Jewish Holiday – Page 16 – The Real Jerusalem Streets

Jerusalem Preparing for New Year

September 5, 2018September 5, 2018Sharon A

The Jewish holidays fall early this year.

Upon turning the calendar page to September, one finds that Rosh Hashana is only a week way.

Not sure where the summer went or how the time flew so fast.

Children are back in school and holiday preparations have begun.

Gan Sacher, Sacher Park, is getting a major make-over.

The new cafe should be finished for holiday crowds.

Music is filling the streets and concert halls.

Shir Chadash Synagogue on Emek Refaim sponsored a musical performance by Yehuda Katz.

Listen to a minute from the after-Shabbat performance in this video.

The streets of Yemin Moshe were quiet at night.

But inside the Yemin Moshe synagogue, the Solomon Brothers were leading selichot, the pre-Rosh Hashana prayers.

The twin lions in the Jewish Quarter near the steps to the Kotel, Western Wall, got a new coat of paint before the holidays. The next day, the eyes and detailing were added.

With construction for a new elevator access, the regular steps are blocked.

They had better work fast here before the holiday crowds arrive.

The moon was a brilliant orange color in the sky over the Kotel.

A bit of the sounds of the night. Amazing how fast the moon had moved, I tried to get in in the video and did not succeed.

Though it was approaching midnight, people were coming and going, but there were no overflow crowds.

The Robinson’s Arch area was empty as usual when I went to check.

However, at Heichal Shlomo, the overflow crowd was also at the back door trying to get inside.

The Old City and the Great Synagogue were not where the crowds were for the first night of these selichot prayers. They were at First Station.

Walking past the vendor stands and restaurants of First Station, in the Hangar

Yitzhak Meir was leading a musical selichot service.

His following has grown over the past few years, with a larger venue each year.

Thousands attended in the Hangar as he sang with musical accompaniment.

This was not your grandfather’s service, mumbling the words after midnight in a small shul.

You may not see this again, but approaching the New Year, Jerusalem mayoral candidates danced together at the conclusion of selichot.

The race could get nasty after the holidays, but at least for one night, the candidates joined hands and were singing and dancing together. These photos are screen shots from You Tube video.

Politicians were out the first day of school to be photographed with children going back to class.

Summer is over. Shana tova signs are up.

It’s buying and selling season in stores, at second hand fairs on Jerusalem, Israel streets,

and from pop-up vendors of all sort of housewares for preparing for holidays.

From huge holiday wishes from Friends of Zion,

to the Shana Tova gift basket I found at my door,

and another evening of selihot and prayers at First Station, many are the signs of Jerusalem preparing for New Year.

And yes already a week before Rosh Hashana, the first sukka was spotted.

Up on this porch, a family is prepared and ready in Mea Shearim,

At least for now, the faces of candidates for mayor are down, and holiday greetings are up.

Wishing all a successful school year and a very good New Year 5779.

שנה טובה וכתיבה וחתימה טובה

Shabbat Shalom

July 27, 2018August 19, 2020Sharon A

Some say Tu B’Av is like a Jewish Valentines Day.

There was so much happening Thursday night in Jerusalem, Israel.

The streets were full of people and cars. Plenty to share, but short on time.

However, the walls of the Old City were colorful for Tu B’Av.

Jerusalem walls colorfully lit for TU B'Av

I thought perfect to wish all a Shabbat Shalom

שבת שלום

Jerusalem: Tisha B’Av Lows to Celebration Time

July 25, 2018July 29, 2018Sharon A

When we lived in Australia, Tisha B’Av, the 9th day of the Hebrew month of Av, fell in winter.

It was a regular work day and school was not on holiday.

How different is the experience of Tisha B’Av in Jerusalem, Israel.

Busy streets are shuttered at night, restaurants, wine bars and street cafes are closed.

For hundreds of years, Jews have been mourning and fasting on Tisha B’Av.

These stones next to the Kotel, the Western Wall, at Robinson’s Arch, are from the ruined Temple, and remain as a reminder.

As a sign of mourning, every year Jews sit on the ground or on stones, or a low chair, to read Eicha, the Book of Lamentations.

For the last 6 years I have joined in the Walk around the Walls, led by Women in Green.

Every year I am surprised by the size of the crowd, as hundreds of people of all ages join in, many carrying Israeli flags.

Security led the way for the crowd walking around the walls. Security is always a concern, but I have never felt any danger.

First the walk passed New Gate,

then Damascus Gate,

and Flowers’ Gate. On this walk I get to see parts of Jerusalem not on my regular routes.

At Lion’s Gate, there was a speech from MK Zeev Elkin, along with others. He also spoke six years ago.

Lion’s Gate is where, in 1967, Israeli soldiers entered to liberate the Old City of Jerusalem from Jordanian occupation.

I am always amazed how many people stand and sit on the stones in the middle of the night to listen to speeches.

New this year were drones over the crowd. The beautiful horses that used to patrol were missing.

As I walked around to the Kotel, the Western Wall, the walls were illuminated.

I was not alone as I passed a group listening to a guide in the southern wall excavation.

There were many tour groups and guides sharing the stories of ancient Jerusalem.

Walking around to the Kotel, I looked in by Robinson’s Arch, the egalitarian section platforms.

There those ancient stones have remained at the base for millennia.

It is a vast area, and hard to photograph, especially at night. A crop of the photo shows the cracked stone which fell the next day, almost hitting a woman.

And as every year, tens of thousands of people were coming and going, sitting and praying, singing, and some even socializing.

They were sitting on the stones or walking somberly, remembering tragedies of old.

For over 6 years, near the Kotel Plaza under the stones, levels of history are being revealed.

The replica of the golden menorah of the Temple was shining brightly in front of the Hurva Synagogue. It was moved recently when work began on a new elevator access to the Kotel.

Six years of walking around the ancient walls, a simple act that for so many years our ancestors could only dream about. The distance seems less each time, but the hour is always late.

A Jerusalem festival this week is called 360 degrees,

however, Tisha B’Av mourning revolves 180 degrees.

After the lows of mourning, the roller coaster of life returns to celebration.

After Tisha B’Av comes a big wedding season.

A new family starting a new home in Israel.

The situation in Syria is getting more intense.

Hamas continues to burn the south.

However, families from around the world are coming together.

At this wedding in the hills of Jerusalem, as at all Jewish weddings, there is a song to remember Jerusalem.

Not just on Tisha B’Av, but every day, Jerusalem was and is in Jewish prayer.

After Tisha B’Av, so much is happening in Jerusalem, Israel, it is hard to decide what to do first.

For culture, there are large musical performances in Sultan’s Pool and free movies at night in the parks.

For sports fans, there is a street ball tournament and a basketball competition, plus flags are up for 52nd International Children’s Games, set to attract 2000 teenagers.

If you hurry, you could have an up close view, there is a special offer at Kikar Safra, one of the best Airbnb deals ever – HERE

For more Tisha B’Av in Jerusalem, photos HERE