The shuk – The Real Jerusalem Streets

Inspiration from Story of Esther Today

February 6, 2014rjstreets

Yet another red alert in southern Israel!

Talk of SodaStream ads and photos of Scarlett Johansonn

have made headlines around the world.

But I want to share some photos of real women in Jerusalem, Israel,

that did not make the headlines this week.

Thousands gathered on Thursday evening

at the Kotel, the Western Wall,

for a special service with silver trumpets,

with tehilim, psalms, and prayers,

ending as the sun was setting with the Shema Yisrael.

Housing Minister Uri Ariel was one politician who showed his face.

But did you read anywhere

that the women’s section at the Kotel was full?

Thousands of women were

praying for the future of Israel.

Also, this week was the Jerusalem Conference.

Out of the ten Jerusalem prize winners awarded there,

Geulah Cohen was only woman to receive the honor.

Avraham Duvdevani was presented a certificate by Naftali Bennett.

Interesting that younger attendees had never heard of Duvdevani

and his contribution to Zionism and aliyah.

Last year I thought the lively “discussions” were because it was pre-election season.

But, with Rav Yisrael Rozen in the middle,

MK Avi Wurtzman and former MK Michael Ben-Ari had quite an exchange

over government funding for education and families.

The entire panel got involved,

but when MK Ayelet Shaked got the microphone

and started to speak, everyone quieted down.

We may have had the driest January in history,

but this week we had enough rain to make tires spin on wet streets.

The week- long Mothers say YES to Israeli Sovereignty vigil

near the Prime Minister’s House started off on a gloomy, wet day.

But there were plenty of cookies and drinks as former MK Arieh Eldad spoke.

All week long there has been a schedule of speakers.

The sun was shining when Rabbanit Shani Taragin led a class.

Even a neighbor coming to complain of noise could not stop her.

In an amazing Torah class she talked of Esther and Vashti,

so timely as Purim is coming.

Every child has had a special day of fun this week in school.

The story of Esther is one of taking action, not giving in to an evil decree,

of not obeying a monarch, and of our survival and hope for future.

And finally to end on a bright note, the strawberries that were piled high in

the shuk, the Machane Yehuda market, were so red I had to stop and look.

Maybe John Kerry keeps coming back to get away from the snow in US

and because he loves the strawberries that are in season in Israel?

Yihyeh beseder.

BDS in Jerusalem

March 12, 2013rjstreets

Sorry I do not know any BDS, Boycott, Divest and Sanction folks,

so I can not ask them how boycotting Soda Stream

and putting hundreds of Palestinian workers out of a job

is good for anyone.

I can only assume that they are simply anti-Israel or ignorant,

as they would hurt those that BDSers are supposedly are out to help.

What I do see in Jerusalem, Israel, is that

Arab girls shop.

That is not new or news

and certainly everyone here knows that

Arab women shop.

But the biggest change in the last two years

that I have seen

is that now

Arab males shop.

Not just for cell phones,

or candy,

or food

in the supermarkets,

or in the shuk, Machane Yehuda Market,

or in a bakery.

They walk the Jerusalem streets while shopping with women

and girls,

and they carry those bags home too.

Especially in Mamilla Mall,

groups of young Arab men

can be found every day

and at night.

I have been asked what this means,

I am really not sure.

However, I do see that BDS in Jerusalem, Israel

is not boycott, divest and sanction,

but more like Boys Do Shop!

Time to add another pin on the BDS Fail Map

this time from the heart of Israel.

Summer Nights in Jerusalem

July 15, 2010rjstreets

Spain has won the World Cup, so finally soccer fans

are freed from their TV sets to enjoy the Jerusalem summer nights.

Playgrounds can be unbearably hot during the day,

so at night, even little children come out to play.

Not everyone stays inside to avoid the blazing sun,

but streets are quieter than usual.

One busy spot is the tent where the Shalit family is receiving a constant stream of visitors.

Across the street there has been a small counter protest in the evening,

but the number of yellow ribbons continues to grow.

The usual crowds of visitors are near the Jaffa Gate all day

and at night,

and at the Kotel, the Western Wall, all night long.

Tower of David

Light and Sound Show

is an extremely popular

night attraction.

Ben Yehuda Street Mall

Machane Yehuda, the shuk and

Mamilla Mall are popular for shopping, eating out, or just getting out at night.

The fountain in Paris Square takes on a whole new look in its night-time colors,

as did this construction site when it was lit up at night.

A sign of change, a coffee shop is to be open all night long.

A new sign promoting the municipality’s summer cultural events

seems to be everywhere.

Free summer musical programs attract large crowds.

However, the Jerusalem Film Festival showing

of “Blazing Saddles’ was free in the park

and did not draw a large, early crowd, eager to get good seats.

If the movie was not shown during the Nine Days leading up to Tisha B’Av

there certainly would have been many more people in attendance.

All is not fun after dark, there is often road work being done.

Judging by the large number of cars with diplomatic license plates

parked near the American Consulate last night,

there was plenty of work to be done before today’s arrival of special envoy George Mitchell.

Too much summer sun or night-life? Try a mid-afternoon nap.

Though not a picture from this week,

a beautiful night scene from Jerusalem, like a cool summer night’s breeze…

with thanks to M Hurley.

Update July 2012: the coffee shop is gone and so are those lions,

the Olympics are the sports to follow,

amazing how so much of today is the same as two years ago.

The Gilad Shalit tent is becoming a memory.