Jerusalem after Tisha B’Av: Mourning to Celebrating

Jerusalem after Tisha B’Av: Mourning to Celebrating

Oh, Jerusalem!

Jerusalem has just completed another Tisha B’Av.

Kotel on Tisha B'Av night during COVID-19

Instead of past years with crowds of tens of thousands, there were 1,000 people allowed at the Kotel,  the Western Wall, at night.

Jerusalem, Israel during corona men siting on ground for Eicha

Sections were divided off and marked to permit the small groups allowed to follow the latest COVID-19 restrictions.

Kotel Women's section divided for COVID-19 regulations

The women’s section which in the past was crowded with thousands had barriers also.

Reading Eicha, Lamentations, in Gan Haatzmaut, Independence Park, had a much smaller attendance.

Jerusalem Damascus Gate at night

Damascus Gate at night was quieter than usual as the 26th annual walk around the Old City Walls, limited this year to 50 participants, passed by.

Walking in Jerusalem at night of Tisha B'Av during COVID-19 regulations

On the other side of the street, the shops were all open late for Eid al-Adha preparations. The Muslim fast day coincided with Tisha B’Av this year, and at sunset they began a 3-day celebration.

Good news. The social workers and nurses are back to work after short strikes.

Israel Museum employees protest prolonged closing and no pay

Israel Museum employees held a peaceful protest holding up signs to passing traffic.

The only loud noises were cars honking in support.

Due to coronovirus restrictions Israel Museum closed

The Israel Museum has been closed since the coronavirus crisis began. On Thursday, museum director Ido Bruno announced a $4million donation from the American Friends of the Israel Museum. Plans to reopen are said to be underway.

Olive tree in Jerusalem Israel park

On the hill below the Israel Museum, olives are on the trees.

Gan Sacher in Jerusalem no Pele in the morning

Last week Jerusalem’s Gan Sacher, Sacher Park was empty.

The end of school year summer outings were not happening.

This morning, it was good to see children back in the Jerusalem park.

Jerusalem’s usual summer conferences have moved online, to Facebook and Zoom.

StreetBal competition in Bell Park Jerusalem Israel

The annual Jerusalem sport event of Street Ball has been canceled.

Flags from around world in Jerusalem March on chol hamoed Sukkos

Thousands of flags of the Jerusalem Parade will not fill the Jerusalem streets this year. The official cancellation was announced this week.

The day after Tisha B’Av, fifteen years ago, 8,500 Israeli citizens were forced out of 21 Jewish communities in the Gaza Strip and four communities in Samaria.

photo of photo of Gush Katfi before it was destroyed

These beautiful homes were destroyed 15 years ago. The expulsion did not bring peace.

Instead, thousands of rockets, missiles, and destructive burning balloons.

I went to see the rebuilding starts of Gush Katif victim nine years ago 

From Gush Katif Museum memorial for destroyed communities.

and the Gush Katif Museum five years ago.

That is an ongoing unpleasant chapter of Israeli history.

Jerusalem Israel Hurva Synagogue Old City

However, a much more pleasant story is what happened at the Hurva Synagogue 100 years ago. The historic and memorable first visit of the first British High Commissioner, Herbert Samuel, after his installation.  Samuel was a knowledgeable Jew who participated in the Shabbat morning service.

"photo Hurva", "Hurva synagogue picture"

Today at the rebuilt and re-inaugurated synagogue which was destroyed by Jordanian Legion in 1948, a special ceremony is to be held in honor of the centennial. However, attendance will be extremely limited due to COVID-19 restrictions.

Coronavirus safety sign in Hebrew

Highs and lows. And new Corona signs have been posted.

Jerusalem First Station sign for Leonardo da Vinci summer 2020 exhibit

New signs were up for “Leonardo da Vinci -The First Start-up entrepreneur,” the theme of a new exhibit at First Station for this summer.

Hebrew sign in Jerusalem for love not hate.

The next day this sign – “Needed Now “Baseless Love” sign was posted.

The protests near the Prime Minister’s residence have gone on unabated.

They are loud and they disturb the residents well past the 11:00 pm noise curfew.

I think the police have used great restraint with these provocateurs.

On to much better news to share, a notice for יריד היין הגדול של ירושלים.

At First Station, the Jerusalem Wine Festival is planned for  August 11– 13, 6 pm – 11:55 pm.

In local sports news, Israeli soccer is to return at the end of August.

Online tours galore can be found for those who are home-bound.

Jerusalem National Library building under construction

The National Library construction site had workers busy on the roof areas.

Now that Tisha B’Av is over, it’s almost Tu B’Av and time for celebrations and music.

Next Year in Jerusalem!

 

Jerusalem: Looking Forward 2019

Jerusalem: Looking Forward 2019

At the end of December, with each calendar year, many ‘best’ and ‘worst’ lists are published.

After spending considerable time thinking about it, in the end, I decided to let 2018 just slip away.

As the sun set on December 31, 2018, the skies over Jerusalem, Israel, were a blaze of color.

sunset

Walking home, I could tell it was going to be dramatic end for 2018, and was not disappointed.

The red horizon  popped with color on numerous photos I saw posted on Facebook.

Jerusalem Israel flowers

January not only has red sunsets popping with color, but purple flowers lining so many streets.

Yemin Moshe as seen leaving Zion Gate Old City Jerusalem Israel

January skies can be blue one minute,

Walls of Old City grey sky Jerusalem Israel

but then turn around a few minutes later to become grey and threatening.

Jerusalem Christmas decorations

With the Christian Orthodox Christmas still to be celebrated in January, holiday decorations still line the streets inside the Old City; these are near Jaffa Gate.

Woman in white bridal gown in Rova

This young woman dressed in a white bridal gown attracted a second glance.

Tourist groups filling Rova in Old City Jerusalem Israel

A record numbers of tourists arrived in Israel in 2018. The plaza in front of the Hurva Synagogue was full with hundreds of tours, large and small.

German couple in Old City Jerusalem Israel

I met this couple from Germany who stopped to look out from the Old City.

Jewish boys on sports court in Old City Jerusalem Israel

The sounds of these school boys at play below got our attention.

School children having lunch near 4 synagogues in Jerusalem Old City

The numerous tour groups included school children; these first graders came from Pardes Chana for the day.

Jerusalem four synagogues in Old City

They stopped for a lunch break near the Four Sephardic Synagogues in the Jewish Quarter.

When Jordanian Legion captured and occupied the Old City in 1948, all the Jewish residents were forced out.

Then Jordan proceeded to take over all Jewish property, and destroyed or occupied all of the synagogues.

The Four Sephardic Synagogues established centuries earlier were restored after 1967, and put back to use as Jewish houses of prayer.

From 1977, only an arch stood, where the rebuilt Hurva Synagogue, dedicated May 15, 2011, stands today.

Synagogue in Old City left destroyed by Jordanians in 1948 תפארת ישראל

Tiferet Israel was the only remaining destroyed synagogue in the Old City of Jerusalem, as seen in this 2010 photograph.

Jordanian Legionnaire on rubble of destroyed Synagogue in Old City Jerusalem 1948

A Jordanian soldier stands on the Tiferet Israel ruins in this 1948 photo by Chalil Rissas, which was part of the Tower of David photography exhibit.

Wall of destroyed Tiferet Israel synagogue beginning repair

On January 1, 2019, this is how the outside wall of Tiferet Israel looked.

Inside Tiferet Yisrael Synagogue as rebuilding begins

Inside a construction crew was busy working on its reconstruction and restoration.

Jerusalem Israel synagogue Karaite

Tiferet Israel is across from the Karaite Synagogue, one of the oldest in the world.

Street off Rova where Tiferet Israel Synagogue is being rebuilt

For those who have walked the streets of the Old City, Tiferet Israel will rise above the “main street” which leads to the Western Wall, the Kotel, from the Rova, the Jewish Quarter Plaza.

Or maybe easier to visualize, it is next to a better known landmark, the shwarma place.

Photo of Tiferet Israel synagogue in future

The project to rebuild and replace the synagogue destroyed on May 21, 1948 is finally underway.

steps down to Tiferet Yisrael synagogue

The laying of cornerstone of the new old Tiferet Israel took place on December 31, 2018.

Hopefully it will not take 10 years to complete as did the Hurva rebuilding.

View from Citadel Hotel to Mamilla across the road. Jerusalem Israel

Hope you enjoyed this quick stroll through a few favorite Jerusalem, Israel streets.

Teddy Park Jerusalem Israel

I will conclude with this bit of Teddy Park I passed on way my way home.

Most people today do not realize, all of this was either under Jordanian rule or in No Man’s Land from 1948-1967.

Mount of Olives Cemetery from Old City near Zion Gate

Jerusalem, Israel, with its ancient sites, and always with something new.

As the pretty  purple flowers bloom, we look forward to 2019.