Author: rjstreets

Remembering Yitzhak Navon: 1921-2015

rjstreets

From 1978 – 1983

Yitzhak Navon z”l was President of Israel.

Yitzhak Navon statue at Beis Hanasi

His official place of honor at Beit Hanasi,

the Israeli President’s residence,

9 past Israeli presidents

is 5th in the line of nine former presidents.

He passed away on Shabat at the age of 94

and his funeral was held on Sunday.

Navon children arrive for funeral

First his son and daughter arrived at Beit Hanasi,

funeral Navon

as the gates were opened to the public to pay their last respects.

Navon children at funeral

President Rivlin came out to await the arrival

coffin at Beit Hanasi

of the army hearse carrying the coffin.

Military escort at funeral

This was a state funeral with dress uniforms,

Navon lying in state

an honor guard,

Funeral flowers

floral wreaths,

Navon funeral tehilim

and a military chaplain quietly reciting tehilim, psalms.

Israel president funeral

A former president of Israel lying in state,

 without the presence of foreign dignitaries.

public at Navon funeral

As the public entered and passed by the casket,

some stopped to offer a prayer.

Public invited to pay respects

Some lingered to remember

the first Sephardi president who was born in Jerusalem.

When Navon went to Egypt, he spoke Arabic to the people.

funeral at Israel president house

With the changing of the guard,

funeral with honor guard

a new guard stood at attention by the casket.

How sad it is that the a whole younger generation does not remember

this former president who lived quietly and modestly.

Many things happened this week in Jerusalem, Israel,

but we should take time and remember,

Yitzhak Navon z”l who was buried in Har Herzl cemetery

with other leaders of Israel.

Shabbat Shalom שבת שלום

rjstreets

The sun is not shining.

The sky is grey.

Buildings are lost in the fog.

The traffic backs up on slippery streets.

It is raining in Jerusalem, Israel.

 As much as we need rain, it is not a pretty picture.

However, any planned Friday of ‘Rage’ is a wash-out.

When we first made aliyah a woman told me, wait,

 when you are here long enough you become unlingual.

It has started. Last week, I could not think of an English word

I needed to express to a woman how much I liked what she had said.

Plus, my Hebrew gets worse and worse, by not using it often enough.

A thought posted on a Facebook comment prompted this popular poster.

Hope it makes you smile, or at least gets you thinking…

This sunset photo was taken on the road back from a visit to Gaza border.

poster from FAcebook comment on Hebrew

שבת שלום

Inspired from original text by Devorah Goodman Horev.

Hebrew version hopefully to follow next week,

meanwhile that thunder was really loud and close.

Would be nice if a rainbow would follow this storm.

Jerusalem Autumn Colors

rjstreets

Autumn means beautiful photos of fall foliage

  from the northeastern United States.

There is nothing like that in Jerusalem, Israel.

unusual tree

 This year I found one tree with some fall colors.

But, as those US multi-colored leaves fall to leave bare limbs,

dates on palm tree

Jerusalem palm trees fill with ripe dates,

Israel fall flowers

and fall flowers burst out over the sidewalks

Flower beds are being planted,

flowers planted at Beit Hanasi

and a new flower bed has been added outside

of Beit Hanasi, the Israeli President’s residence.

Yemin Moshe

The fall flowers of Yemin Moshe are always a favorite.

With a sandstorm this week,

Montefiore Windmill

the Montefiore Windmill was turning briskly,

but hard to see against the white sky.

emek rafaim street

Some streets have been too quiet since tourism has been down.

The German Colony is sponsoring special events

every Monday evening in November and December.

tourists from Australia near Begin Center

Australian tourists were enjoying a free day to see sights.

Not far away a female tour guide was injured in a terror attack.

walking with stroller in Jerusalem

 A friend was out walking a grandchild

with her whistle handy in case of trouble.

People are more wary and careful going about their business.

Jerusalem cat

But oh, those cats, 

While I pass women walking with pepper spray

 in hand ready for whatever might happen,

Jerusalem black cat

Jerusalem cats have a special chutzpah.

Those cats hold their ground no matter what.

And in the fall,

 Jerusalem cloud formations,

with the blue and white sky at sunset.

sunset Jerusalem sky blue rays showing

Ten measures of beauty descended to the world;

nine were taken by Jerusalem.

Talmud Kiddushin 49b

Autumn in Jerusalem,

the seasons change.

Days are shorter and cooler,

the dark hours of night longer.

The cycle of life goes on.