Weather was wet and wild,
felt like winter much of the time,
but the sky made for an interesting color at night.
Now, the sun is shining and sky is blue,
wishing all a Shabbat Shalom.
שבת שלום
Israel
Sounds of the Old City
Sounds of the Old City,
is an annual music festival
held at night in Jerusalem, Israel.
This year the weather was cold and wintry,
but at least the heavy rain stopped for opening night.
Walking to the starting point at Jaffa Gate,
Mamilla Mall was not busy as usual.
For the festival, musicians performed
on a large stage outside on Jaffa Gate Plaza,
and inside along the Tower of David wall.
There are nine large stages with various performances.
Traverna was inside the Tower of David – in the moat.
The musical styles and instruments were varied,
from Kelzemer and religious music to DJs and pop songs.
Along the route through the Old City,
musicians played alone,
or as a group.
The festival is free and open to the public,
but this harpist was looking for donations.
As every year,
one of the most popular performance locations is the Cardo.
Yitzhak Meir was singing
to an enthusiastic crowd.
Who could imagine on those streets of old,
that one day Jews would be singing and dancing to Hebrew songs,
and the powerful Roman Empire would be ancient history?
Next on to the plaza
by the Hurva Synagogue,
this large stage was dark between shows,
but I had to share with you the size of the crowd.
Thousands of people were out enjoying the music.
The sounds of music have now spread outside the walls of the Old City,
and for the first time a stage is located at Zion Square.
The festival runs from Monday to Thursday,
7:00 – 11:00 pm, so there is still time to see and hear.
As I went to leave, some streets were too quiet.
Though cold and damp weather and security concerns
may have kept some away,
it was still a beautiful sight,
as the sounds of music filled the Jerusalem streets.
Purim in Jerusalem
As soon as the Jerusalem Marathon is over,
the Jerusalem Purim marathon drew to a close.
With this leap year’s second Adar,
shops, organizations, and schools
have been preparing to celebrate the Purim holiday,
for a long, long time.
In Jerusalem, Israel, there is a street named
for Shushan and Mordechai HaYehudi,
and for Queen Esther,
with this sign as always a holiday favorite.
New this year was
a mask exhibit at the Bible Lands Museum.
Masks, face paint, and hats were the norm
at one synagogue megillah reading,
where costumes were optional.
On Emek Refaim Street a tent was set up
for community readings of Megilat Esther.
Meanwhile, there was a party was going on
down the road at the community center;
and yes, I liked Barbara’s hat.
Hats and smiles out at night with over tired babies,
or ready to party, all lit up,
Thursday night as Purim was ending for the rest of Israel,
Shushan Purim in Jerusalem was just getting going.
This year Supermen of all sizes
and little fire fighters were out on the streets,
but I only saw one of these big guys getting on a bus.
Problem is, often in Jerusalem, it is hard to tell
Purim
or not Purim?
Purim went right into Shabbat,
so it has taken until Sunday to wish all
Purim Sameach!
Happy Purim!
Whew, but now that Purim is finally finished,
it is time for the Sounds of the Old City music festival
and the Jerusalem Arts Festival,
and to start planning for Passover!
But first maybe a good night sleep?
After changing the clocks,
some rest would be very helpful.