current-events – Page 94 – The Real Jerusalem Streets

Under-21 Championship Final and Tomorrow

June 18, 2013rjstreets

The marathon of big events over the past two weeks,

Jerusalem Lights, Formula 1 Road Show,

and Hebrew Book Week, have ended.

Though it also began the beginning of June,

the UEFA Under-21 Championship Finals are still going.

The Israel-England game that was played at Teddy Stadium

attracted over 22,000 soccer (football) fans.

Many former Brits living in Israel were conflicted,

so they cheered for both sides.

Though Israel won, they still did not go on to the next round.

In the middle of Ben Yehuda Square,

usually the scene of street musicians,

this Under-21 Championship set-up appeared instead.

Playing this soccer game did not seem like the best exercise,

and gotta love these active sportsmen.

But I was glad I came back later

to see that some young people were actually kicking soccer balls

and some were using their heads.

Look out world,

here comes another generation of Israeli soccer players.

The European soccer championship game,

Italy vs. Spain, is being played tonight at Teddy Stadium in Jerusalem,

Spain could win back to back victories.

Update final score: Italy 2- Spain 4.

At the same time, at the Jerusalem International Convention Center

is the opening of #Tomorrow13, the Israeli Presidential Conference.

5000 delegates have come from around the world to attend.

Tonight is a huge 90th birthday celebration

for Israeli President Shimon Peres, with Dr. Barbara Streisand,

(she got an honorary doctorate from Hebrew University yesterday),

former President Bill Clinton, Prince Albert of Monaco

and other celebrities, like Robert Di Nero.

It is harder to get a ticket than to the Barak Obama’s speech in Jerusalem!

But I wonder which event will have more home viewers?

So much happening on the streets of Jerusalem,

you do not have to be here to see the diversity!

Things Mainstream Media Won’t Tell You

June 11, 2013rjstreets

It is that time of year.

All over Israel there are end of school year celebrations.

These events start soon after the Shavuot holiday ends

and go until the end of June when school is out for the summer.

Most performances are put on for families and friends and become

true extravaganzas that rival the Israel Festival Jerusalem programs.

The Jerusalem Theater hosts many of the musical programs

of this May-June annual cultural festival.

This year new venues were added to the program.

Though the English on this sign is a bit curious,

I was anxious to see the results of the extensive renovations

to the old Hansen Hospital.

People were lined up early at the main entrance,

which went through the gardens.

However, this is as close as I could get.

The guard would not let me in to take even one photo.

But I had no time to stay and argue.

I was on my way to opening of the Jerusalem Light Festival

and the Hebrew Book Week in Liberty Bell Park.

And there is more.

Signs are all over for special sporting events.

The European Soccer Under-21 Championship is being held in Israel.

And Formula One sports cars are on display.

The cars are to run on the Jerusalem streets from the new First Station

on a route near the Old City on Thursday afternoon and Friday.

Preparations are well under way for next week’s huge

Israeli Presidential Conference at the Jerusalem Conference Center.

There is so much happening in Jerusalem this time of year.

So it’s no surprise that in May tourism in Jerusalem hit an all time high.

However, the mainstream media continues to ignore the good stuff.

Jerusalem: More than Riots

May 21, 2013rjstreets

The Shavuot holiday as celebrated in Jerusalem, Israel,

is so different from anywhere else in the world.

Tens of thousands of people went to the Kotel, the Western Wall,

to pray at sunrise, after a night-long marathon

of classes, lectures and programs that were

truly amazing and mind-boggling.

These posted ads are for only a few such learning events.

There was one thing very different this year – it rained at 8:30 am!

There have been protests against the new budget,

and new taxes have made for some very angry citizens.

New social protest signs can still be found in the city center

after last weekend’s demonstrations.

The Israeli Prime Minister is back from China

and a very quick visit to Russia to meet with Mr. Putin.

And I assume that most people have no idea that

the Foreign Minister of Finland Erkki Tuomioja and

Foreign Minister of Lithuania Lianas Linkevicius are in Jerusalem.

Also, who heard that at the Hebrew University

there is a conference being held called

Canada and Israel in a Changing World, New Trends and Directions?

When the Shavuot holiday is over,

on the real streets, it is wedding season.

Brides posing in parks for photos and decorated rental cars

are normal sights, though it will be hard to come close

to the traffic-stopping Belz wedding with 50,000 guests.

Wonder if any of their international guests will go into town?

If they do, they would see,

there is a sign for traffic changes on King George Street.

One big surprise, I found a moment with no buses or taxis.

For years, this large mural on Jaffa Street showed

the light rail train of the future.

Well the future is now,

and the train is running and people are returning to the city center.

The media always reports Arab and Haredi riots in great detail.

But there was no sign of trouble today or any sign of Apartheid

as this Muslim woman and Haredi Israeli man crossed Jaffa street,

and these women were sitting off Ben Yehuda Street in the afternoon sun.

Summer is finally here,

and it is time to head outside and to the parks.

It is also the time for the month-long Israel Festival Jerusalem,

with so many cultural programs, some in new exciting venues,

enough to keep everyone busy.

And my favorite festival, Light in Jerusalem is coming soon.

Remember last year?

There is so much to see and do in Jerusalem,

but what did you hear about?