Purim Favorites

As the sun set in Jerusalem on Friday, 

costumes,

after days of dressing up and celebrating, Shushan Purim came to an end.

Even though Purim is over, I would like to share a few favorites.

Sometimes it is hard to tell what is a Purim joke

sign  misspelled

and what isn’t, but this sign in Mamilla Mall did get attention. 

candy , "candy store" "candy display"

Mountains of candy are bought for and consumed on and after Purim,

 Machane Yehuda Market, the shuk, is a favorite place to get the right thing.

"Purim costume"

In the Rova, The Jewish Quarter in the Old City,

this Fiddler on the Roof costume was a favorite of the afternoon crowd.

But in Mamilla Mall,

duck, Israeli soldier

 I liked the Israeli soldier carefully watching the duck.

emergency responder

 The emergency medical crews were wonderful, responding quickly

to aid young men and women who had too much to drink.

Men were falling down and staggering alone in moving traffic;

it is truly a Purim miracle that no one was killed.

One young woman in the Old City was sitting on the street crying,

not a pretty picture with her mascara running down her face.

There was feasting and singing in the Old City,

but the sights of excessive drinking were depressing.

I wonder what went through the minds of unsuspecting tourists?

balloons, "tying balloons"

Then as I started home, I spotted this young yeshiva student making balloons

and giving them to passing children. What a simple and uplifting sight…

even more so when I realized that the young man is my nephew!

walls of the Old City "photographer"

The clear skies were wonderful for photographs

and the warm weather was great for being outside.

Many who were out during the day 

were surprised to find themselves sunburned when they got home.

Palestinians  "Palestinian families"

And near the end of the day, my favorite:

 even with drunken Jews on the streets of Jerusalem…

 Arab families felt safe enough to shop and go for a stroll on the mall.