current-events – Page 49 – The Real Jerusalem Streets

15 Jerusalem Street Scenes at Year End

December 27, 2017Sharon A

In Jerusalem, Israel,

every year after the holiday season,

I wait for things to quiet down.

However, it never seems to happen.

This year after the Trump Jerusalem announcement,

the mainstream media reports spewed forth about imminent unrest.

But the streets have remained “normal,”

as a huge US flag hangs on the Municipal building

together with flag of Jerusalem and the 50-year anniversary banner.

Before the recent drenching rains,

the weather was warm, almost like summer.

Friday morning, on a photo walk to Yemin Moshe,

there were so many photographers out

it was hard to get an empty street view.

Though weather had been dry for weeks,

the private gardens were beautiful,

with citrus fruit drooping from full trees.

Birds were perched above the synagogue door,

and on the bare branches in Teddy Park.

Fall colors are not easy to find in Israel,

but during a stroll through these Yemin Moshe lanes

you can find a bit of most anything.

But not all is a stroll through the park around here.

Much touted before it opened,

the cafe in Gan Haatzmaut, Independence Park,

is now an empty shell.

This new access ramp for the bank was just completed.

Now, after weeks of work,

one can enter without going up steps.

But so much for optimism about progress,

yesterday it was ripped out.

I have no idea why,

or how long will it take to rebuild.

At Municipal Hall there are large posters of photos

displaying future building projects in Jerusalem.

Any bets when they will be completed?

Walking yesterday I saw

a man sitting and reading,

against the walls of the Old City.

While along Jaffa Road,

people were sitting outside in cafes.

For winter, it was not such a bad day,

even though I was wearing a winter coat and boots.

This bloke in shorts said he was from Australia.

Well, it is summer there.

No time to fiddle away,

this was part of an art piece at Mamilla Mall.

There last week, but gone yesterday.

This large piano is still outside in Zion Square,

for the use of young and old.

It is still December,

but large signs are already up, this one in Tzahal Square,

near the Old City of Jerusalem, Israel.

The Jerusalem Marathon is set for March 9, 2018,

and tens of thousands from near and far,

young and not so young, are getting ready

to again enjoy and race through the Jerusalem streets.

Hanukkah Highlights From Jerusalem

December 20, 2017Sharon A

Hanukkah highlights.

It is both easy and hard to write this post every year.

Finding something new?

That is easy.

Look up and see a lit hanukia, Hanukkah menorah,

in a new and unusual location.

This year there were flags

flying high above the hanukia outside Beit Hanasi,

the Israeli President’s Residence.

US flags were hung along with the hanukia street decorations,

ready for the visit of US Vice-President Pence.

The visit was postponed until next month,

and those extra flags were removed.

Dozens of these blue signs remained.

Plus, there is a full-size bus covered with this message,

but I’m sorry, it went by so fast I missed the photo.

Trump’s speech on Jerusalem was a distraction for some,

but for most, the eight days of Hanukkah

involved lighting a personal hanukia at home.

On the last night of Hanukkah,

tens of thousands arrived in the Old City

to see performers with torches on fire

and special lights at Jaffa Gate.

Spinning dreydels were a favorite new decoration.

Hundreds of tour groups worked their way slowly through

the narrow alleyways of the Old City.

A photo-op of a man sitting by his candles

or windows up above the streets,

caused the crowds to slow to a standstill.

In the Jewish Quarter, the Hurva Synagogue was lit up.

A constant flow of people came and went

to and from the Kotel,

the Western Wall Plaza, during holidays.

As every year the large hanukia,

is a photo highlight.

This was one photo I was not anticipating,

a re-enactment of the Jewish Temple priests lighting the Temple menorah.

At classic spots, it was hard to get a clear shot,

as cell phone cameras were in use by the thousands.

One wall had a projection of the Macabees in days of old.

The crowds at Mamilla Mall for lighting were impressive.

Hundreds came each night,

the recent warnings of danger did not affect enthusiasm.

Tourists from near and far gathered to celebrate

the last night of Hanukkah.

Only the warm weather seemed out of the ordinary.

These Habad vans were part of a convoy,

pulling large electric hanukiot.

Too bad I did not get a good position for a video,

they changed colors as the music blasted.

Habad has brought the lights of Hanukkah

out to main streets all around the world.

But in Jerusalem, and around Israel,

there is more than candles and oil lights.

Special suffganiot, those fried decorated donuts

filled store window displays,

and were consumed by the millions.

See that little hand reaching for one more?

For one last time until next year,

Happy Hanukkah.

Eight Days of Hanukkah: Not Enough in Jerusalem

December 13, 2017Sharon A

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, 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.

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

the King David Hotel with

the walls of Old City in the background.

Hanukkah menorahs are placed in hundreds of locations.

Thousands of school performances

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

So what about the “tense” situation?

Those red signs and IDF security posts

are the norm for the outskirts of Bethlehem.

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.

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.

Hanukiot are on display,

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.

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.

Actors recreated the event,

and thousands of spectators, local and international,

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,

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

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

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.

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!

Time to get going,

the first day is almost over.