Sukkot in Jerusalem

Sukkot in Jerusalem

Sukkot 5779 in Jerusalem, Israel.

Tens of thousands of visitors have arrived. Rental cars are booked and fill the streets.

Traffic can back up any time anywhere, especially in Old City when streets are closed.

Kotel for birchat kohanim

Tens of thousands crowd into and around the Kotel, Western Wall Plaza for the annual Birchat Kohanim, the Priestly Blessing.

This year was different with no helicopters circling over Jerusalem during the blessing.

Sukkah building in Jerusalem

The sidewalk along King George Street is filled with sukkot from nearby eateries. Here the frame of one sukkah is being assembled before the holiday.

Jerusalem sukka building

Small signs and locations of places to buy and build a sukka appear all around Jerusalem before the holiday.

Jerusalem Israel sukkah building

These huge signs were hard to miss on the side of the building.

Jerusalem Israel sukkah

A sukka could be found on empty corner spots,

Sukkah on balconies in Jerusalem Israel

on porch balconies on front of apartment buildings,

Jerusalem sukka on back small porches

and tucked away on small porches in back of buildings.

Sign for Sukkot event in Jerusalem Israel

There were too many Sukkot festivals for families to list them all here.

The weather during the day was perfect for parades, musical performances, and more held each day in Jerusalem.

Beit Lecham Street no traffic for street fair Jerusalem Israel

The usually busy Derech Beit Lehem street was cleared of traffic for an evening street festival.

Live music for Jerusalem Israel street fair on Sukkot

These were a few of the musicians rehearsing in the afternoon.

Jerusalem Hotel Orient sukkah on top

There is a sukka on top of the new Orient Hotel.

Jerusalem Israel sukkah built at First Station

Across at First Station, kosher eateries have large sukkot.

First Station Jerusalem Israel WeWork sukkah

But new and different this year, there is a WeWork sukka at First Station.

Jerusalem Israel sukkah in First Station by WeWork

Where else but Jerusalem, will you find, free wifi, beer, coffee, and working spaces, with a lulav and etrog on the table?

Personal sukkah at street level in Jerusalem Israel

From a private home sukka, 

Jerusalem sukkah in park

to a simple sukka in public park,

Sukkah in Inbal Hotel atrium Jerusalem Israel

to a large elaborate sukka, as in the Inbal Hotel atrium– there is no place for Sukkot like Jerusalem.

Sukkah for publis at Beit Hanasi

On Thursday, at Beit Hanasi the President’s Residence will be open to public.

Here is a first peak of the large public sukka.

Check back next time for a full tour of exhibits for this year’s healthy theme.

Or go stand in line, Beit Hanasi is open from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm.

Sign in Hebrew for Beit Avi Chai end of Sukkot Hashana Raba

And there is still much more of the holiday to come…and enjoy.

Sukkot holiday greeting of public Jerusalem Israel bus

 

Moadim l’simcha.

Happy holidays to all.

Summer Flying in Jerusalem

Every year as the month of August comes to an end, 

sign in Hebrew

there are certain signs of the end of summer, 

besides the outdoor performances at the Jerusalem Theater.

Facebook is full of posts of those returning from overseas.

Another summer, time has flown by with visitors and festivals.

 All over Jerusalem, Israel, as every year until school starts, 

  parents will call on extended family and friends or strangers,

or just make it another ‘take your kid to work’ day,  

in all kind of offices, and even banks.

For those with time and energy there is the Bloomfield Science Museum.

people in the Jerusalem market, shuk photo

 Also, always a good venue for a day trip,

 the Machane Yehuda market, the shuk,

but when it gets crowded, holding on is a great idea.

Teddy Park fountain at night

New this year, the Teddy Park fountain has proven extremely popular.

And,

photo kites, Kite Festival

the annual Kite Festival

Israel Museum Kite Festival

at the Israel Museum

kites in air Israel Museum

is an old favorite with thousands of families,

Israel Museum kite flying

 popular with all ages.

man with large kite, Kite festival Jerusalem

Large kites,

Kites flying . Kite Festival jerusalem, Israel Museum

flown by pros were up in the afternoon breeze,

girl with kite, Kite Festival Jerusalem

however, this little girl did a great job of keeping hers flying.

kites flying, Jerusalem kite festival Israel Museum

Israeli flag kites were on sale and popular.

large kite down, Jerusalem kite festival

But while some of the large professional flags got stuck in trees, 

what was really impressive this year, 

kite, kite in sky, Kite festival Israel museum

were the number of hand-made children’s projects that were flying high in the sky.

No matter what is happening on the ground and all around,

Kite festival Israel Museum

leave it to Israelis to love to just go fly a kite.

Aliens Land on the Knesset or Go Fly a Kite

No matter what you read in the media about Israel,

the end of August is all about what to do with the kids.

There are no regular ganim and school does not begin until next week.

Take the kids to “office camp” is an option, or

call on the grandparents or any able-bodied (even non) adult,

to help look after them.

There many things to do in Jerusalem, Israel, in August, 

but the annual kite festival at the Israel Museum is one of my favorites.

kite

Looking up at the colorful kites can be dangerous,

The Israel Museum

if you are not careful and trip on the strings on the ground.

kite

Many kites got stuck in the trees,

The Israel Museum

but people were still smiling anyway,

The Israel Museum

except this one man on the wall who was determined to get his kite down.

kite, The Israel Museum

Not all the kites ended up in the trees though,

The Israel Museum

as some soared over the crowd 

kite, The Israel Museum

in the Billy Rose Sculpture Garden.

kite, The Israel Museum

Blue and white kites were popular this year

The Israel Museum

 with many of the families who filled the grounds.

For this 27th annual event, over 7000 people registered, 

The Israel Museum ,

and even more spread out over the wide expanse of the Israel Museum.

The Israel Museum

There were not just colorful kites,

but also Kabuki Theater entertainers,

The Israel Museum

providing music,

The Israel Museum

and more color along with entertainment.

The Knesset

So did aliens land on the Knesset?  Not really.

The Knesset is across the road from the museum and this soaring kite 

The Knesset

looked like it was landing on the roof.

No aliens landed, and there was no violence, 

kites, The Israel Museum

 just enough wind and music and kites, for a day of families and fun.

 

More photos to be posted on The Real Jerusalem Streets Facebook Page.