Sharon A – The Real Jerusalem Streets

King Herod of Judea-Builder of Caesarea

June 19, 2019Sharon A

One thing Jerusalem, Israel does not have is a good view of the sea.

An attempt for a beach in Liberty Bell Park was a poor substitute.

So a trip to the coast and the sea was a welcome treat.

The sign “The Sea” between palm trees greets visitors to Caesarea coastal park.

Here part of the remains of Herod’s Sebastos Harbor has been exposed.

But other portions are being worked on carefully by archaeologists.

The trip was to attend the launch of the new Visitor Center.

Josephus wrote of Herod’s tribute to Caesar in the first century BCE.

Herod the Builder. Herod the Great. Ruler of Judea. Builder of the Second Temple in Jerusalem. Builder of the fortress, Masada. Builder of Herodion.

Herod built Sebastos to honor Caesar Augusta and the goddess Roma.

In this photograph from the video in the new Visitor Center video, we see his vision.

One scene illustrated the hundreds of boats that came through.

Herod’s building project took ten years to complete. Tons open tons of cement went into rafts sunk, along the coast which had no natural harbor.

Herod or Hordus as he is called in Hebrew began globalization in the region.

Caesar Augustus attended the gala opening of the one mile long piers and temple.

However, this massive building project lay in ruins for 2000 years.

Now, located in one of the fourteen vaults Herod built to support the platform of the temple of Augustus and Roma, the new Caesarea Visitor Center is open to the public.

The once-thriving area was rebuilt and hosted many rulers over the centuries – pagan, Christian, Muslim, Jewish and Samaritan.

In the museum, artifacts from various periods are on display.

An ancient menorah was placed next to a modern visual box, hard to catch in a photograph.

Visuals of the past help the visitor to see how the 60-acre site would have looked.

King Herod’s gateway to the Mediterranean Sea was constructed in the 1st century BCE.

On display are recovered pottery pieces that span the centuries.

This was the outside of the vault of the Caesarea Visitor Center at sunset,

and next to it an area where Roman baths greeted weary seafarers.

The Caesarea project was funded by the Rothschild Foundation and featured family wine at its launch.

As the sun set, this was as close to the beach as I could get.

Because of the tight security, I was afraid if I left I might not get back in.

The lights went on, the program began.

Musicians played and the statues turned. Oh my, they turned out to be live performers.

President Reuven Rivlin arrived after a tour of the new museum and spoke.

Cutting the ribbon with Baroness Ariana de Rothschild before he headed back to Jerusalem.

Then the party and music really got going.

Perhaps that is why the neighbors were invited along with media and dignitaries?

Though I do not usually take selfies, this outdoor portable toilet fit for royalty needed a photo. Sorry, I cannot share the pleasant smell. This was not your usual portaloo.

The Caesarea harbor is to be once again a major stop for visitors.

I took a short clip from the video, which should be the first stop on a visit to the new Caesarea Visitor Center.

King Herod. King of Judea. Hard to describe in a few words in a blog.

Visitors can now experience parts of his story in Caesarea.

Jerusalem after Shavuot – Festival Season

June 12, 2019Sharon A

Oh, time seems to fly in Jerusalem, Israel.

One holiday and major event goes into another on the Jerusalem streets.

Yom Yerushalayim, Jerusalem Day, with its multiple events, is over.

Only a few leftover signs and flying flags remain.

Italians were here for an international travel bloggers summit and posed in First Station.

They did not realize the colorful shades were for the Jerusalem Pride Parade.

Before the parade began, near the Liberty Bell Park starting point, I saw this group of security personnel gather for afternoon prayers.

The American Center is still lit with rainbow-colored lights at night.

There were tens of thousands of visitors in Jerusalem for Shavuot. Synagogues and streets were filled day and night. In this photo, you can see a few of the hundreds of lectures and classes offered.

Though it’s called the Israel Festival, the decades-old festival is held in Jerusalem, in various venues. This year it runs from May 30 to June 15, with enough programs to fill a newspaper supplement.

I want to share one production by the Elad Theatre held at the Museum of Natural History.

This was the main entrance, back in days of the protests to save the Nature Museum.

Coming up the stairs from the parking lot near Emek Refaim as the sun was setting, lights were on at the Jerusalem Museum of Natural History.

Was there always a pond on the grounds? For sure there wasn’t special catering.

The Nature Museum was best known for its large live snakes and tortoises.

But on the grounds this night there was a table set for a banquet dinner. Dining, dancing with live music, and Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet was on the menu for this Israel Festival event.

Here was Juliet on the balcony of the Nature Museum for the Masquerade Ball.

At the opening scene, the audience donned masks and mingled with the actors. After drinks, the party was getting going with enthused production extras.

Romeo and Juliet met at the ball, but the main scenes were held as the audience dined on the catered food and more wine.

The actors used the entire area, including on the tables. There were no bad or back row seats. There was interaction with the audience throughout this Hebrew language adaptation of the Bard.

Shakespeare is not routinely taught in Israeli schools. So in case, you do not know the conclusion of this famous story, I will end with one photo of the fight scene.

The location and weather were fabulous. It was a great production, even if I did not try the food or drink. I hope this is not the last production of this type.

But as soon as the Israel Festival is over, Tzamid Festival, Arts without Boundaries, begins.

Design Week at Hansen House looks to be bigger than ever.

And the annual Shavuah Hasefer, Hebrew Book Week starts tonight at First Station.

I tried to get a photo of the new signs on the other side near the entrance from the parking lot. But an overly conscientious security guard would not let me get close enough after I walked all the way around.

Graduations and end of year performances, an International Freedom of Press Conference at the Jerusalem Press Club and a Camera event on antisemitism in the mainstream media were all happening last night, along with a concert at the Tower of David for the Israel Festival.

And the annual Jerusalem Light Festival is coming soon.

Amazing and diverse things happening on these Jerusalem streets!

More Romeo & Juliet – The Last Supper – photos HERE

Nechama Rivlin – Remembered

June 11, 2019June 11, 2019Sharon A

On Monday, March 11, Nechama Rivlin, z”l, נחמה בת דרורה – Nechama bat Derora, wife of Israel President Reuven Rivlin, had a single lung transplant at Beilinson Hospital in Petach Tikvah.

On June 5, on what would have been her 74th birthday she was buried in Har Herzl Cemetery.

President Rivlin and his family received condolence calls from all over the country and from world leaders on the passing of his wife.

At the entrance to Beit HaNasi, the Israeli President’s Residence, flags were lowered to half mast.

Eight pallbearers carried her casket into the Jerusalem Theater.

She loved the theater and the public was invited to come and pay respects.

The President came to the theater at 4:00 pm, surrounded by family and especially supported by a young grandson, before the cortege left for the cemetery.

More than four thousand people from all over the country, of all ages, tribes, and sectors, came to offer their condolences to the President and his family, including government ministers, Knesset members, military and police personnel, heads of various religious and ethnic communities in Israel, ambassadors and cultural and spiritual figures.

Because of the Shavuot holiday, the shiva mourning days were shortened from seven to only two days. Beit Hanasi was open to all those who wished to pay their respects.

Over the holiday weekend, I had time to think back over the past years and the hundreds of photos taken at Beit Hanasi.

At every event, I had to decide whether or not to post a photo with the oxygen line, as here standing next to the President at a New Year’s Reception for Diplomats at the 2017 Rosh Hashana “raise a glass.”

In June 2015, the Rivlins stood outside of Beit Hanasi during the anthems as the German President made an official visit.

Both presidents’ wives walked hand and hand down the red carpet. This is one of the few public appearances without portable oxygen in hand.

In spite of her medical condition, Nechama Rivlin attended the opening of Gazelle Park.

President Rivlin was out of the country and she was the featured speaker.

For diplomatic functions, the main hall gets crowded, none more so than for the visit of US President Trump to Jerusalem, Israel.

For the brief trip out to the back garden, Nechama had her oxygen in hand.

Here she is seated outside for the Jerusalem Foundation 50th year celebration.

The Rivlins posed on stage for a photo with dignitaries.

And they also posed with the young musicians who performed.

There were many first-row center seats in the garden for celebrations and performances. This one was memorable as their grandson had a special seat of honor.

The Rivlins hosted Bible study sessions and literary and other awards.

They initiated new events for Jewish holidays and sat the head of this seder for Tu Bishvat

Nechama Rivlin was the one who hosted groups of children in the garden for Tu Bishvat.

Various groups of young students were invited to the back garden.

With the Presidential cat supervising, she read to the children.

But the main activity was planting for Tu Bishvat in the children’s community garden she initiated.

In the neglected back corner past the synagogue, an area was cleared and flowers were planted.

The portable oxygen is seen not far away off to the right in this photo.

In 2016, Nechama Rivlin got down with her shovel to plant in the garden

With the President, she also acted as hostess to lone soldiers, on Sukkot to greet the public or at special events.

After dozens of times at Beit Hanasi, one event still stands out.

This sign in Hebrew across the Beit Hanasi entrance gate read “With love, Nechama and Ruvi Rivlin,” to welcome the children of police and security personnel

There was a special kids menu, with a carnival set up on the grounds.

As the Rivlins came out of the house and entered the grounds, Nechama Rivlin began by explaining to the children about her portable oxygen.

There was entertainment for young children, as age was limited that day for under 8 years old.

Starting in September 2015, a “wave of terror” had their parents on duty 24/7, and families under great stress.

The young guests sat that afternoon in October, as Nechama Rivlin read them a story.

As everyone was entering the main hall there was a loud noise.

For a second you could have heard a feather drop.

But as soon as it was realized a balloon had popped, the noisy chatter began again.

I think this was the first and last time I saw bunches of balloons in Beit Hanasi.

Nechama Rivlin z’l in spite of her lung disease, supported by loyal young staffers, worked beside her husband from the time his term as President began in July 2014, even traveling overseas.

She shared her love of gardening and literature and theater with young Israelis.

The president and his family were overwhelmed by the great love shown to them throughout Nechama’s illness, and the enormous warmth shown by so many people since her death. The President and his family thanked Beit Yisrael, the Jewish people, with all their hearts. The President and family expressed deep appreciation before the holiday began.

Outside the entrance of Beit Hanasi, flowers surrounded the black-draped photo.

I thought it fitting to share these few photographs and conclude with the traditional words to mourners.

המקום ינחם אותם בתוך שאר אבלי ציון וירושלים

May you be comforted by the gates of mourners of Zion and Jerusalem

Link for President’s Eulogy HERE