A favorite by day,
but after dark in Yemin Moshe,
the streets can be even more fascinating.
שבת שלום
attractive tourist destination
Jerusalem Festival Season in Full Swing
The end of August, Tisha B’Av is over,
and Jerusalem festival season is in full swing.
While the Festival Ha’ira is still popular,
there is an annual Klezemer Festival,
and this sign is for new arts festival.
Walking by the Liberty Bell Park,
I was not only one scratching my head.
What was that thing in the park?
Train Theater has its annual Puppet Festival.
People were lined up to enter,
but something new lined the fence.
Inspired by the Prague Zoo,
posters by Michal Cihlar, a Czech Republic artist,
“Zoooo – You Wouldn’t have a clue?”
included a hoopoe, Israeli’s national bird.
While across the road in Bloomfield Gardens,
near the Montefiore Windmill,
Over the next two weeks,
audiences in the park can appreciate Shakespeare,
but be warned do not get too comfortable,
the audience changes locations 5 times.
Where else can you hear the Bard of Avon with this backdrop?
Nearby, also these last two weeks of August,
is Khutsot Hayotser,
the annual international arts and crafts fair,
with its concerts in Sultan’s Pool.
It is so huge,
I will save those photos for another time.
Since it opened and all summer long.
families have come to Teddy Park.
Children love to run in the fountain.
Lights and music at night,
with the water pressure changing,
what a way to cool off and have fun, and its free.
With the walls of the Old City in the background,
location is a bonus also.
The Beer and Wine Festivals are still to come.
But meanwhile with Tu B’Av parties and weddings,
it is hard to keep up with all the good things
happening on the Jerusalem, Israel streets.
Walk Around Jerusalem See the Gates
Have you ever walked around Jerusalem?
That is, have you ever walked
around the Walls of the Old City?
On Tisha B’Av night for the last few years,
I have walked around the walls,
and this time I took photos to share with you.
Security was visible,
but not more than in previous years.
The route starts on Agron Street and goes past the hotels.
With King David Street in the background,
as we turned the corner headed to the Old City,
there were hundreds of people, young and not so young,
some walking with baby carriers and some with canes.
Distances are not what most expect,
for it take only minutes to
pass the first gate – the New Gate.
Everyone walks together as a group
carrying dozens of Israel flags,
on to a quiet Damascus Gate
and a quieter Flower Gate.
We walked by the Rockefeller Museum on the left.
Before you know it,
it is time to turn the corner.
The lights on the walls of the Old City
shone brightly against the dark sky.
Soon we approached the Lion’s Gate,
on a street closed to traffic and quiet,
in stark contrast to the Kotel,
the Western Wall.
Tens of thousands came to mourn,
some sit all night on the stones.
Every day thousand of people come to Old City,
but not many have walked around the walls.
I hope you have enjoyed this brief tour,
and perhaps you will come soon to see for yourself.
Jerusalem, Israel, on Tisha B’Av,
a unique experience.
Additional photos HERE