Clouds at sunset at the Israel Museum sculpture garden,
Love and Shabbat Shalom,
from Jerusalem, Israel.
culture
Jerusalem Summer Nights to September Days
Ah, in Jerusalem, Israel,
summer nights are usually cool and clear.
Not many were out riding on the newly-constructed bike paths,
but the music at First Station had crowds on their feet dancing.
There was a big welcome sign at the only entrance to the Jerusalem Beer Festival.
בירה the Hebrew word for “beer”‘ and “capital” is the same.
The annual event drew a protest from the Arab media this year.
Located in Gan Ha’atazmaut, Independence Park, is it possible
that little white circle in the bottom left,
could really be a danger?
These “Make an agreement with Abbas, not with Hamas'” signs
were in many more locations and more on people’s minds.
Days this past week were hot enough to make the cats lazy,
but the summer signs
were being replaced with lots of new ones
promoting education in Jerusalem,
as school children returned to their classrooms.
Adults took advantage of end of summer
at The Israel Museum.
In the Garden,
next to the Big Bambu, all lit up at night,
was the hugely popular Wine Festival,
where twenty wineries shared samples.
Not all of the samples were wine,
and not all were popular,
as tables were filled with these discarded orange shpritzes.
Usually the children’s wing and playground are busy places,
but not on the four nights of this festival.
Not to worry,
on the way home I saw that signs were already up for a new event
at the Jerusalem Theater, “24 hours of PIANOS,”
plus there is another free concert in Kikar Safra on 11th,
just part of what is happening
on the Jerusalem, Israel, streets this week.
Cease-Fire #12: Now What Next
After 11 cease-fire attempts this summer,
where Israel ceased and Hamas kept firing,
this last one seems to be holding.
Almost a full day without red alerts and sirens,
after 50 days Israel is quiet.
People in south can go more than 15 seconds from shelter.
But before Hamas stopped aiming at Israeli civilians,
sadly two men were murdered and
a four-year old boy was killed on his kibbutz,
near the end of this summer barrage of Hamas mortars and missiles.
Though Jerusalem, Israel was not hit
and “only” aimed at a few times,
the streets were eerie quiet this summer.
This summer tourism was way down,
but those tourists who did not cancel had a great time.
One US friend shared photos of her family
enjoying themselves at tourist locations.
On Nasi Street the patriotic flags are gone,
but light poles are covered with blue and white lights.
“Did you know that if you post photos of cute little kittens,
the world will become safe?” a friend posted on Facebook.
I had never heard such a thing,
but it was good to see our neighborhood bully cat was back.
As “normal” returns to Jerusalem, Israel streets,
school starts next week.
I love the “Welcome to First Grade” signs.
Only in Israel is starting first grade a bigger deal
than some university graduations in other parts of the world.
Finally a slow news day.
With the southern border quieter now,
the northern one is warming up with
“spill over” from Syrian fighting.
Cannot help but wonder,
what will happen next on Jerusalem, Israel streets