Where is Cinema City in Jerusalem?

When Jerusalem, Israel is involved

there seem to be few things on which everyone agrees.

But one thing that is obvious to all,

is the number of major construction projects,

image building in Jerusalem

with their huge cranes towering in the skyline.

The elections for Mayor of Jerusalem, are set for the fall.

Nir Barkat  Jerusalem Mayor camgpaign

For weeks, current Mayor Nir Barkat has had campaign workers out on the streets.

Streets, where recent roadwork has kept residents awake for nights on end.

Even on a very busy week, some invitations are hard to refuse.

So when I was offered a chance to see some of the new Jerusalem venues

 on a tour led by the mayor himself, well, that went to the top of my must-do list.

Finally a chance to find out the answer to what everyone is asking,

where is Cinema City?

The first stop was the new Cinema City complex.

photo Jerusalem Mayor

 Deep under ground Nir Barkat

photo Mayor Jerusalem

spoke to journalists in front of the space for one of the movie screens.

image new Cinema City jerusalem

These seats were so comfortable that it was hard to get up and get going, 

and hard to believe that there is another theater with even better chairs.

The large multiplex theaters are all built underground, 

 and the largest auditorium is to seat 6,000.

photo Cinema City

 Photographers were allowed to take many photos of the mayor,

but not of all the construction areas.

image Cinema City

It’s hard to believe that this will open at the end of this week as planned,

or even Sukkot time as now anticipated.

image Cinema City

I wonder how long it will take until the high speed train comes in to this station.

Cinema City under construction

The bridge to parking garage has been ready for years,

but mostly used to hang protest signs.

Bbi stand strong sign.

These banners, from March 2010, say “Netanyahu stand strong.”

Then, we were off to Teddy Stadium,

photo inside Teddy Stadium

where the massive set of the Maccabiah Opening was being taken down.

The newly enlarged stadium was being redone for Maccabiah 2013 Closing ceremony. 

Inside Teddy Stadium Jerusalem

The VIP section looked so very different in daylight.

Stop three on the tour was near by,

Sports Arena in Jerusalem image

the new sports arena, still under construction,.

(Pais has nothing to do with peace,

but is transliterated Hebrew word for lottery.)

How often in Jerusalem do you see hard hats at any construction site,

Hard hats in construction stie, sports arena Jerusalem

certainly not with popsicles and a talk by the mayor?

Jerusalem sports arena

This arena was so large, 

New sorts arena Jerusalem

that it was impossible to get it in all one shot.

There were three buses on this tour, 

Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat photo,

and Mayor Barkat was our personal tour guide to the last stop at First Station.

As the sun was beginning to set

image Mayor Barkat at First Station

on the roof top of the Old Train Station, the tour concluded.

Mayor Barkat has initiated massive building and sports projects,

and major events to draw young people and tourists to Jerusalem,

 he wants to be re-elected to see his vision for Jerusalem continue.

How ironic that on the very same day of the tour,

 a challenger to the mayor launched his campaign.  

image Moshe Lion running for Jerusalem mayor

There was Moshe Lion up on the side of this building, bigger-than-life.

It’s not clear what will happen next in this mayoral campaign,

but one other thing that is for sure:

 a lot of money will be spent.

(Full disclosure, I have a friend who is a friend of the Mayor’s mother-in-law.,

but it was another friend who got my name on the list, thanks Lisa)

UPDATE: since many could still not figure out where Cinema City was:

 four more photos from different angles.

Jerusalem’s Montefiore Windmill Returns

Today, after more than 150 years, the afternoon wind was again

Montefiore Windmill

 turning the blades of the Montefiore Windmill in Jerusalem.

Jerusalem Windmill

The Windmill, initiated by Sir Moses Montefiore to aid

 the “Suffering Jews in the Holy Land” was completed in 1857

and operated for around twenty years.

Montefiore’s goal was to help the poor of the Jewish community

grind their grain for bread and support themselves.

It was the first project built outside the Walls of the Old City

in the Mishkenot Sha’ananim-Yemin Moshe Jewish neighborhood.

Plaza Jerusalem

The Old City Walls in the distance are easy to see from the plaza,

where a few name cards from the reserved seats were the only sign today of

Windmill photo

the Montefiore Windmill rededication and ribbon cutting ceremony

that took place in the evening of August 28, 2012.

Montefiore Windmill

A restored Montefiore carriage is now on display behind protective glass

after it was vandalized and burned in 1986.

Montefiore carriage

During the reception the door was open and I was able to go inside.

After months of construction and delays 

Mark Sofer

  Jerusalem Foundation president Mark Sofer had plenty to smile about.

The Windmill is not exactly the same as the original though,

as it has an electric motor and security systems.

Windmill Jerusalem

Maybe it was the crepes, 

Pepe Allaou

the ice cream, 

Jerusalem Windmill

or the wine and fruit at the reception,

Naomi Tzur

but everyone seemed to be smiling on Tuesday.

Netanyahu

When Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks,

Montefiore Windmill

there is extra security all around 

 and extra cameras.

A short video showed the barren area in the 19th century.

Montefiore Windmill

What a contrast to the Jerusalem of today.

  Christians for Israel from the Netherlands worked hard on this project.

Jerusalem Windmill

There were Christian representatives from Holland, 

Jerusalem Windmill, Chief Rabbi

as well as the Dutch Chief Rabbi, Rabbi  Binyomin Jacobs present.

Jerusalem mayor Nir Barkat

Jerusalem, Israel Mayor Nir Barkat, like the Prime Minister,

spoke about his childhood experiences playing in the area.

Jerusalem windmill

The blades of the windmill started to turn again,

but they are not just there to look at

Jerusalem windmill

as an important National Heritage Site, 

 the plan is to grind grain and sell the bread made from it to the public.

Of course, there were speeches,

  it would really be too long to list all the officials present,

however, for a short video click here.

The Prime Minister spoke of the symbol of ruach,

which can be translated as wind or spirit: 

 there was wind and a beautiful spirit as the Windmill returned.

 For more photos see The Real Jerusalem Streets Facebook Page.