One of my favorite spots,
at favorite time of day.
שבת שלום
Israel
Good February Signs in Jerusalem
The sun is shining.
The sky is blue,
and it is warm enough to open the windows.
The snow has melted and it is history,
except for some ugly piles of plowed black stuff
and fallen branches that need to be removed.
February used to be the “quiet” time,
down time between holidays and peak tourism seasons,
but not this February,
and it was hard to keep up with all that is much happening.
This week the Jewish Agency for Israel had a meeting
of its Board of Governors, with delegates coming
from around the world to Jerusalem, Israel.
The International chess championship may not be a great photo op,
but a tour with 500 tourism professionals from India certainly was.
Starting with the view from Hebrew University on Mt Scopus,
this tour went to The Old City.
Within a few minutes while standing outside
the Church of the Holy Sepulchre,
were other groups of Indian tourists,
a large orderly group of Estonians,
and these Christian pilgrims who left too fast to ask where they were from.
Another great view and new to me,
was the Jerusalem Winner Marathon 2105 launch,
on the grounds of the St. Andrew’s Guest House.
Mayor Nir Barkat, holding his official run shirt for the March 13 race,
was all smiles that morning.
But so was Ilanit Melchior,
Tourism Director at the Jerusalem Development Authority.
Though many residents resent the street closings and inconvenience,
this event has brought thousands of tourists
from all over the world each year.
There are signs for things as diverse as
a contest for app developers,
and special programs for children at Islamic Museum.
But, Purim is a week away.
Perhaps, this sign for Shavuot holiday is a joke.
There is to be a Purim Spiel at the Train Theater,
and a sign for reading the Megillah at First Station–
Happy Purim.
Then,
time for that other “P” word – Passover!
16 Photos Snow in Jerusalem
A few weeks ago there was supposed to be a big snowstorm
in Jerusalem, Israel,
and the word “blizzard” was used a lot.
A little snow started to fall just as it was time
to light Shabbat candles,
so I only managed to take and share two quick photos,
and by the next day, it was all gone.
This week I did not hear the “b” word,
though a heavy snowfall was forecast.
The snow started to fall on Thursday night,
and this could be one of the first snowballs.
The streets were slippery
and mostly deserted.
I took one flower photo,
if the warnings were wrong,
I had one ready for the Shabbat Shalom post.
But by morning the snow had accumulated,
and the Jerusalem streets looked like a winter wonderland.
Heavy fog and a white sky added to the wintry scenes.
When the fog cleared the Knesset grounds were covered.
This Israel Museum view shows trees covered.
against the white sky.
Heavy snow stuck to power lines and branches,
and just about everything.
Most people stayed off the roads in the morning.
The monastery in the Valley of the Cross,
a beautiful and serene scene,
was like a picture postcard.
But lemon trees
and sabra plants covered in snow?
Only in Jerusalem, Israel!
שבת שלום
Shabbat shalom.