Jerusalem, Israel’s Children

Jerusalem, Israel’s Children

June is full of graduations and end-of-year celebrations,

from nursery school children to honorary doctorates.

Plus, all the different festivals in Jerusalem,

and it is impossible to keep up with everything.

The Jerusalem Theater auditoriums were filled with

the 56th annual Israel Festival, an annual June event.

Memorial performance Tirza Atar daughter of Nathan Alterman

“Songs of Tirza,” a unique performance by Nathan Slor,

with music and readings of his mother Tirza Atar z”l,

was a memorable night for one full-house audience.

While outside all along Chopin Street

and down to the Hansen House,

Jerusalem Design Week on Chopin Street

music and lights from the

Jerusalem Design Week

Design Week in Jerusalem Israel 2017

were seen and heard by all.

Music for Design Week Jerusalem Israel

Except these musicians, who could be heard only

by festival goers wearing special headsets.

The two major Jerusalem book fairs

were scheduled to overlap this year.

International Book fair in Jerusalem

But the large signs for the Book Fairs posted at First Station

Light Festival Jerusalem 2017

have already been replaced by the ones for the Light Festival.

Inside Takhana Rishona, First Station,

Jerusalem Shavuah Hasefer

children’s books were displayed at the entrance,
Performance for children at Shvuah Hasefer

and performances for children are scheduled daily.

Little girl looks at flags outside international book fair in Jerusalem Israel

The flags of the participants in the international fair

First Station International Book Fair

were flying outside Station Hall,

Station Hall at First Station, Takana Rishona

which was filled with displays,

Jerusalem Israel book fair

with publishers’ booths and rows of books,

and authors coming in to autograph purchases.

So much to do, so much happening,

and so much attention to children.

But.

Also, in the center tent of First Station

last night was a very different type of event.

Protest against MK LItzman for not opening cancer center in Jerusalem

Hundreds of people showed up on short notice,

informed only by a few afternoon Facebook posts.

Parents of children with cancer wanting Jerusalem hospital care

Parents of children with cancer held signs,

urging Israeli Health Minister Litzman,

to save their children.

Tent in Sacher Park for child patients with cancer Jerusalem

A white, large air-conditioned tent was erected

in the Gan Sacher, Sacher Park, basketball court.

In the past, the park has been a scene of protest tents.

Gan Sacher hospital tent children with cancer

But this one is a make-shift hospital for children,

Medical clowns in Gan Sacher

complete with medical clowns.

However, there is nothing funny about the situation.

As I understand the complicated issue,

Hadassah Hospital closed their children’s cancer division

to merge it with the adult division,

and the pediatric oncologists resigned en-masse.

Some parents have given up hope for suitable treatment

for their seriously ill children in Jerusalem

and are travelling to Tel HaShomer for medical services.

Other parents want Shaare Zedek Hospital to open

a children’s oncology unit.

Doctors, parents, and politicians are involved.

Hopefully this painful situation will be resolved soon,

sign for Live at Museum Israel Museum

and  I can go back to posting about

Live Music in the art gardens of the Israel Museum,

Blue lights lining streets of Jerusalem for Ramadan

Ramadan lights lining the streets,

and the record-breaking increase in tourism

Tourists in lobby of hotel

that is filling once-empty hotel rooms and lobbies.

Meanwhile refuah shelama,

thoughts and prayers for a speedy and full recovery to all the children

and for a solution to the dilemma.

Jerusalem Education Week Opens with Special Children’s Exhibit

A wise man from Texas once told me,

“One is not “good” or better.

It’s the sum of it all that matters.”

It is education week in Jerusalem, Israel.

An opening event took place at the Israel Museum,

Israel Museum children's play yard

and was held in the plaza outside the museum’s Children’s Wing.

sign in Arabic and Hebrew my house your house, for Education week in Jerusalem

There were 40 winning art projects

made by hundreds of Jerusalem school children

on the theme My home, Your home.

Art projects by children at Israel Museum

Art projects in Hebrew and Arabic were next to each other.

James Snyder speaking at Israel Museum children's event

 Israel Museum director James Snyder spoke in English,

but his remarks were translated into Hebrew and Arabic.

Water, shade and seats were provided for the hundreds of

crowd at Israel Museum for Jerusalem children art exhibit

students, teachers and family members who came to see the exhibition.

children at Israel Museum

A lucky few had a head start on frozen treats.

Home made by Jerusalem children for art contest

The projects were spread out all over the plaza area.

art project Israel Museum Jerusalem children home

They were interesting

art exhibit in Israel Museum

and diverse,

Israel Museum Jerusalem children's art

and colorful too.

Jerusalem Foundation sponsor children's art at Israel Museum

Speeches were blessedly short,

as was the audience attention span.

It was super hot even with the shade and water.

People came not to listen,

but to see the winning projects which were on display.

When the exhibits were officially opened,

crowd at Israel Museum for Jerusalem Education week

the area was packed

crowd at Israel Museum for Jerusalem education week children art

with a crowd as diverse as the neighborhoods of Jerusalem.

Good news?

Israel Museum project Jerusalem children

For this Jerusalem municipal education project

supported by the Jerusalem Foundation

and the Israel Museum,

what do you think?

“One is not “good” or better.

It’s the sum of it all that matters.”