It’s summer.
School is out for the summer. Now, what to do?
The Jerusalem Light Festival in the Old City started on June 26 and ends July 4th.
Israeli dancing begins at First Station on Sunday evenings at 8:00 pm.
Music will play in Kikar Safra, Safra Square for two big night concerts, July 11 – Goran Bregovic and July 25 – Stavros Xsarchakos.
Too classical and late at night? Programs for children are available in community parks.
And of course, many museums are including summer events for families.
In Jerusalem, the Israel Museum is always a go-to place on a hot day.
There are new temporary exhibits, like Peter and Pan.
From Greece to Neverland starts with larger than life Greek statues.
Then it progresses over the centuries to James Barrie,
and eventually to Disney’s Peter Pan,
with Tinkerbell and tales of fairies.
A family-friendly reading corner compliments the video presentations at the end.
From one extreme to another: nude Greek statues to the Veiled Women of the Holy Land.
Here we find three religious extremes in women’s clothing, Nuns,
Muslim women,
and Jewish women, covered in layers head to toe, with even their faces covered.
New trends in modest dress, or flashbacks to ancient times?
Across the hall from Pan to Peter, is another temporary exhibit.
Enter from the Ancient Civilizations section of the Israel Museum,
and you find this darkened room that holds the remains of the diary of astronaut Ilan Rimon z”l, recovered and reconstructed after the explosion of the Columbia Space Shuttle
Rimon took a miniature Torah into outer space, which was destroyed in the explosion. A duplicate miniature Torah was located and is on exhibit. The story of its use during the Shoah in Bergen-Belsen concentration camp for a Bar Mitzvah is next to the display case.
The halls of the Israel Museum are filled all summer, only empty at closing time.
Besides the Israel Museum, there are many events happening.
There is a special exhibit at the Art Shelter where 62 works by 22 artists are for sale, July 9 – 16th.
The Outline Festival – Illustration and Words in Jerusalem is from July 4 – 11th.
For the summer a very different exhibit is on at First Station in the Hangar.
When Prime Minister Netanyahu saw Zahal Shelanu in Holon, he said this should be in Jerusalem, Israel, for more to see.
So the special IDF display is at First Station in the Hangar for the summer.
The big equipment is on display outside.
But if you want to get inside, it is only open from 9-5:00 pm.
Special tickets are free but have to be ordered online in advance.
My attempt to go at night for good light was not so bright.
Also this week there was an official opening of the Pilgrimage Road.
It will still be another four years before the public will be able to walk this underground path.
We saw the beginnings of the project two years ago.
More on the story from then HERE.
The Wine Festival is coming next week, so that means the beer festival should be soon after.
There is a new Happy Hour on Monday evenings in July at the Tower of David.
Enjoy the views with a glass of wine!
As always so much happening on the Jerusalem streets.
It’s summer. It’s hot. But even in the dried weeds of summer one can find beauty.
