Best of Hanukkah in Jerusalem

Hanukkah in Jerusalem, Israel, is celebrated in a big way,

picture sign for Chanukah, image Chanukkah activities, photo Chanukah in Jerusalem

actually, Hanukkah is celebrated in a huge way.

image preparing for hanuka, picture large chanukiah, photo Jaffa Gate hanuka

This giant chanukiah, Hanukkah menorah, covered in small electric lights,

 is put up each year outside Jaffa Gate.

image unusual donut, Israel suffganiah, photo donuts

Each year there are new kinds of sufaganiot

photo donuts for Chanukah, image Chanukah in Israel, picture suffganiiot jerusalem

and lots of them, as huge quantities are consumed.

image street decorations, photo streets on Hanukkah, Jerusalem photo streets decorations

Electric street lights light up the sky at night at this entrance to Begin Highway,

image Hanukkah, picture Chanukah, photo Channukah in Israel

while others line city streets.

image lots of chanukiot, photo menorahs, picture hanukah

The Israel Museum is always a popular destination, especially this Hanukkah display.

Of course, 

image chanukah, picture hanukah candls, image hanuka

colorful candles can be found burning inside homes, 

image Chaukah, picture of chaukiah in store, Chanukah in Jerusalem photo

and in stores

image chanukah candles, photo candle lighting in hotel lobby, picture lighting candles

and  hotel lobbies. 

image chanukah, picture large menorah, photo Hanukah celebration Israel

Chanukiot can be found inside office buildings,

image lighting cahnukah candles, photo lighting candles outside, picture candle lighting outside

and outside the front doors of homes.

image Chanukah celebrations, photo Huankkah, picture celebration Hanukah

Candle lighting is often accompanied by live music and dancing,

as here with the new Chabad chanukiah at First Station.

image hanukah semach on bus, picture Hanukkah in Israel, , photo egged bus sign for holiday

Lights from the chanukiah on the street corner are reflected in this photo

of an Egged bus with a Hanukkah sameach sign.

Huge crowds and tour groups filled the streets of the Old City,

picture Hanukah Israel, photo Hanukah in Old City, image chaukah candles

as people came from all over to see the candles burning in windows, 

image chanukah, picture chanukah candles, image Chanukah in Old City

and scenes such as this man sitting and watching the flames.

To see and to learn and to remember, 

image Hanukah in Israel, picture banner Chanukah, photo sign Nes gadol hara po.

that a great miracle happened here.

Top 10 Favorite New Jerusalem Street Art

In some places they are called graffiti,

but in Jerusalem, Israel,

there are wall drawings that are properly called art.

Jerusalem Street Art is constantly changing,

image old grafiti, photo street art

this scene could be called a classic,

colorful grafiti image, picture street art.

while this new one is colorful, bold and modern.

wall painted image, street art large wall photo, picture large grafiti

This one is near the Old City Walls.

When I saw it recently,

all I could think was, wow, I must share that one.

The cars at the bottom indicate the size of this masterpiece.

image graffiti, picture on street art on fence. photo street art

This piece by Jack was a favorite,

it was on the construction fence around First Station,

which has been removed.

image street art, picture graffiti on wall, photo street art.

But Jack has been busy with smaller works

image graffiti, street art picture, photo graffiti on fence

in many other Jerusalem locations.

street art image, picture graffiti on wall,photo street art

Look up on Jaffa Street to see this new one;

image street art, photo graffiti Jerusalem, picture street art

or down park paths for black and white,

image graffiti, street art picture, photo graffiti

as well as color drawings.

However, in a category of its own,

photo colorful street art, picture graffiti, image rebuilding temple in Jerusalem, Photo special graffiti

is this colorful piece called “One Day…”

which showed up on a wall in the center of Jerusalem.

What perfect timing for Hanukkah,

see this translation of the Hanukkah song  

מעוז צור    Ma’oz tzur:

My refuge my rock of salvation! ‘Tis pleasant to sing to your praises.

Let our house of prayer be restored. And there we will offer You our thanks.

When You will have utterly silenced the loud-mouthed foe.

Then we will celebrate with song and psalm the altar’s dedication.

Perhaps not politically correct, but sums today up nicely.