culture

Giving Thanks in Jerusalem

Sharon A

It is easy to forget about the Thanksgiving Holiday

when living in Israel.

Except for social media posts about the difficulty

of obtaining a whole turkey in a country

where so much turkey is consumed,

regular Israelis have no idea it is a holiday.

What is consuming everyone’s attention is that for

three days, arson-ignited forest fires are spreading,

forcing people from their homes,

with the latest fires raging in Haifa.

Thankfully,

I have not heard of any deaths,

but the destruction is massive.

Israel’s  working poor have a difficult time,

their basic monthly salaries are too low.

One set back with a sick family member

could tip the balance and set debts soaring,

causing families to lose their homes.

If you take the light rail train to the end of line

Pisgat Zev light rail trains street view

all the way to Pisgat Zev,

View street in Pisgat Zev

the northern Jerusalem neighborhood

with tens of thousands of residents

New construction in Pisgat Zev

you will see new construction projects underway.

Since it is further from the city center,

 rentals are more reasonably priced,

and therefore, it is home to some of Jerusalem’s poorest families.

This week I was inside several of their apartments:

religious, not religious, Ethiopian,

down-on-your-luck poverty does not discriminate.

an apartment in Pisgat Zev needing help

This kitchen with its wood trim looks lovely,

but it is a six-floor walk-up with no elevator,

makes it a lower rental property.

Israeli rentals, most often, do not come with appliances.

Oven in apartment that is broken

The oven was broken, and

 the tenant did not have money to buy a new one.

On the real Jerusalem streets,

not all is beautiful or perfect.

Thankfully, there are people trying to help.

as you will see at the end of this blog.

Meanwhile, if you have the time and money,

you could eat and drink every night in a different location.

Jerusalem winter festivals Hebrew signs

Hamshushalim in Jerusalem,

 special hotel deals and offers each December weekend,

has been going strong for years.

Open Restaurant is Jerusalem’s newest food festival.

From November 22-26,

tours, food, classes and more,

will be happening on the Jerusalem streets.

One event at the Hansen House has robots

serving as waiters for 3D printed food.

What a contrast to those struggling to get along.

There is so much to be thankful for every day.

This is first year in a long time,

I did not actively participate in a Thanksgiving Dinner for lone soldiers.

Hard to do it all, time is short,

I won’t keep you any longer today.

But if you are thankful for what you have,

consider helping those who are not so fortunate.

Here are links to three worthy organizations

I was involved with this week:

Lone Soldier Center in memory of Michael Levin

OneFamily

Give a Fridge Project 

Take a look and see what you can do

to make the world a better place.

Thanks from Jerusalem, Israel.

Chasing Supermoon in Jerusalem

Chasing Supermoon in Jerusalem

Sharon A

Supermoon, a very hyped supermoon,

was to be seen over Israel,

the largest since 1948.

Feeling much like Don Quixote,

I joined other photographers before dark,

Supermoon in Jerusalem Israel

all looking for the perfect vantage point

to get the best shot of the Supermoon rising

Kotel, Western Wall time for supermoon Jerusalem Israel

over the Kotel, the Western Wall.

Oops–the first glimpse of light

Nighttime view of Mount of Olives

was a tease, as it turned out to be hotel lights.

But there it really was,

Over the Western Wall supermoon

the Supermoon rising

Supermoon at Kotel

over the Kotel, covered by clouds.

Old City Jerusalem Kotel for supermoon

The clearest photo of the Supermoon rising

Kotel for supermoon photo Jerusalem, Israel

was hardly an epic photo.

Ktoel for supermoon from Kisgav Ledach Street Old city

Photographers packing up,

Street in Old City Jerusalem Israel

a couple walking on the dark streets of Old City,

Inside Jaffa Gate at night shoppers.

and the lights of the shops near Jaffa Gate,

all made for better photos

on the unusually warm November night.

Shaer Yafo for supermoon Old City Jerusalem

Finally, by the time I got to Jaffa Gate,

the clouds had cleared and the moon was high in the sky.

So as the Man from La Mancha chased his windmills,

Jaffa Gate, Old City, supermoon,

I chased around the walls of the Old City

Supermoon over Tower of David

to find the Supermoon

Walls of Old City lit at night from Jaffa Gate

 appearing over the walls.

It looked like it usually does,

every month on the night of a full moon.

Today on social media there are some epic photos,

plus #supermoondisappoint comments and pictures.

So here you have it,

Moon supermoon

my Supermoon over Jerusalem, Israel.

I would like to know how anyone got a good shot

without combining two photos.

I did not catch the moment.

post production of supermoon to make it look pink

Later at home,

 I was able to color my moon pink.

If anyone who wants one to look like blue cheese,

I can do that on request.

Lots of hype, lots of hopes,

but my advice is

  come visit us any month to see the full moon.

No need to wait for another Supermoon.

Back to "Normal" in Jerusalem

rjstreets

It is after the chagim,

the holidays are over.

Our prayers for rain were answered quickly.

“Don’t you love walking in the rain?”

asked an elegantly-dressed British woman

I passed walking Thursday night.

No, not really, since my umbrella was at home.

But we all know rain is good and needed.

After a  few days of this wet weather,

Valley of Cross trees end of summer

the Valley of Cross will have green covering the ground,

Olives against blue sky and white clouds

and olives on those trees will be over-ripe to pick.

Winter comes and Jerusalem, Israel,

turns colors, mostly turns to green.

On my way to Knesset yesterday,

Protest signs near Knesset entrance

 a small demonstration was going on,

in a regular protest location.

Today thousands of bus drivers were protesting.

I sure hope they work out a deal before November 7,

which is the date set for general bus drivers strike.

With the holidays over,

the universities, except for the Hebrew University,

are finally back in session.

Youth organizations are back to “normal”

and as always I love to see

Israeli Scouts building with wood

what the Israeli Scouts are building.

The winter session of Knesset began,

and on the second day,

Second day third session of 20th Israeli Knesset

you can see for yourself how many MKs were in the building.

Chagall Hall Israel Knesset PM speaking to international delegation Jewish Agency

PM Benjamin Netanyahu spoke to the Board of Governors

of the Jewish Agency on his usual topics, such as BDS.

“Israel is home to all Jews.”

“Jews never quarrel among themselves, ask Moses,”

quipped the Prime Minister who stressed patience and tolerance,

and woke up this morning to some of those same delegates protesting

at the Kotel, the Western Wall, carrying Torah scrolls.

When I walked to the Knesset,

it was hot,

but when I left a short time later,

Israeli Knesset in rain

it had poured and was still raining.

Gan Sacher park empty on rainy day

Good for the grass at Gan Sacher, Sacher Park,

but not so great for people who want to play or picnic.

Butterfly shaped flower display on Rupin Road near Knesset and Gan Sacher

These new butterfly shaped floral planters

appreciate the sudden downpours

much more than I do.

This time, however, I had my umbrella,

now to go find my boots also.

After perfect weather for holiday tourists,

it feels like winter has arrived in Jerusalem.

With changed clocks and clouds,

3:00 pm and street lights are on

3:00 pm,

and street lights were on.

Cars are to have their headlights on, even during the day,

until end of February,

getting dark early, the new “normal.”