middle east current events – Page 25 – The Real Jerusalem Streets

Jerusalem: Summer 2020 Starting Ready or Not

June 21, 2020Sharon A

Skies over Jerusalem, Israel, were not as bright this morning, with a partial eclipse of the sun. Sadly, my attempt to get a photo failed.

However, the clouds over the Jerusalem streets last week were amazing.

Here’s another image of clouds with a view of the center of town.

Summer is a time for a vacation in Israel. After inbound tourism to Israel had reached a historic high of 4.55 million tourists at the end of 2019, the industry expected to break another new record of 5 million tourists in 2020. But as a result of the global tourism crisis, the tourism industry in Jerusalem has been hard hit.

Some smaller venues and the Tower of David Museum have started to open.

But the Israel Museum gates are shut. It stands empty at the start of summer. In the past, it would be a time filled with people of all ages from around the world.

I always wanted a photo of the Israel Museum’s ‘Turning the World Upside Down’ by Anish Kapoor without people standing around and in my way. Certainly, I never imagined it would be finally possible with the world turned upside down due to the novel coronavirus pandemic. As people around the world Zoom into funerals, conferences, and weddings, standing outside the Israel Museum all I needed was a simple zoom lens.

However, across the street, the National Library construction was proceeding and visible well above ground. Interesting to compare to what the library site was like five years ago.

The larger hotels, like the King David, Crown Plaza, and Orient are still closed.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with Israel’s first international state visitor at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in Jerusalem. In the framework of the G2G meeting between the governments of Israel and Greece, he met with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.

Before COVID-19, Greek officials were received at Beit Hanasi, the Israeli President’s Residence with blue and white flags.

And an honor guard red carpet welcome, with national anthems, and media invited to attend and record.

But, the current smaller-scaled reception resulted in the signing by ministers of three MOUs – on cyber, agriculture, and tourism. Plus, it was announced that it will be possible for Israeli tourists to travel to Greece and possibly return from Greece and Cyprus without a quarantine requirement by August 1, 2020.

Prime Minister of Greece and President of Israel at Beit Hanasi — Photo credit: Mark Neyman (GPO)

Besides the important agreements, there was an official photo with Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis of Greece and President Reuven Rivlin at Beit Hanasi.

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis of Greece:and Israeli President at Beit Hanasi bump elbows — Photo credit: Mark Neyman (GPO)

And the new coronavirus greeting of bumping elbows and not shaking hands.

There was also to be an official visit from Cyprus, but it was postponed as the numbers of coronavirus cases has started to rise again in multiple Israeli locations.

It was announced that MK Tzipi Hotovely is leaving the Knesset to replace Mark Regev as Ambassador to the United Kingdom. The usual anti-Israel sources are protesting the appointment. Remembering when Brazil would not accept Dani Dayan? The best thing that happened to Dayan was when he went to New York as Israel’s General Counsel and has done an outstanding job.

Back in November 2018, we were on a media tour near the Israeli border to see the IDF view of Gaza.

There was Tehila Friedman in her signature red hat having a private guided tour. With the new Knesset arrangements, Tehila is one of the newest Knesset members. As Knesset members, the two female politicians are from different parties with very different political views, but both are concerned with the welfare of Israel.

The red food truck came back, with labeling for burgers, both meat and vegan burgers.

I love the name of Beyond Burgers in Hebrew – ביונד מיט-הדור הבה

In time for today’s International Yoga Day, Abraham Hostel announced rooftop Yoga.

What a contrast to two years ago and the big events for the first day of summer.

Now a man praying alone in nature is more likely scene than group yoga.

The summer flowers around are blooming.

The sights and smells of summer abound.

Even this bead tree or Indian lilac flowers were pretty, though it’s toxic and intrusive.

The pleasant senses of nature will have to suffice.

This summer of 2020 the large annual festivals are not happening.

Protests from the cultural community, one of the daily protests near the Prime Minister’s Office and Knesset, could be heard from kilometres away.

I will leave you with one of the favorite sights and sounds from the Jerusalem Light Festival of 2018.

Here’s to hoping next year – or better – this year to see you on the Jerusalem streets.

Jerusalem Streets Cleaner after COVID-19 Closures

June 14, 2020June 14, 2020Sharon A

Creating. Innovating. Resilience. Responding to challenges.

Oh, with at least a dash of chutzpah too–all are important to living in Israel.

In Jerusalem last week the news highlighted the story that the old street Bezek payphone booths were to be converted to defibrillator stations. Mifal HaPayis and MDA have begun to place AEDs at crucial public places under a joint venture.

Israeli defibrillator posted on street with connection to MDA — Photo Credit: Iki Maimon

As part of the project, 600 initial advanced devices will be deployed with wireless communication to MDA’s 101 Emergency Call Center.

Also new on the Jerusalem streets, small refrigerators would host ‘food salvage’ – good food placed inside free for anyone in need to take.

The Knesset was finally back in business. Then it closed.

A member of Knesset was diagnosed with COVID-19.

Visitor Entrance to Israeli president residence being disinfected for coronavirus — Photo Credit: Tomer Reichman

At Beit Hanasi, a staff member has tested positive for the coronavirus, so the President’s house is getting a thorough cleaning.

I’ve lost count how many times our street has been cleaned.

But this is the first time I saw them spraying inside this passageway.

Check out the brand-new garbage bags in the old cans!

And they patched up parts of this path.

New traffic lights were installed at this dangerous pedestrian crossing.

Even the monastery in the Valley of the Cross was cleaning up this week.

The dry foliage is a serious fire hazard. So glad to finally see the dried weeds being cut.

Getting ready to host visitors in Jerusalem?

These socially distanced park benches are ready.

Or go for the extreme social distancing, alone with nature.

Slowly Jerusalem seems to be coming back from the coronavirus shut down.

The signs were still up for the end of March Brain and Art Week at the Cinematheque.

Many cultural events were canceled and some programs have moved online.

The 2020 Israel Festival has rescheduled for September.

The hilltop was dark after Shabbat, these usual Israel Museum lights did not go on.

However, The Islamic Museum announced its reopening.

“Trespassing” will be on display until the end of the month.

Tower of David image for BANAI exibit — Bachora and Meir Banai with their eldest son Shmuel – 1915 Yad Izhak Ben-Zvi Photographic Archives

The Tower of David Museum will be re-opening its doors this week on June 17 – and opening a brand new exhibition BANAI, the personal story of the Banai family while painting a much broader panorama with a saga going back to 1881 when Rachamim Bana came to the Holy Land from Shiraz, Persia.

Kikar Musica, Music Square, off of Yoel Salomon Street is offering live events again.

And planning for the future, Avraham Fried wants to perform in Sultan’s Pool at the end of August.

Two years ago, Fried was the featured entertainment at Rabbi Steinsaltz’s 80th birthday bash at the Orient Hotel. Oh, that was a busy week with June events.

The big hotels are still dark, but working on reopening plans with the new Ministry of Health guidelines.

The Jerusalem streets are getting back to business, slowly, but cleaner and better than before.

Jerusalem, Israel – Shavuot 5780

May 31, 2020Sharon A

I used to complain that Shavuot in Israel lasted only one day and was over too quickly.

Tens of thousands of people would stay up all night, learning and studying at various venues and then converge at the Kotel, the Western Wall, for dawn prayer services. Eat and sleep and the day was over, with not enough time for guests.

Well, not this year. With Shabbat immediately following, we ended up with a two-day holiday in Israel as well as those living outside of Israel.

I got what I asked for, and I’m happy to go back to one day next year when Shavuot falls on Monday.

In Jerusalem, the summer sun has dried the tall green growth in the Valley of the Cross.

Nature and seasons appear unaware of a pandemic and are unchanged.

While the Israel Museum on top of the hill suffers from the novel coronavirus affecting its closure, the weeds below in the valley have flourished.

Not far away is Jerusalem Cinema City, also trying to come back after COVID-19 closures.

On my first visit to Cinema City, I took this photo of a wall mural.

Where else but Jerusalem would you find Moses with the Ten Commandments on the wall next to the movie theater escalators?

While I was searching for that old photo I found this one taken the same day.

In this upside-down coronavirus time, would an IDF soldier walk so close to a stranger?

Has the time come when helping a blind man cross a busy street is not a good thing?

The official announcement:

Following the closure of educational institutions against the backdrop of the coronavirus crisis, and the gradual return to routine, it was agreed that students should receive educational continuity until the beginning of August. This will significantly reduce the financial burden of their parents and reduce gaps in Israeli society.

With an outbreak of COVID-19 among students and teachers at one large Jerusalem secular high school, it is closed again today. And before I could publish this today, another high school has announced closing for the week due to an infected teacher.

However, tomorrow senior citizen sessions are scheduled to reopen, in limited numbers with only physical and art activities in person. The rest will remain in Zoom.

The Jerusalem Film Festival announced plans to hold the festival in a regular format this summer following the decision by Israeli authorities to allow the reopening of cinemas in the country from June 14.

The event is now to run August 20-30, just over a month later than its originally scheduled July 16-26 time slot.

Meanwhile, in the theme of the Shavuot holiday, I thought to share a few short film clips from the King David Night Show at the Tower of David.

King David the warrior in battle,

and David the Poet.

In past years, the seemingly endless list of Festivals began after Shavuot.

The Light Festival in the Old City in particular was popular, filling the streets at night.

Remember when Damascus Gate was lit like a giant pinball machine for Jerusalem Light Festival?

My all-time favorite light projection was also at the Damascus Gate.

This morning the Temple Mount was reopened after a two-month closure.

Muslim worshipers crowded through the Green Gate to enter.

Non-Muslims lined up to go up the ramp to Mughrabi Gate.

This video is from years ago. Will the Old City return to the old “normal”?

For Shavuot services at the Kotel this year, tickets were required to enter. A limited number were distributed by lottery. Each ticket had the name and ID number on them. Late at night after Shabbat was over, there were people on the plaza and near the Kotel, but not in the large numbers we were accustomed to in the past.

Shavuot cheese cake for Israeli security with President Reuven Rivlin — Photo credit: Mark Neyman (GPO)

One of my favorite images from Shavuot 5780 was of President Reuven Rivlin serving cheesecake and lemonade to security forces on the eve of the holiday. It was a year since his wife Nechama passed away, and he said it was something she would do, so he did it in her memory. The cemetery at Har Herzl where she is buried is under construction now and even the presidential family could not go on her yahrzeit.

The sun is shining and temperatures are pleasant out on the Jerusalem streets.

Jerusalem is planning to temporarily close thirteen city center streets to traffic, hoping people will come back to dine at the outside tables. Ads have been placed to get Israelis to come to Jerusalem. With international tourism halted, Jerusalem’s tourist-based economy needs desperate measures with so many businesses suffering and forced to close.

What will happen next? We will have to wait and see.

The numbers of construction cranes seem to multiply overnight.

Hope to see you all in Jerusalem soon.