Election politics are filling the airways and newscasts,
but the Hanukkah lights
are up along major roads in Jerusalem, Israel,
I think many prefer those lights to new election.
culture
Shabbat Shalom
Instead of a new photo for Shabbat Shalom greeting,
this one goes back to summer of 1965.
At that time under rule of Jordan,
Jews could only look from afar,
over a ‘No Man’s Land’ at
The Old City and the Temple Mount.
Now much of the world is calling to go back,
to a time when The Kotel, Western Wall
was Judenrein,
a time of complete separation and
a truly divided
Jerusalem, Israel.
But today, the rain has finally stopped,
the sun is shining and sky blue,
time to get outside and enjoy the clean warm air.
שבת שלום
Shabbat shalom.
Thankful for the Rain
Yesterday the sun was shining,
and even though the sky was not blue,
these gates were very blue.
Yemin Moshe was picture perfect,
only the streets were empty,
and much too quiet without the usual tourists.
I was looking at the new signs for Hamshushalayim,
an annual Jerusalem tourist weekend discount offer,
and I wondered how it would do with so many people staying away,
and just then a group of tourists walked by.
Things have been slower this week,
but work has gone on.
The Isrotel luxury hotel construction is finally above ground.
In the US as people prepare for the Thanksgiving holiday,
in Israel, thankfully it has started to rain,
and rain.
We are thankful for rain for it is an answer to our prayers,
but one which involves flooded streets
and accidents galore.
However,
rain or shine,
sleet or snow,
or terror threat,
the Melvin J. Berman Hebrew Academy High School from Rockville, Maryland,
is in Israel again for their Israel mission.
Every four years the entire high school gets a trip to Israel
over the Thanksgiving holiday week.
It can be a life changing experience to see
the real Jerusalem, Israel, streets, even in the wet and rain.
And
a group of 1000 pilgrims is on their way from Lagos, Nigeria,
so things go on.
I just hope I do not rust.