After the Holidays, What Now?

For months people have said “after the chagim“

well, the time has now arrived and the holidays are over.

Yesterday the winter session of the Knesset began in Jerusalem, Israel,

only to shut down a few hours later, to prepare for elections in January.

However, the lights were still on in the building when I went to sleep.

Over 40 rockets fired from Gaza fell already this week in the South.

There is the nuclear threat from Iran.

No one knows what will happen next on the Jerusalem streets,

but there certainly are many cameras on hand to record it.

Sukkot holiday crowds pushed through the Old City to the Kotel,

 the Western Wall,  for Birchat Kohanim, the Priestly Blessing.

Photographers were ready for action in the crowded Muslim Quarter.

Serious cameras were there to get close-ups of the faces.

Thousands of smiling visitors posed for their moment.

There were so many phones out taking photos,

 many were photos of the holiday crowds at the Kotel.

In the sukkah at Beit Hanasi, the President’s residence,

not only people posed for photos,

but even this dog stopped and posed.

There were children taking pictures

and official photos with President Shimon Peres as well.

Having your camera handy is a good thing, 

as you never know when you will need it on the Jerusalem streets.

At the Jerusalem Parade, marchers took photos with and of the spectators.

Who knew so many Nigerians were camera crazy?

Jerusalem streets are narrow,

a car on the corner can make it impossible for a truck to pass.

This looked like possible trouble, so I took a photo of the scene.

Not everyone wants me to take their photos, that is for sure.

 In fact, this man jumped out of his truck and started towards me!

I sure was relieved that all he wanted was for me to take his photo!

Most people are back to work.

School classes are in session until Hanukkah,

the universities start next week.

One might expect quiet streets, 

but yesterday there were crowds and shofars and cameras

and drums for a bar mitzvah boy’s celebration.

Gotta love those Jerusalem streets,

where you never know what or who you will find.