Israel – Page 81 – The Real Jerusalem Streets

Out of this World: Israeli Space Week and More in Jerusalem

January 30, 2019Sharon A

It is Israeli Space Week.

Conferences for researchers and 100 educational events for over 100,000 children were planned throughout the country.

The Jerusalem Bloomfield Science Museum had free entrance times with special exhibits.

Those who have seen the Ramon Crater will nod their heads at this announcement: The Israeli Space Agency and the Austrian Space Forum signed an agreement to simulate a manned Mars expedition in the Mars-like Ramon Crater in the heart of the Negev Desert in Israel.

If anything looks like the surface of Mars, it is the Ramon Crater.

Columbia was NASA’s first space shuttle, the first reusable crewed spacecraft in history. It carried out 28 missions and flew 160 astronauts. On February 1, 2003, after a 16-day mission in space, the shuttle broke up upon reentry to the earth’s atmosphere with seven astronauts on board, including Col. Ilan Ramon, Israel’s first astronaut. (No relationship to crater)

Israeli Space Week was an initiative of Rona Ramon and led by the Israeli Space Agency and the Ministry of Science.

For Israeli Space Week, the families of the ill-fated US astronauts came to Israel and met with President and Mrs. Rivlin at Beit Hanasi, the Israeli President’s residence.

The families presented the president with a copy of this NASA photograph taken at the training compound in 2002, several months before the disaster. The image shows the astronauts’ space suits hanging next to each other with American flags on their sleeves, and the Israeli flag on the sleeve of Ilan Ramon.

The latest news is that Israeli and German companies announced a joint moon venture.

Back on the ground, for thousands of years focus has been on Jerusalem.

Since 2013, the sculpture “Centre of the World” by David Breuer-Weil has been in Teddy Park.

Look closely and you will see the Tower of David in reflection – and me upside down.

Jerusalem of old and new, is seen on Jaffa Road with crowds of shoppers and the light rail train.

Jerusalem streets are filling with modern buildings.

While Tel Aviv gets most of attention, there is a growing tech center also in Jerusalem.

In the rapidly growing Azriella College of Engineering, a JLMBioCity meeting was held this week.

Jerusalem Deputy Mayor Fleur Hassan-Hahoum had this to say (apologies for this screen shot).

Advice was shared along with presentations of 6 of the 13 life saving companies highlighted.

The interested audience heard of new treatments in mental health, monitoring kidney function,

and of treating cotton to make fabrics that not only reduce infection, but reduce wrinkles.

Some of the Jerusalem technology really sounds out of this world.

More photos from JLMBioCity evening HERE

Get ready, signs are up for שאון חורף Shaon Horef, Winter Noise, the cultural street festival in a different location each Monday night in February. Jaffa Gate is planned for the 18th.

One never knows what in the world will be found at these annual winter “cultural” performances.

Tu Bishvat is over. The almond trees have bloomed.

And what in the world?

Purim costumes were out at this Jerusalem shopping site near the main bus station. Early bird shoppers will find the best selection of Israeli policemen and IDF soldiers for boys and fancy dresses for girls.

Hamentashen. Ready. Set. Go.

No blast off here yet. Not ready to get ready for Purim.

In Jerusalem, Shushan Purim is to be celebrated on Friday, March 22.

There is still very much to do and happening on the Jerusalem streets.

Shabbat Shalom

January 25, 2019Sharon A

The Cinema City mural, an all time favorite, for this week.

Shabbat shalom with Moses

שבת שלום

What Everyone Should Know about Bursting Amygdalus Communis in Jerusalem

January 16, 2019January 17, 2019Sharon A

The first thing to know is that amygdalus communis is the scientific name for the almond tree. With Tu B’Shvat, the song of “almond trees bursting out” (or flowering) can be heard throughout Israel in school classrooms sung by small children wearing floral wreaths on their heads.

Every year when I review and remember past celebrations of Tu B’Shevat, I stress over how to spell ט”ו בשבט in English. I have found 8 options and already used two here.

Every year I want to bring to you something new and interesting.

Dried fruit and nuts fill the stores and markets as every year.

Carob trees tower over many Jerusalem, Israel streets. This tree is near the Prime Minister’s Residence. I wonder how many of the thousands protesting there noticed it?

For those of us who grew up in the US, Tu B’Shvat meant getting a piece of dark brown, dried out bokser.

Hard to chew and unattractive, why would anyone want to eat it to celebrate the holiday?

Along Jerusalem streets in time for Tu B’Shvat, there are piles of dried pods fallen from the trees, with new growth peaking its way through.

The Knesset opening and birthday are held on Tu B’Shvat. In honor of 50 years in its present location, in 2016 a major celebration was held.

There was a special afternoon service in the old Knesset Synagogue followed by wine and fruit.

These Girl Guides were celebrating Tu B’Shvat in Jerusalem in 1928, on an outing in Beit Hakerem.

Since Biblical times almonds, amygdalus communis, have been a sign of spring, a sign of new life and God’s promise.

“When Moses went into the tent of the covenant on the next day, the staff of Aaron for the house of Levi had sprouted. It put forth buds, produced blossoms, and bore ripe almonds. -Numbers 17:7

Almond, the first tree to flower before winter’s end, symbolized fast-moving events. “…the almond tree blossoms, the grasshopper drags itself along, and desire fails; because all must go to their eternal home…” -Ecclesiastes 12:5

Anyone interested in the nature and the environment of Israel, with the special emphasis given to the linkage between the plants and Jewish traditions and literature, will appreciate the Hebrew website Wildflowers of Israel.

In addition, their English pages have a wealth of information. Hours of dedicated work have gone into research and photography devoted to the study of wild plants of the Land of Israel, a point of interest for people all over the world since Biblical times. In spite of Israel’s small size it has 2,500 plant species. There are about 100 plants mentioned in the Bible, and about 400 mentioned in the Mishnah and the Talmud.

Thanks to Sara Gold, my contact whenever I need information on a flower or plant. (I know next to nothing about Israeli flora and fauna.) Who knew aloe plants flowered?

In honor of Tu B’Shvat – I searched for the almond – Amygdalus Communis.

I searched in the Valley of Cross on the path to the Israel Museum, and there were no almonds bursting forth, but I did find these first flowers in bloom.

I went to see what new trees were planted in Kikar Safra, Safra Square.

Thankfully some tall palm trees survived last year’s infestation and are standing tall.

I searched the gardens at Beit Hanasi, the Israeli President’s residence, and there were no almonds bursting forth, but these new potted flowers were enjoying the morning sun.

In the Beit Hanasi gardens there are 60 olive trees, a line of kumquat trees ripe with fruit, but not one almond tree.

Our lemon tree is full of ripe fruit too. In my search this year, I found no almond blossoms in Jerusalem. It is still too early. They really do seem to burst out when they appear.

So it seems as of now, the best place to search and find those bursting Amygdalus Communis is Wildflowers of Israel – HERE.

Tu B’Shvat is to be celebrated beginning the night of January 20, and on January 21.

In honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, falling the same day this year, here is a new photo of the Jerusalem street sign with trees in distance.

Snow is in the forecast for Jerusalem. Rain has started to fall. After sunny morning weather, this photo is again appropriate.

Jerusalem weather and politics are hard to predict. Both can change quickly.

UPDATE:

When snow started coming down, I grabbed phone and ran outside. This was best photo of predicted snow storm, to see real snow, back to 2015 HERE.

But greetings of a happy Tu B’Shvat and Shabbat Shalom, are good to be repeated every year.