culture – Page 51 – The Real Jerusalem Streets

Shemitta in Jerusalem Botanical Gardens

February 18, 2015rjstreets

Most people know there are Jewish dietary laws

which require the separation of meat and milk.

But I just separated sweet potatoes, peppers and carrots,

from cucumbers and tomatoes.

Why?

Shmita (or spell it shemitta) is Biblical law.

We are well into the shemitta year,

which takes on special meaning for those who live in Israel.

Rabbi Yosef Tzvi Rimon has written books on the subject.

He composed colorful charts and calendars to simplify the laws.

Now in the Jerusalem Botanical Gardens,

Rav Rimon has initiated a special section

to show the laws of shemitta.

For the opening ceremony, Chief Rabbi David Lau spoke,

and then took time to speak to a group of students who participated.

The park is aimed to get children’s attention,

and to make things simple enough

for anyone understand.

With information in Hebrew and English,

there are many examples of what is permissible

and what is not to be done in gardens this year.

The Shemitta Park is simple to reach,

and it is an attractive area

with more interactive features to come.

Check it out if you are in Jerusalem, Israel.

The Botanical Gardens are a great place to visit.

Once a garbage dump,

it is now a beautiful and educational outing.

Last Jerusalem International Book Fair?

February 15, 2015rjstreets

Could this be the last Jerusalem International Book Fair?

The 27th Jerusalem International Book Fair (JIBF)

was not held in the Jerusalem International Conference Center.

For the first time, it was in a new location, in First Station,

where some entered from the First Station parking lot.

(In case you are wondering about the sky here,

being inside during a sandstorm was a good idea.)

While others came in through the main area,

past the First Station food mall and shopping area.

These people stopped to see the “Disappearing Wall,”

5000 small blocks of wood with German quotes written,

also in Hebrew and Arabic,

(some of which were lost in the translation) that attracted all ages.

At night the wall was an empty acrylic form,

as people were happy to remove the blocks and keep them.

Austria, Spain, Romania, Germany, Poland, Russia,

United Kingdom, Italy and United States were represented at the fair,

but it was a small fraction of former years.

One night, a crowd gathered by the German booth

for this food and wine.

Opening night of JIBF had more than one event,

that attracted large crowds.

There were lectures and programs all week, some held in

the Jerusalem Cinematheque, Mishkenot Sha’ananim

and the Khan Theatre, all auditoriums that are located near by.

As usual, not just books

but also magazines were for sale.

Authors were available to meet readers and fans,

Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz–Rav Adin Even Yisrael–

was available at JIBF one night.

Besides Germany, Austria had a nice size display.

But books from the United States and some Israeli sources,

were noticeably missing.

Each time I went to JIBF,

it was great fun to see and talk with friends,

looking at books and even buying some.

But as an international book fair,

it felt like the international and book components

were sadly lacking this year.

Shabbat Shalom from Jerusalem

February 13, 2015rjstreets

Beware:

Heavy traffic and long lines near car wash locations.

In much of Israel this week,

a sandstorm was so heavy it was hard to see,

and breathing was difficult.

It was not a pretty picture.

Then, cold, strong winds came and blew and blew.

It only rained a little in Jerusalem, Israel,

enough to leave mud covering everything, especially cars.

Finally,

the sky cleared,

the sun came out,

time to admire the flowers again.

שבת שלום