Favorites – Page 158 – The Real Jerusalem Streets

Jerusalem after a very Wet Week

February 5, 2013rjstreets

Last week it rained, and then it rained some more.

Today the new members of the 19th session of the Israeli Knesset

eagerly await to be sworn in.

Those people who stayed up all night to watch the Super Bowl live

are suffering from football fatigue and moving slower than usual.

But for most people, after a week of rain and grey clouds,

the big excitement is that sun came out and the sky was bright blue.

Runners were not the only ones out on the streets;

many people were happy to be able to walk outside again.

Even little babies seemed to enjoy the warm temperatures.

I love that a rose in the garden is budding in the middle of winter

and that flowers are blooming in so many small parks.

But I hate that these steps are usually blocked by a parked car.

Free parking is hard to find in Jerusalem, but still, it is real chutzpah

to constantly block access to stairs leading to a public park.

And what would Jerusalem be,

without cats out enjoying the weather too?

It is clouding over again, so better get going before the rain starts.

Yes, we need rain, but people do smile more when the sun is shining.

Warm Story for a Cold Week

January 31, 2013rjstreets

It is foggy, grey and wet outside.

The white snow seems so long ago.

Last week the colors were so beautiful,

it was perfect weather to train for Jerusalem’s marathon next month.

Even now, tree cuttings still block many parks and sidewalks,

with even more cuttings appearing after the first cleanup.

So much talk this week was of weather and elections.

It wasn’t just branches that were blocking sidewalks in Jerusalem, Israel.

These TV news trucks were parked on the sidewalks near Beit Hanasi,

the President’s residence, as they waited for official election results.

However, before the rain started on Monday,

there was a very special wedding in Jerusalem.

The oldest of these three young men was 16 years old

when their father was shot and killed by terrorists and

their mother instantly became a widow with 7 children,

the youngest 4 months old.

Their mother Elisheva Chai was getting married to Gil Efrati of Jerusalem.

Rain drops fell as the chupah stood ready outside,

heavenly tears lightly covering the ground.

The chatan sat with friends before the ceremony,

then the dancing began as the bride and groom were led

to the bright and still dry chupah at Ramat Rachel.

But were there any dry eyes at this celebration?

Gil Efrati has never been married before,

and now he is the father to seven beautiful children.

After Rabbi Meir Avshalom Chai z”l was murdered,

Elisheva Chai was able to raise a wonderful family.

She gives credit to the support they received from OneFamily.

Cars are honking, people are cranky and trying to stay warm.

I am so glad for this wonderful story to warm up

an other wise cold and dreary week.

To see more of this story and special simcha please, click HERE

Real Colors of Jerusalem, Israel

January 25, 2013rjstreets

Much of the world is experiencing freezing temperatures,

but yesterday it was so warm here, that is hard to believe

that snow covered the city just two weeks ago.

The palm trees against the blue sky made for a great photo.

Some Cypress trees are still bent from the weight of the snow,

but the YMCA tower stands straight as usual.

A new exhibit on satire and humor (humour) opened in Mamilla Mall,

making it hard to get through there quickly to meet friends.

So many tourists were out enjoying the day and the weather.

The regular Thursday Bar Mitzvah crowds included many

that came from overseas to celebrate at the Kotel, the Western Wall.

While yesterday the topic of discussion for some

was the meaning of the Israeli election results,

what was truly impressive was the color and diversity on the streets.

Was this woman with green herbs getting ready for Tu Beshvat?

In the Old City I saw nuns dressed in blue,

monks in brown passing Arab women dressed in pink,

and groups os Christian tourists following a red and white flag.

People were eating outside and walking around.

Not everyone was smiling the entire time,

and these boys were riding golden lions?

There were lots of soldiers in green uniforms,

they came for a special swearing-in ceremony in the evening.

At least one soldier took the time to pray at the Kotel, the Western Wall.

On the way home I saw a sign announcing that the Kaiser

is coming to the Tower of David Museum.

Would the Kaiser in 1898 or anyone else imagine that Jews

and friends from all over the world would come to Jerusalem, Israel.

And who a few years could ago imagine that at the Kotel

people would Sykpe on an iPhone to families back home?