culture – Page 11 – The Real Jerusalem Streets

Sukkot Surprise in Jerusalem

October 11, 2017Sharon A

The Bible Marathon was held October 6.

People raced from Rosh Ha’ayin to site of ancient Shilo,

a distance of 42 kilometers, a full marathon track.

I did not have time to go,

I was on a personal marathon,

racing through a packed holiday season.

So much happening in Jerusalem,

it is really hard to keep up.

For the first day of Sukkot lunch, we were 22 people,

from US, Mexico, USSR, Australia, France, South Africa

and more, all gathered in our sukkah for a meal.

Amazing if you take time stop and think about it.

President Rivlin honored a long-time tradition

and opened the gates of Beit Hanasi,

the Israeli President’s official residence, to the public.

As usual the Presidential sukkah featured

Israeli grown agricultural products,

this year a map of world was unusual and special.

From Beit Hanasi in the morning,

I had planned on walking into town to attend a bar mitzvah.

But also special on that day, was the weather.

Sure they had called for rain in the morning.

But first rain usually is a few drops of wet dirt.

But, surprise!

Thankfully, I made it to a bus stop,

before the heavens opened up.

Below is one of several videos,

in case you think I am overstating.

I made it to the bar mitzvah.

It had moved inside from the sukkah,

but cleared enough to come out again for dessert.

So much more, but for now here is

one special photo from Beit Hanasi Sukkah Open House

“Happy Holiday”

Check back next week for holiday highlights,

Jerusalem March, Kites at Israel Museum, sukkot, etc.

Now back to kitchen to prepare for end of holiday week.

חג שמח

Jerusalem After Summer, After Hours

September 6, 2017Sharon A

School has started

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.

As the day ends, the food stalls close

and shutters come down.

The last bits of bread are sold

and empty crates are stacked away.

Then

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,

similar to these at the Western Wall Tunnel tours.

Five years ago, near the shuk,

at a Mystorin Theater performance,

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

Now, they have gone out of this world.

Gone virtual.

Meeting at night, ‘AfterShuk’

includes three stops with virtual shows.

No photos are allowed during the performances.

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.

Another year of the Piyut Festival,

to be held September 24-28,

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,

there is so much to see and do.

Herzl’s Vision at 120

September 3, 2017Sharon A

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

today sits the Knesset building.

Across the road,

is the Israel Museum,

with its Shrine of the Book

housing the ancient Dead Sea Scrolls,

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.

1. HomeBioGas turns organic waste into

clean and usable cooking gas and liquid fertilizer.

2. Sight not only can test blood for malaria,

but its technology enables doctors

to do a full blood workup in the office.

3. Those little plastic pieces in the aquarium,

from Aqwise make waste water clean efficiently.

4. ‘Standing around the water cooler’

not at the office, but at this meeting with

the Secretary-General and the Israeli Prime Minister,

took on a whole new dimension,

with Watergen, which makes water from nothing,

converting humidity in the air to drinking water.

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.