Wishing all an easy fast and healthy and good year
גמר חתימה טובה
From The Real Jerusalem Streets
middle east current events
11 Scenes of Erev Yom Kippur in Jerusalem
At the end of the Rosh Hashana holiday weekend,
some neighborhoods were piled high with garbage.
I will spare you those ugly photos this year
and only post this one of the holiday boxes, marked with dripping honey.
The city was prepared this time, no complaints about hauling it all away,
but plenty of complaints about time!
The usual change from Daylight Savings time before Yom Kippur
did not happen this year because of a new law in the Knesset,
so many woke up an hour off when their devices did not get that memo.
Some Apps are still off an hour,
but many of the buses did change to the Yom Kippur greeting,
to be sealed for a good year.
The change of seasons can be felt by the shorter days and cooler weather,
but days are still warm enough
to stroll down the street eating an ice cream cone.
On days leading up to Yom Kippur
Chabad was out on the streets not only offering chance to put on tefilin,
but also to get a head start on Kaparot, using money,
instead of chickens to get rid of your sins.
The 11,000 seat new Jerusalem Payis Arena was filled
by those honoring the first yahrzeit of Rav Ovadia Yosef.
The landscape in Jerusalem, Israel, is changing in all directions.
In time for the holiday tourist season,
the gates of the renovated old Hansen House are open.
For many locals the expansion of Hadar Mall in Talpiot
with a new supermarket opening was big news.
But this season, expansion and building features
the walls of sukkot for the holiday next week,
with colorful decorations for sale.
And, next week is the Jerusalem Formula Road Show,
and if it is anything like last year
the Jerusalem, Israel streets will be filled with people and fast cars,
the opposite of Yom Kippur with no cars and people fasting.
Gmar chatima tova
may all be sealed for a good year.
20 Signs of Rosh Hashana in Jerusalem
The end of 5774 is in sight
and signs of the new year are everywhere.
The municipality has posted signs wishing a good year to Jerusalem 5775.
This morning, there are dark circles under many eyes of those
who stayed up late for Selihot prayers, and then woke up early this morning.
The Selichot prayers are scheduled almost non-stop,
and there are even tours to see those who recite the special prayers.
One is to be held in Kikar Safra, the Jerusalem Government Square.
These new signs are for free buses to the Old City,
I had to try one and not walk every time.
Many pre-holiday parties include “raising a cup” to toast the new year,
which makes it a perfect time for road stops to test vehicles and drivers.
But not all police were busy with ticketing or crime this week.
So much to do this short week before Rosh Hashana,
food shopping is crazy and time is stretched to limits.
This man is often seen on skate board walking dogs,
but for first time I saw him pushing a baby stroller.
I wondered ‘his own, or some family short on time?’
Friends who are visiting had time for brunch.
Signs were up for sales, but this restaurant got the first sukka photo for this year.
Every organization is looking for end-of-year donations,
this woman held a sign asking for charity in the Old City,
and this man on Jaffa Street had no sign.
He just held an empty cup.
But there are much prettier sights this time of year,
like these new limes on the tree ready to be picked,
and wonderful flowers, not just outside on the streets,
but inside
getting ready for holiday tables as well.
Public parks have been cleared and private gardens are ready,
since shmita, the year of not working the land, begins at Rosh Hashana.
The notes in the Western Wall,
were overflowing before the holiday clean up,
but no one was going to peek at this message wrapped tightly in blue thread.
New chairs were delivered, all ready for the holiday crowds on the plaza.
It is shofar time,
and after 5774 years
עם ישראל חי
Am Yisrael Chai,
Shana tova.