Hanukkah or Chanukah is also known as the “Holiday of Lights.”
And for the winter holiday season, Jerusalem, Israel fills with lights!
The Jerusalem Botanical Gardens “Winter Lights” Festival is back again.
The colored lights at night are reflected in the pond.
I came back, again and again, to stop and watch as they changed colors.
Brilliant in purple, it was hard to stop taking photos and set out on the trail.
The display is the work of light artist Gil Teichman and his staff, who hung over 2 million small bulbs along a one-kilometer area of the garden using about 25 kilometers of cable.
The LED bulbs used are ecologically-friendly and save electricity.
Background music by the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra is heard at multiple locations as you stroll along the garden path.
Actors dressed in illuminated costumes are also there to entertain.
I admit a favorite this year is the large chanukiah, the Hanukkah menorah, reflecting in the water.
But there are many more lights along the Jerusalem streets.
These new light installations have been posted on poles.
This one with three dreidels, on the top right.
This one has a snowflake and colorful shapes.
These were the older ones at night.
These are from two years ago, I have not found them up now.
The lights at the YMCA are back on again each night, as are many new ones inside New Gate. So much to do this week, will I have time to get there?
The large hanukiah is back and ready at the Kotel, Western Wall, to be lit by various officials each night of Hanuka, from Sunday night, December 18 – December 25, 2022. Watch live HERE
Happy Hanukkah from the Jerusalem streets, may the lights spread far and wide for a good week and good year for all.
A video of light projections with Hanuka music to add to the holiday mood.
It has been eight years since I left Israel to go overseas. I, too, was one of the millions who decided it was time to travel again. It was good to go to the US for a happy occasion and see so many relatives and friends again.
However, I was even happier arriving safely back at Ben Gurion Airport.
Back on the Jerusalem streets in time to see President Herzog depart to the Kingdom of Bahrain, to be the first Israeli head of state to visit Bahrain, on a State Visit at the invitation of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa.
Oh, the things I saw in America during the shopping sale days
before Thanksgiving and Black Friday crowds.
Glitter and glitz and gifts galore, “Let it glow” next to “Mint to be” caught my eye in one of the bigger stores with endless merchandise.
While back on the Jerusalem streets, the new orange recycling bins are out.
Though with the World Cup Mondiale going on in Qatar – football or soccer – was much more important in many homes and on the Jerusalem streets.
Plenty of Israeli flags and late-night youth events as “Chodesh Irgun” came to a close, a month of intense youth group activities kept families busy.
On a walk in the midday sunshine after a long flight and being away, I stopped to read all the new posters for some of the upcoming events.
Hanukkah is in two weeks and the preparations are underway.
In celebration of India’s 75th anniversary as an independent state, the Israel Museum is holding a new display, Body of Faith: Sculpture from the National Museum of India.
There is a ride available, but I like the long walk to enter the Museum.
There was Indian music at the opening night reception.
Kosher wine was served, with the kosher Indian food, which went too fast for me to get a photograph, but I was able to grab a few items to taste.
Celebrating India’s art and independence, President Isaac Herzog spoke to
the assembled guests in the museum’s theater auditorium.
The Ambassador of India, Mr. Sanjeev Singla, also spoke at the opening of the new display at the Israel Museum.
The Indian dancers who performed during the program posed near the exhibition upstairs as the exhibit was officially opened.
Going up the stairs quickly, I was able to get a photograph of the main room before it became crowded with visitors.
Entitled, Body of Faith, Sculpture from the National Museum in India, these rare pieces exemplify ancient religious art.
“Shiva as the Lord of Dance” Tamil Nadu, Southern India, Chola dynasty, (ca.300 BCE-1279) 12th-century bronze piece is on loan from the National Museum in New Delhi.
Fourteen of these historic pieces are seen in Israel for the first time in this important diplomatic and cultural exchange.
India is celebrating 75 years as an established state. Israel’s 75th is coming up soon. There are many important partnerships.
Walking away from the upper floor of the Israel Museum on such a beautiful night I had to stop and take some photos.
As I walked outside down the stairs, marveling how others were missing the spectacular sights, but happy not to have them in my photos.
The Israel Museum any night is lovely and it was good to be home.
Then I noticed the dome of the Shrine of Book was lit purple, one of the Israeli sites marking International Day of Disabled People (IDDP), a global event to promote inclusion and advocate for the rights of disabled people.
Good to be back on the Jerusalem streets. But hoping to see the Jerusalem streets more inclusive. While the Old City is now wheelchair accessible, the elevator is still in the future. We still have a long way to go. I hope you can see for yourself soon.
but new colorful Jerusalem artwork is displayed on the walls.
A few hours after the Medal of Honor ceremony the furniture was rearranged in order to receive the representatives of the political parties to recommend a candidate to form the new government.
As in the recent past, the President’s discussions were broadcast live.
The procedure began with Likud, the party with the most votes.
The media has the same view on screens from a reception space off the main room, however, I decided to go to see what was happening.
Here a TV news person reported in Arabic as the Noam party finished their turn with a recommendation to the President.
I waited to see the United Arab List (Ra’am) delegation comprising Mansour Abbas MK, Yasser Hajirat MK-elect, and Iman Khatib-Yasin MK arrive on the red carpet to tell the President they would not make a recommendation.
I did not stay around to see if they made a comment after or were followed out by journalists for comment as I saw for the Noam members.
The media was out in full when President Isaac Herzog assigned the task of forming a government to Benjamin Netanyahu MK at the President’s Residence today. So glad I got a front-row seat and was not standing on a chair in the back of the crowded room.
But more was happening this week than election news.
How appropriate that a book launch for “A Banker’s Journey: How Edmond J. Safra built a global financial empire” was held at the Israel Museum.
The Museum Theater where author Daniel Gross spoke with journalist Matti Friedman was next to the Edmond and Lily Safra Art Wing.
Colorful posters line some Jerusalem streets announcing events and festivals, like the Tower of David’s ZEROline II 1/2 on November 11-13.
Then there is the Israel Music Showcase Festival on November 22-27 and more, such as The Train Theater conference to begin on International Children’s Day on November 20, entitled, “How a child writes.”
Just when I thought I had finally found a place to enjoy a bit of fall color,
further down the path were big blue signs blocking the way.
Oh, the Jerusalem streets! Fix them and then tear them up again?
But to end with one piece of good construction news,
