the Cross

The days are growing shorter with the end of August rapidly approaching.

Gan Sacher in Jerusalem Israel

The well-watered grass in Gan Sacher, Sacher Park is ready for guests.

Jerusalem pizza truck in Gan Sacher

The Jerusalem Mayor’s office announced the removal of public telephones. But Jerusalem has added food trucks in various park locations. Friday morning, pizza was available in Gan Sacher.

Drive-in movies are being shown at the First Station parking lot. Regular theaters are still closed to Corona restrictions.

Shaon Horef, the Winter Noise Festival held on Jerusalem streets on Monday nights in February, got lost in the news of approaching novel coronavirus. Now Jerusalem is trying for Shaon Horef  on August summer nights with music and performances on various streets.

COVID-19 activity in Jerusalem Israel exercise in park

 

The parks are sponsoring Sport and Fitness for retired folks.

Among the other options are biking, flower arranging, yoga and Pilates, and Segway tours.

Family with a flying toy in Jerusalem park

Not sure who was having more fun here, the father controlling the flying toy or the kids who sat to watch.

Corona Hebrew advertisement for party for youth

Parties for the youth are planned in the Jerusalem parks.

Young couple meeting on a date in Jerusalem Israel park

And Jerusalem parks are, as always, perfect for a first date, another sign of this season.

The Jerusalem municipality has offered to host weddings at various scenic locations:

Tayelet Haas Promenade empty on Friday after terror attack

the Promenade at Armon Hanatziv,

I love Jerusalem in flowers.

the Bloomfield Gardens near the Montefiore Windmill,

Jerusalem Israel Bell Park in summer

and the Liberty Bell Park.  They are also some of my favorite Jerusalem locations.

Protesters sitting on Jerusalem street near the Prime Minister's Residence
Photo credit: Shifra G

Those noisy protests near the Prime Minister’s Residence continue.

View of Israel Museum Dome over Dead Sea Scrolls

The Israel Museum was closed for months but there is some good news there.

People standing outside the Israel Museum entrance in Jerusalem

 Museum galleries are scheduled to open this Thursday.  The employees protesting last week are to return to work.

Valley of the Cross in Jerusalem new landscaping

From a distance I noticed the all-black covering put on the back of city promotional signs along Hazaz Street, part of the black shirt anti-government protest.

Valley of the Cross new landscaping and flowers along exercise path

However, looking closer to the new landscaping along the street, there are new flowers emerging.

Friday afternoon in Jerusalem man selling flowers before Shabbat on street corner

This pink sign is one of the Jerusalem promoting tourism which were covered in black. But I took this photo to share a sign of normalcy. Friday morning flowers were being sold for Shabbat.

Jerusalem Israel sunset

The sun has risen and set.

Lime tree with fruit in Jerusalem Israel

The limes on the tree are growing and almost ready to pick.

Closeup on a rose in full bloom with small insect

I thought I had found a perfect rose for a closeup.

Only when I got home a saw there was an insect crawling on it.

Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Leon announced,”Following the global tourism crisis, we decided to advance the upgrade work and infrastructure related to tourist areas throughout the city. Upgrading King David Street is a complex upgrade project that affects transportation throughout central Jerusalem.”

The Israel National Library on Givat Ram announced, including their online sessions, will be closed for lack of funding.

Jerusalem Israel national Library building construction

But, construction on the new National Library is going strong. This is how the roof looked today.

Jerusalem Israel view from city center toward Old City

So there you have it, not all good, part of what’s happening on the Jerusalem streets this week.

I miss attending events at Beit Hanasi, the Israeli President’s Residence. The very restricted number of programs now are limited to the Government Press Office only, not open to those of us with GPO cards.

Israeli President on phone
Photo credit: Mark Neyman

Today President Rivlin spoke on the telephone with people who have requested help via the coronavirus hotline opened by Beit HaNasi.

Let’s hope we can all ride these waves safely.