The Cinema City mural, an all time favorite, for this week.
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Jerusalem Hanukkah New Favorites in 24 Photos
Hanukkah.
Eight days of Hanukkah in Jerusalem, Israel, are not enough.
With so many things happening, one has to make a list and organize the time carefully.
Lighting the large hanukkiah by the Kotel, the Western Wall, is a popular annual evening event.
New this year, the Prime Minister and US Ambassador conducted a special lighting ceremony,
but it was a very private event on a different hanukkiah, shielded from the heavy rain and curious spectators.
As usual, a large electric hanukkiah was lit each night of Hanukkah over the Knesset.
New this year was the hanukkiah erected on top of the Hadar Mall in Talpiot.
Advertised as one of the world’s biggest Hanukkah menorahs, it measured 11 meters tall and 56 meters wide.
But Hanukkah candles are best lit in the home, as illustrated in this new projection on the Old City walls near Jaffa Gate.
One of the most famous of photos of a Hanukkah menorah hangs on the wall at Yad Vashem, next to the real one displayed in a glass case. It shows a hanukkiah in the city of Kiel, Germany in 1932, with the Nazi flag flying across the street. This hanukkiah is lit each year by members of the family that owned it, its lights burning on after the fall of Hitler’s Nazi Germany.
Before Hanukkah shops featured selections to satisfy every fashion and taste.
On Jerusalem streets one could find a lone hanukkiah lit outside a home,
or dozens shining brightly outside a yeshiva dormitory.
The idea is to show, share, and enjoy the lights in celebration of the miracle of Hanukkah.
With a simple hanukkiah at home,
or a large hanukkiah at Beit Hanasi, the Israeli President’s Residence, Hanukkah was a special time.
The President hosted multiple groups over Hanukkah, morning and night, to join in lighting ceremonies, including groups of Holocaust survivors and children.
This Paralympic athlete who was honored to light at one ceremony had a favorite smile.
Did you know Jerusalem has a street named for Judah the Maccabee?
On the building at #7 Judah Maccabee Street was this holiday themed graffiti.
Large crowds were found in Mamilla Mall for candle lighting, with music, singing and dancing.
The last night of Hanukkah there was a glorious sky at sunset. You see a glimpse of it to the left. We were on our way to one last Hanukkah party in heavy traffic, and slowed to take this photo. Seems like this cyclist stopped as well, along with the cars slowing to watch.
Missed a great sunset photo, but in spite of traffic made it to Hub Etzion in time for Michael Oren to light the hanukkiah and celebrate at the last Hanukkah party for this year.
In recent years the walls of the Old City were lit up with projections for Hanukkah.
This year again a favorite with Hanukkah greetings in multiple languages.
Inside the walls by Jaffa Gate, the Old City was the site of a Hanukkalayim Festival.
Live performances, music and more lights for Hanukkah.
Glad I went on Wednesday night.
On Thursday it started raining, pouring, and raining some more.
The Bloomfield Science Museum had special Hanukkah fire exhibits and was packed.
Other museums were filled as a day at the zoo was not good option.
Going to the Israel Museum had been our original plan. Viewing menorahs from 4th – 5th century CE in Tiberias, from the Susiya synagogue in the Hebron hills. and from Beit Shean in 5th – 7th century CE, our visit fit the Hanukkah spirit perfectly.
Thankfully the weather was perfect for the first Jerusalem Hanukkah Together Parade as it went down King David Street.
Famous balloons did not include Spider-Man, Kung Fu Panda, Anna and Elsa from “Frozen,” Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck, and Pokemons, but included “others” and Jerusalem basketball players.
Rain was no problem for a serious game of Hanukkah dreidel.
Tons of suffganiot were consumed.
These colorful ones were not a favorite, I prefer a fresh, simple glazed donut.
For those wanting a healthier Hanukkah option, there were these any time favorite pomegranates in Machane Yehuda Market, the shuk.
The hanukkiah on top of Hadar Mall, changed colors in this short video.
The projections on the walls of Old City near Jaffa Gate also need a video presentation to appreciate why it was favorite.
A final favorite hanukkiah is found on top of the Sderot Yeshivat Hesder.
This hanukkiah is made of projectiles fired from Gaza into southern Israel.
Hanukkah lights shone in the dark, from Sderot, from Jerusalem, from Israel,
tens of thousands of burning, shining lights in the night.
Jerusalem Hanukkah Together Parade
I love this time of year in Jerusalem, Israel.
The Hanukkah season.
When the ground turns green with new growth, though the days are noticeably shorter and nights so much longer and colder.
New signs pop up and line Jerusalem streets, as these for events in the Old City, City of Lights.
For eight days, from December 2-10, Jerusalem is the place to be to celebrate Hanukkah.
This year joining those those familiar street decorations, the Ministry of Diaspora Affairs sponsored something new.
Originally they said it was going to be “like a Macy’s parade.”
Big balloons, big bands, thousands of people marching through the Jerusalem streets, just like down 5th Avenue every Thanksgiving in NYC?
I went early to check out the first ever Jerusalem Hanukkah ‘Together Parade with the Jewish Diaspora’ in the Liberty Bell Park where the parade was to start.
So happy I came in through the parking lot side, as there the balloons were getting pumped up and ready to fly through the sky.
The parking lot was not accessible for vehicles, but perfect for sitting in the pleasant sunshine to enjoy the pre-show prep.
Dave came from the US, to oversee the technical aspects of his big balloons.
Small world.
Dave and Matt had arrived from their last parade held on Broad Street, in Richmond, VA.
These were not the balloons from the Macy’s Parade, but the big ones were indeed big.
Thousands of students came from around Israel to march in the parade, and were waiting at the start line near First Station.
The problem was that the other people at First Station who were not marching could not get close enough to be spectators.
This parade was for togetherness, Israel and Diaspora, so what better than to have new immigrants who were learning Hebrew in Ulpan participate.
Teveria Ulpan was ready to go and honored to be the first group.
Major roads were closed off to vehicles and pedestrians.
Not a good way to make Jerusalem residents feel love for anyone or anything.
Lined up and ready to roll along the Liberty Bell Park, at the 2:00 pm announced starting time.
US Ambassador David Friedman and Naftali Bennett spoke briefly.
I think Naftali Bennett had the best time, except maybe this young man in the video from Chile and his friends.
A loud popping noise, and blue and white streamers filled the sky.
Bennett and the Friedmans led the way along King David Street as Grand Marshalls.
A video is needed here to share the scene, not exactly 5th Avenue precision.
This together parade was more Israeli style than Macy’s.
But there was music and a float with Jerusalem basketball stars, including Amar’e Carsares Stoudemire.
I kept saying Snoopy by mistake, but I did like this giant smiling smurf.
The Golden Dragon was protected and held down by dozens of IDF soldiers.
The Muppets Animal was another big balloon held by uniformed soldiers.
No Sesame Street characters did I see in this parade.
Near the end of the parade was a train engine pulled by a truck with musical performers on top.
My parade favorites were these young people in colorful dress handing out candy,
this tattooed guy, though I have no idea what to call him,
these cute little balloons,
and an IDF soldier in a paratrooper boot making a peace sign.
For a first ever attempt, it was fun bit of time spent on Hanukkah.
The weather in Jerusalem, Israel, was way better for a parade than New York City!
However, the parade was held when most children were in school and couldn’t come to watch.
Here is a short piece near the end of the marchers, oops, the music stopped.
Rather than being for the spectators, this event was more for those participating.
After walking the route to the Sultan’s Pool,
participants were treated to a free performance by Matisyahu.
At least I was able to hand over some candy I received from those clowns to a family arriving after it was all over to sweeten their visit to Jerusalem.
We will have to wait and see if this is to become an annual event.
There are so very many things happening on the Jerusalem streets on Hanukkah, will share favorites next time.
תנוכה שמח
Happy Hanukkah!