Jerusalem After Summer, After Hours

Jerusalem After Summer, After Hours

School has started

Posters for summer events in Jerusalem Israel

but the signs for summer events are still up

along the Jerusalem streets.

One of the most popular spots,

summer or winter,

is the Machane Yehuda Market, the shuk.

Shuk closing at night, Machane Yehuda Market

As the day ends, the food stalls close

Shutters with graffiti in shuk, Jerusalem Machane Yehuda Market

and shutters come down.

Night time in shuk, Machane Yehuda Market bakery before closing

The last bits of bread are sold

Shuk Jerusalem Israel Machane Yehuda Market closed at night

and empty crates are stacked away.

Then

Man puts out water pipes on tables shuk, Jerusalem Israel Machane Yehuda Market

the tables and chairs come out,

and the loud music starts playing for the night-time crowds.

With special glasses or goggles, virtual shows

are presented at the Music Museum,

Western Wall tunnels virtual tour people in room with goggles on to see show

similar to these at the Western Wall Tunnel tours.

Five years ago, near the shuk,

Mysttorin Theater in performance near Shuk, Machane Yehuda Marker

at a Mystorin Theater performance,

I described them as “out-of-the- box.”

Now, they have gone out of this world.

Gone virtual.

Jerusalem Israel Machane Yehuda Markter shuk street sign

Meeting at night, ‘AfterShuk’

includes three stops with virtual shows.

No photos are allowed during the performances.

Scene in shuk Machane Yehuda Market of woman in virtual performance by Mystorin Theater called AfterShuk

It was painful to comply.

Such a shame.

Some scenes I really wanted to share, but I had to settle

  for the above screen-shot from a promotional video.

One of the most amazing things was,

as our group proceeded from location to location,

only the cats seemed to stop and take notice.

People went about their business,

walking, talking, or hanging laundry on a porch above.

Last week I shared creativity of the Start-Up world,

 this week is of the diverse Jerusalem cultural scene.

Sign for Piyut Festival in Jerusalem Israel

Another year of the Piyut Festival,

to be held September 24-28,

Kulanu Mekudeshet Jerusalem Season of Culture Festival

and the Jerusalem Season of Culture,

Mekudeshet, and Kulana,

 are major September events.

Around the Jerusalem streets, or in the shuk, 

so much is happening it is hard to keep up,

shuk Machane Yehuda Market Jerusalem Israel shuttered painted with women's eyes looking over display tables

 there is so much to see and do.

Herzl’s Vision at 120

Herzl’s Vision at 120

As the First Zionist Congress ended on September 3, 1897,

Theodore Herzl wrote in his diary,

“At Basel I founded the Jewish State.

If I said this out loud today,

I would be greeted by universal laughter.

In five years, perhaps,

and certainly in 50 years,

everyone will perceive it.”

Exactly 50 years later, on September 3, 1947,

the United Nations Special Committee on Palestine,

UNSCOP, submitted its report which became the Partition Plan.

Herzl’s vision was on its way to reality

with the UN vote on November 29, 1947,

and on May 14, 1948, the State of Israel was proclaimed.

In 70 years, in spite of wars, terrorist attacks, missiles and boycotts,

things Herzl could never have dreamed have happened.

On the tiny, arid, barren hill that Herzl saw

Knesset at night as seen from the Israel Museum

today sits the Knesset building.

Across the road,

Night lights at Israel Museum

is the Israel Museum,

Dome of Book at Israel Museum at night

with its Shrine of the Book

housing the ancient Dead Sea Scrolls,

Night time view at Israel Museum

and a host of sculptures on the grounds outside.

For the visit of UN Sec-Gen Antonio Guterres

a special presentation was held at the museum

near the Archaeological Wing,

featuring five Israeli Start-Ups.

HomeBioGas uses waste for clean fuel for cooking Israel startup

1. HomeBioGas turns organic waste into

clean and usable cooking gas and liquid fertilizer.

Israeli startup does blood test with out waiting for Malaria

2. Sight not only can test blood for malaria,

but its technology enables doctors

to do a full blood workup in the office.

Aqwise uses plastic pieces for more size efficient cleaning of waste water

3. Those little plastic pieces in the aquarium,

from Aqwise make waste water clean efficiently.

Water from air at Israel Museum for UNSc Gen Guterres

4. ‘Standing around the water cooler’

Israel Museum for start up presentations for UN Secretary General Guterres

not at the office, but at this meeting with

the Secretary-General and the Israeli Prime Minister,

Meron Reuben with glass of water from air Israel Startup Watergen

took on a whole new dimension,

with Watergen, which makes water from nothing,

converting humidity in the air to drinking water.

UN Sec-Gen Guterres and PM Netanyahu raise glasses of water to drink, water made from nothing, but taken from air

L’chaim, to life.

Remote locations in India and Africa, Gaza,

and drought-stricken regions around the world

could benefit from these Israeli technologies.

5. Innovation Africa  has brought solar

and agricultural technologies to remote African villages.

“Our sages said, ‘From Zion will emerge Torah,’”

Netanyahu noted, adding,

“Well, from Zion emerges Torah, software, progress;

I hope with your help. So welcome, Mr. Secretary General.”

Problems in Israel,  for sure.

But so much good is happening.

Herzl could never have imagined how far

 and what  has developed from his vision over 120 years.

9 Signs End of Summer in Jerusalem

9 Signs End of Summer in Jerusalem

The end of summer.

The end of August in Jerusalem, Israel.

The Hebrew University is locked up tight,

no students, no classes, forced vacation time.

It is finally possible to stay inside without air-conditioning.

The water from the cold tap was actually cold!

Purple flowers growing on roof of building in Jerusalem Israel

Flowers have grown to the roof top.

This purple flower is always a favorite

against the white Jerusalem stone and the blue sky.

Jerusalem scouts build structures out of cut tree branches

The Scouts have been busy building towers.

One girl in Jerusalem Israel Museum at end of day

The last child of the day ran through the Israel Museum yard.

The end of August,

Mother and children walking to park in Jerusalem Israel

and these children are headed to the park.

Summer day care is over, parents are at work,

and most schools have not yet begun.

So it is no surprise to see a little girl

Summer in Israel & parents take children to work, even at President's house

 at Beit Hanasi, the Israeli President’s house,

as we were waiting for UN Sec-Gen Antonio Guterres

to come from meeting President Reuven Rivlin.

Kitah Aleph postcard welcome from Mayor Nir Barkat

There are long lines to pick up school books,

and purchase school supplies,

as families get ready for the first day of school.

Street signs for teachers and education at start of school year

New signs have gone up honoring teachers

and education in Jerusalem.

Prayers for before Rosh Hasahana Jewish New Year

Signs are up for selihot, pre-Rosh Hashanna prayers,

recited either early in the morning or late at night,

Pomegranate on tree ready to pick

and the pomegrantes are ready for picking.

These are signs of the end of summer in Jerusalem, Israel.

And in the you-never-know-what’s-next department,

the helicopters hovering overhead

were not to transport the Prime Minister,

but to entertain the crowd of children below.

Jerusalem men coming down side of building in Government Square

The crowd also watched men rappelling down the side

of Jerusalem’s main municipal building

Backyard view of Hadera rental house

End of summer, soon only photos and memories will remain

from the long summer school vacation time.