Really busy time on the Jerusalem, Israel streets,
so many visitors, so many parties, and so much to do.
But I stopped and watch a bit
as they again put up the large hanukkiah near Jaffa Gate.
Shabbat shalom and Hanukkah Sameach!
Hannukah
December, it’s Hanukkah in Jerusalem
Operation Pillar of Defense is over for most everyone,
except for the wounded, and of course the families of those who were killed.
The rockets destroyed by Iron Dome are less of a topic of discussion.
Children in Southern Israel are no longer in shelters,
but have gone back to school,
while their big brothers have returned to their regular military service.
The children of Kiryat Malachi still have a long, hard road ahead.
But enough of war and politics!
The calendar has turned to December
and Hanukkah is almost here!
That means it is strawberry season
and fresh citrus fruit abounds in the Machane Yehuda Market, the shuk.
Piles of dreydels are on display,
platters of suffganiot,
and the streets are illuminated with colorful Chanukiot.
Hanukkah is coming, ready or not.
Holiday Leftovers
This year gender segregation made international headlines,
not the Hanukkah and holiday lights
nor the sights of Jerusalem.
On the last day of Hanukkah at the Great Synagogue,
hundreds of women took over and occupied the men’s section.
This women’s only gathering of prayer and performances
called for the unity of all the people of Israel…it did not make headlines.
Dozens of special children’s performances were held.
The thousands of chanukiot that decorated shop windows,
lined the sidewalks,
and eateries,
and were displayed on the tops of cars are being stored away for next year.
Traffic was a grid-lock nightmare,
with tens of thousands of international visitors in Jerusalem,
as many gathered for weddings and various other celebrations.
Millions of sufganiot were sold
and served over the holiday period.
105 of the doughnuts were consumed by Elie Klein of Bet Shemesh,
as his ‘Dough for Doughnuts’ fundraising stunt inspired donations
of $14,000 from people around the world for 83 charities.
And not a crumb was leftover from my Hanukkah cookie.
It would be nice if the women’s project, “One People”
was the headline next year.
Meanwhile, after all the days of holiday and celebrations…
almost everyone needs a vacation.