current-events – Page 92 – The Real Jerusalem Streets

Jerusalem International Arts and Crafts Festival

August 6, 2013rjstreets

Once again at the end of summer,

there are lots of festivals on the streets of Jerusalem, Israel.

One of the most impressive is

חוצות היוצר ירושלים

Khutsot Hayotser, the International Arts and Crafts Festival,

which may be hard to transliterate from Hebrew,

but it is hard to miss, right across from the walls of the Old City.

This event has grown for the last 40 years.

At least once a year the Arts & Crafts Lane comes alive.

There is an Israeli Pavilion with 200 Israeli artists and exhibits,

Thousands fill the festival grounds

and some entertainers really stand out.

Mayor Nir Barkat was there on opening night and posed with potential voters.

Making the rounds, he stopped by Hadassah College’s Neverland booth.

Each night of the festival a major Israeli musical performer stars,

and last night Barkat introduced Shlomi Shabat to the Sultan’s Pool audience.

No Israeli event would be complete without food.

It was hard to push your way through the crowded main food court.

Families found places to sit, eat, rest and listen to music.

The International Pavilion had booths from Asia,

South and Central America, Europe, Africa and United States.

Bulgaria had a prime location, but their stuff still was still stuck in customs.

India was well represented.

The nice lady of South Korea had a variety of fans.

Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Guatemala,Turkmenistan and Madagascar,

Angola to Zimbabwe and more: so why not Canada?

Popular African musicians were among the many international entertainers.

This huge event will host tens of thousands of Israelis from August 5-17.

The Israeli news Channel 10 was there live for opening night.

But as usual,

no matter how large or how many people are out on the Jerusalem streets,

if there is no violence,

it’s not worthy of the mainstream media’s attention.

August Summer Festival Time in Jerusalem

August 5, 2013rjstreets

During August in Jerusalem, Israel, the weather gets hot during the day,

and lots of people travel north or leave the country.

But there is so much to do in the capital:

the annual Beer Festival,

the International Puppet Festival and Jerusalem Klezmer just to name a few.

School is out.

Summer camps are over.

Keeping children happy and safe occupies most everyone,

and that includes parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and the office staff.

Free admission and special activities for kids at the Israel Museum in August

brought out thousands of families.

This optical illusion was so much more impressive from the front.

These performers at first looked like a statue,

but this really needs a video to do it justice;

they were impressive no matter how you looked at them.

Keeping track of who you came in with was a problem with the large crowds.

This percussionist was working hard.

His loud music and great rhythms kept everyone’s attention,

and some had a better view than others.

Not all acts were loud, this mime didn’t make a sound,

and had his audience quietly participating, but with lots of oohs and aahs.

Mirrored reflection was also quiet and a great photo op.

Any day at the Israel Museum,

the distinctive dome of the Shrine of the Book is impressive to see.

But at least one night this week the kids will be left at home,

as the museum hosts its popular Wine Festival.

I got to the Maccabiah Opening, but this year missed the street ball in Kikar Safra.

There is still plenty of time for the miniature trains, as they did not open on schedule.

If all this is not cultural enough for you,

how about Shakespeare in the Park?

Richard III will be presented in English in Bloomfield Park, (near the Windmill).

Who has time to go out of town

when there are so many events happening in Jerusalem?

Rosh Chodesh Av at the Western Wall

July 9, 2013rjstreets

In Jerusalem, Israel, on Rosh Chodesh Av,

thousands of people had a very early start to their day.

Arriving near the Kotel, the Western Wall Plaza at 7:00 am, this was the scene.

A group of young men,

and boys,

one woman with a whistle and one with signs

were protesting against the Women of the Wall’s Rosh Chodesh prayer service.

Not all the WOW were praying–

some were talking to the press, as there were plenty of cameras again.

The regular men’s section was not crowded,

Deputy Mayor of Jerusalem Yitzhak Pindrus was there.

It was the women’s section that was full.

Women for the Wall had brought out thousands of religious women and girls.

They continued to pray silently, in stark contrast to the noisy protesters,

though there was not enough space for all of them

and the group extended well into the Western Wall Plaza.

While the Women of the Wall and Women for the Wall were the center of attention,

I liked these scenes.

At least a few of the security people found time to pray.

And in the middle of it all there was a Bar Mitzvah celebration.

Wonder if someone thought that with an early start it would be less crowded?

The Women of the Wall were not happy with their site and the police.

After their service had ended, and after singing Hatikvah,

the Women of Wall group continued singing before going to their buses.

There has been lots of chatter on Facebook about both groups,

with some good, some bad and some ugly comments.

The two sides do not seem to be getting closer

and many people do not want to hear or think about this conflict any more.

But I would really like to know,

what the Deputy Mayor was thinking at this moment?