14 Erev Yom Kippur Sights in Jerusalem

The busy holiday season is well under way.

Before Rosh Hashana the heat and dirt

made it impossible to go outside,

and a few reminders are still around.

Shemitta is over

and public areas are ready for replanting.

Vendors of colorful Sukkah decorations have popped up all over.

But first, Yom Kippur is this week,

and huge crowds gathered nightly at the Kotel, the Western Wall,

for selihot prayers.

Last night there was a full house at the synagogue on the grounds

of Beit Hanassi, the Israeli President’s residence.

 for a musical selihot service.

A large crowd was at First Station, Tachana Rishona,

for a special Piyut Festival event,

but piyut and Klezmer music and selihot can be found

in many more locations as well.

First Station has a new display of old paper newspapers

with 70 years of history at a glance.

Lego Land at First Station was quiet,

since there are no more summer late-night outings with the kids,

and it is back to school for ‘meet-the-teacher’ nights instead.

Kikar Safra, government square. is hosting

a huge sing-a-long for the start of the new year,

headlining popular singer Ehud Banai.

There is a new exhibit on women at the Islamic Museum,

and the Tower of David and others are set for the openings of

the Jerusalem Biennale for Contemporary Jewish Art.

Plus, tonight is an open house at the

Jerusalem Bloomfield Science Museum.

Neighborhood festivals are continuing,

like this one on Derech Bet Lehem, Bethlehem Road.

Holiday visitors keep arriving from around the world.

The Jerusalem Parade, celebrating its 60th year,

will take place on October 1st,

and preparations are well under way for this international celebration.

Sukkot is always such a busy time with so much happening.

Now it is time to finish preparing for Yom Kippur.

The buses are well into the mood,

displaying a greeting to be sealed for a good year.

גמר חתימה תובה

Wishing all a good, healthy and peaceful year.

 For a few more sounds of the season:

click HERE