Jerusalem Photography – Page 207 – The Real Jerusalem Streets

In Jerusalem 10 Signs of Purim Season

February 12, 2013rjstreets

You can never tell what you will find on the streets of Jerusalem, Israel,

and that is especially true at this time of year.

The month of Adar has arrived,

and though the Purim holiday is still two weeks away,

here is a sign of the season, a great mask I passed on the street.

Across the street from the Prime Minister’s residence

blue balloons were hanging and blowing in the wind.

At first I thought they were some sort of reminder of a terrorist attack

that had killed 10 people at this spot in Adar of 2003.

But, the number 18 was not about years or the number of victims of terror,

when I looked more closely, they said:

18 ministers in the new government is enough!

End of season sale signs are up in Mamilla Mall, where

the humor themed art is perfect for this time of year.

The giant sign for February sport events and the Jerusalem Marathon

at Jaffa Gate cannot be missed.

Even with signs, the construction of new sidewalks

can be hard to figure out, and it took awhile to get around this mess.

For months on this corner, there was a protest against racism,

in the same spot where Gilad Shalit’s family spent so many years.

Today it was cleaned up and clear of all tents and banners.

You can now see the sign that says that it is prohibited to hang signs.

However, there are new signs being hung

across from Beit Hanasi, the Israeli President’s Residence,

“Honored President, Save Pollard.”

There are many more signs of the Purim season,

but two of my favorites

are the street signs named for Mordechai the Jew,

and of course,

those full plates of hamentaschen being served where ever you go.

Shh, Sharing a Secret Spot in Jerusalem

February 10, 2013rjstreets

I lived in NYC when snow came down so fast all the buses stopped running.

The only way to get home was to walk or hitch a ride with a stranger who

got off the Long Island Expressway, and tried to drive on side streets.

I also lived in Boston where once the snow was so deep that guests

could not walk the short distance to come over for our Purim seudah.

Once in Maryland, Shabbat guests got snowed in until Wednesday.

Oh, I do not miss shoveling all that white stuff one little bit.

This weekend, once again the Northeastern US got buried in white.

What a contrast,

as the Hebrew month of Adar begins,

and in Jerusalem, Israel, it is such a colorful time of year.

There are plenty of colorful costumes and things for Purim on display,

but it is the natural colors that are so impressive after so much rain.

On Friday, white almond blossoms were in full bloom against the blue sky.

Thousands of people drove to the Negev to see anemones in bloom,

but the wild red flowers

and beautiful scenes

can be found right in Jerusalem, off the Yael Sapir Trail.

Maybe these anemones are not as dense as in the Negev,

and only a few people seem to know about this nature spot,

but it is near the center of Jerusalem.

I love seeing the anemone in full bloom.

The Jerusalem marathon is coming soon.

Red flowers are not the only things popping up in the Valley of the Cross.

Runners in red tee-shirts are getting ready for the Jerusalem marathon.

This road is the end stretch of the marathon route.

Wonder if any runners will notice the flowers,

or will it stay our secret spot for another year?

Time for Tu B’Shevat in Jerusalem

January 16, 2013rjstreets

Last week Jerusalem, Israel, was a winter wonderland,

snowing hard enough that even friends from Norway and Canada commented.

However, by Friday afternoon it had warmed enough that

our snowman was not looking so good and had lost one radish eye.

A few dirty old piles of snow and ice are still around,

while piles of downed branches line many Jerusalem streets.

Large limbs of trees fell near the Prime Minister’s residence,

and many large trees like this one came down because of the weather.

In the Davidka Square, all the newly planted trees were ruined;

only one branch was left dangling after the snow damage was cleaned up.

When the sun came out and temperatures warmed up, not everyone

seemed to be bothered by the branches that littered the sidewalks.

Post-snowstorm, there is still plenty to clean up on the streets,

but if you are looking for ice,

you’ll have to go once again to the Machane Yehuda market, the shuk,

where the fish shops are filled with fresh fish on ice.

At the shuk, fresh figs were on sale yesterday ahead of Tu B’Shvat,

the New Year for trees, ten days from now:

a perfect time to plant new trees.