Jaffa Gate – Page 5 – The Real Jerusalem Streets

Jerusalem Special Visitors

January 20, 2015rjstreets

The world seems upside down like Chelm these days,

and if it was not so serious, it would be funny.

This week saw a large delegation from Japan,

led by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe visiting Jerusalem, Israel.

Foreign Minister John Baird of Canada signed the official guest book

at Beit HaNasi, the Israeli President’s residence, while Reuven Rivlin watched.

Then in the afternoon a group of US Senators led by John McCain,

dropped by for a photo op and to chat with the President.

So much for isolation and BDS, all affirmed their support for Israel.

But government officials and their noisy motorcades

were not the only ones who filled the streets this week.

Extended families gathered to celebrate,

and thousands have come daily to the Kotel, the Western Wall.

Birthright tour groups

from around the world posed for group photos.

Tour buses lined up along the road to Har Hazaytim,

the Mount of Olives cemetery.

And at the same time as rabbis in Belgium

were being notified that their synagogues should be closed on Shabbat

for the first time since World War II,

because their safety could not be guaranteed by the police,

these Muslim boys were walking through the Jewish Quarter

in the Old City to go to Friday prayers.

Any doubts? Notice the prayer rug in hand,

so much for apartheid and oppression.

These boys may have taken a second look,

but the man was wearing a long skirt,

as this Muslim family proceeded to prayers on Temple Mount.

And while Muslims of all ages attend regularly on Friday,

(as long as there are no calls for violence)

this group we passed did stand out,

their bags had the name of a Turkish tour company.

Seems not everyone in Turkey is boycotting Israel.

Hope they get to see the real Jerusalem streets,

and take back the truth,

what is really happening.

Shabbat Shalom

December 26, 2014rjstreets

Teddy Fountain with its light and music at night

attracted thousands all summer.

Last night it was not so crowded, but ever so beautiful.

שבת שלום

Shabbat shalom.

14 Favorite Hanukkah Lights

December 22, 2014rjstreets

Hanukkah in Jerusalem, Israel, can be exhausting!

Candle lighting ceremonies seem to be everywhere,

with people arriving from all over the world.

On the first night of Hanukkah,

at the Kotel, Western Wall, at its large chanukiah,

after a lighting ceremony with dignitaries,

a man was covered in a white talit for the filming of a video.

Chanukiot in Jerusalem restaurants are always a favorite.

First night, first light in the Old City, this was most unusual,

while simple can be beautiful.

This large electric-light covered chanukiah was near Jaffa Gate,

and this fire-lit one in Mamilla Mall

that attracted a crowd below.

The display of chanukiot in the Waldorf-Astoria lobby was new this year.

Candles were burning in the security booth outside the US consulate,

though I received permission to take this photo,

afterwards I was stopped by an over-anxious guard.

Thankfully, he did not try to delete my photos.

A Chabad Chanukiah can be found on many corners,

but the one near Paris Fountain is a favorite.

The holiday party for the international press

given by the Prime Minister was held at the Israel Museum this year.

PM Benjamin Netanyahu lit this 19th century brass chanukiah

which had been used in a synagogue in Central Europe.

Not as large as this one,

but also part of the Israel Museum’s extensive collection of chanukiot,

some centuries old and from around the world.

Though not a menorah

the lights in their eyes are certainly bright.

This photo of Natan and Avital Sharansky

with Shimon Peres and Yitzhak Shamir

as they leave Ben Gurion airport after arriving in Israel

finally free from Soviet prison,

is one of many in a new Israel Museum photography exhibit.

And from our source of the sukkah on a camel,

a menorah of ice.

It was coming along, but sorry, it was a long day and busy week.

I did not stay to see what happened when it was lit.

Xanuka

no matter how you spell it,

a great miracle happened here,

eight days to celebrate,

as those suffganiot keep coming..in so many colors and tastes.

Happy Hannukah!