March 2012 – Page 3 – The Real Jerusalem Streets

Purim is Friday

March 6, 2012rjstreets

This year in Jerusalem, the holiday of Purim is Friday, March 9,

but celebrations have already begun.

Students have been in the holiday mood for more than a week

and you can expect to see the unexpected.

Window displays in the malls

and sales people are dressed in costumes.

The Jerusalem streets are filled with super-heroes

of all sizes.

Money not only talks, it also walks

on the colorful Jerusalem streets.

This is the time of year for a new hair style,

hair color,

wig or new glasses.

All over Israel today, school children dressed up in costumes,

including some very big kids!

You would never know that Purim is not celebrated until Friday

by the look of the Jerusalem streets today.

If you don’t have a costume yet, do not worry there is still time

and street vendors have plenty of them on display.

HAPPY PURIM!

Snow in Jerusalem

March 4, 2012rjstreets

I have waited for snow and snow pictures for so long,

it seems that everyone wants to see Jerusalem covered in snow.

After several recent failed predictions…finally on Friday morning

snow was coming down hard enough to obscure the Israel Museum.

The red roofs of the Nahalot neighborhood were covered with white.

The Knesset high grounds were coated with a little bit of snow.

Taxi companies did not answer their phones

and the buses stopped running.

Icy water tumbled down steps like waterfalls.

(Sorry I did not use video for this one as the sound was incredible).

Around Gan Sacher, Sacher Park, police came to direct the traffic,

as hundreds of people came out for the white stuff.

White cotton candy sold near the entrance was popular,

but it was the snow that attracted the crowd.

It was a chance to build

a snowman in the center of Jerusalem.

OK, Gan Sacher is not the same as the Golan Heights, but

kids of all ages managed to slide down the wet grass on makeshift sleds.

Children could not play in the flooded playground,

but they had a great time splashing in puddles.

Walking was difficult and dangerous for everyone.

The finish line for the Jerusalem Marathon, as seen in the background,

was a soggy mess, but people were smiling for pictures.

Others were happy to put a plastic bag over their hat and go for a walk.

All around Gan Sacher, people were happy for snow in Jerusalem.