Israeli flags – Page 5 – The Real Jerusalem Streets

Presidential Visit Trumps Jerusalem Day

Presidential Visit Trumps Jerusalem Day

May 24, 2017Sharon A

Jerusalem, Israel,

prepared for Yom Yerushalayim,

Jerusalem Day,

with large Israeli flags draped on old buildings,

and painted across the modern light rail trains.

The footbridge over Derech Hevron, Hebron Road,

was covered by a long Israeli flag on one side

and the Jerusalem city flag on the other.

School trips this time of year are a common sight.

But this year,

US President Donald Trump was visiting.

US and Israeli flags flew over the King David Hotel

where the Presidential entourage secured the entire building.

Big red signs lined King David Street, warning of closings.

By Tuesday,

only a bird could move freely around the area.

Now a beautiful, prosperous and popular neighborhood,

from 1948-1967

Yemin Moshe – Mishkanot Sha’ananim, and the King David Hotel,

were on the border of No Man’s Land

and in the sights of Jordanian snipers.

This bollard was left as an example of the old security measures.

For this presidential visit, metal barriers lined

the route of the motorcade.

It was a good week for the people who rent metal barriers

and these fancier barriers too,

but many local businesses suffered from the street closures.

The first stop in Israel for the US Presidential visit

was at Beit Hanasi, the Israeli President’s residence.

The red carpet was rolled out and covered to stay clean.

The media came early, and watched Air Force One

land in Ben Gurion Airport and waited.

I lost count of how many times the red carpet was cleaned.

Here is the signing of the official guest book,

the US delegation had not yet arrived.

But for the official speeches

everyone was in their assigned seats.

The Presidents and First Ladies went to the garden,

to see a tree planted in honor of the visit.

The ceremony was over,

and the Presidential motorcade sped off to the Kotel,

the Western Wall, for the next stop on a packed itinerary.

Pedestrians were permitted to start walking.

But not even this official Israeli limo could leave until

the buses blocking the roads were given permission to move.

Most of the US Presidential visit was live-streamed,

so you can find it all on line.

For the grande finale,

after what seemed like dozens of Israeli police helicopters flying over,

a military helicopter flight parade started,

accompanying Marine One

and ending with more helicopters and flares.

I have not seen the official number of helicopters,

but they were noisy and flew in a long convoy over

Jerusalem, Israel, as they escorted the

US Presidential visitors away.

Now, back to flags

and Yom Yerushalayim, Jerusalem Day, and major celebrations

marking 50 years after the Six-Day War victory

and the liberation of the Old City from Jordanian rule.

What a week to be on the Jerusalem streets!

Walk Around Jerusalem See the Gates

August 15, 2016rjstreets

Have you ever walked around Jerusalem?

That is, have you ever walked

around the Walls of the Old City?

On Tisha B’Av night for the last few years,

I have walked around the walls,

and this time I took photos to share with you.

Security was visible,

but not more than in previous years.

The route starts on Agron Street and goes past the hotels.

With King David Street in the background,

as we turned the corner headed to the Old City,

there were hundreds of people, young and not so young,

some walking with baby carriers and some with canes.

Distances are not what most expect,

for it take only minutes to

pass the first gate – the New Gate.

Everyone walks together as a group

carrying dozens of Israel flags,

on to a quiet Damascus Gate

and a quieter Flower Gate.

We walked by the Rockefeller Museum on the left.

Before you know it,

it is time to turn the corner.

The lights on the walls of the Old City

shone brightly against the dark sky.

Soon we approached the Lion’s Gate,

on a street closed to traffic and quiet,

in stark contrast to the Kotel,

the Western Wall.

Tens of thousands came to mourn,

some sit all night on the stones.

Every day thousand of people come to Old City,

but not many have walked around the walls.

I hope you have enjoyed this brief tour,

and perhaps you will come soon to see for yourself.

Jerusalem, Israel, on Tisha B’Av,

a unique experience.

Additional photos HERE

After Israeli Independence Day Celebrations

May 15, 2016rjstreets

Celebrations for Yom Haatzmaut,

Israel Independence Day,

have come to an end for this year.

There were lots of ceremonies, and the Bible Quiz on TV,

and flags flying above the streets and on buildings,

and little Israeli flags clipped on to cars.

As usual, Gan Sacher,

Sacher Park, was the scene of hundreds of family picnics.

People brought chairs and tables and bags of food,

and even mattresses for comfort.

But this couch was a first.

There were smiles from strangers and tents.

Smoke from grills and the sounds of karaoke filled the air.

During the afternoon planes of all sizes

appeared in formation

in the blue skies

and thrilled the crowds below.

Beautiful children with flags and balloons

enjoyed the celebrations.

A group of lone soldiers enjoyed some serious ribs,

grills were fired up all day to feed the hundreds that came.

Tens of thousands celebrated in Gan Sacher,

including one special group of girls,

Bnot Sherut, girls from overseas who are spending

their “gap year” volunteering in Israel.

The media missed their dance performance, but they did find this family

who were happy to share their opinions

of what a beautiful day it was,

concluding with a rousing,

“AM YISRAEL CHAI.”

No it is not snow, even if it’s called “sheleg,”

it’s the dreadful white shaving cream stuff,

this couple found some tinted pink

and had a great time spraying it all around.

I was happy to see less of that messy stuff this year.

And security?

Policewomen were seen checking out the food.

That was all on Thursday, now on Sunday,

I hope this heat wave is over quickly.

The heat and humidity keep me off the streets

and inside with the air conditioner running.

With the holidays over,

it is time for more festivals,.

Education starts tomorrow with an event at the Israel Museum,

and the Jerusalem Light Festival in the Old City

which begins next week, plus

an International Writers’ Festival and Lag B’Omer—

all will be happening in Jerusalem, Israel.