current-events

View of synagogue of Beit Hanasi Arden

Spring in Jerusalem

Sharon A

It’s spring in Jerusalem, Israel.

Purim is over.

The Jerusalem Marathon is over.

While Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was in China,

the streets were a bit quieter without his noisy PM motorcades.

Also last week, President Reuven Rivlin was in Vietnam.

But now we hear new, noisy motorcades:

Slovakian President Andrej Kiska is visiting Jerusalem,

Flag near Beit Hanasi for President of Slovakia

and flags marking the official visit are flying near Beit Hanasi,

the Israeli President’s Residence.

Actually, thousands must be visiting Jerusalem,

judging by by the large number of buses on the streets.

Newspapers are filled with ads for everything from paper dishes

to electronics, before the Passover holiday.

Sales abound, but many cannot afford the holiday necessities.

Tuesday was the official Good Deeds Day,

and school children all over Israel participated.

But for some, everyday is good deed day.

For the third year, Rav Yitzchok Grossman of Migdal Ohr,

Passover food boxes

brought holiday provisions and volunteers to Beit Hanasi.

Boxes of Pesach food for poor packing at Beit Hanasi

President Rivlin joined in preparing packages

for Israelis who are in need of assistance for the holiday.

Another name for Passover is the Holiday of Spring.

Spring blossoms Jerusalem Israel

Blossoms are popping out on trees,

Pot of flowers at beit hanasi

not just in pretty planters

Pink flowers in garden at Beit Hanasi

and flower beds.

In honor of the spring planting again this year,

Nechama Rivlin at Beit Hanasi

First Lady Nechama Rivlin invited students,

Arab and Jewish girls, to help her plant

Children's corner garden at Beit Hanasi

in this corner of the President’s gardens.

For those of you who were not there today,

Orange and olive trees in Beit Hanasi gargen

this was one view of the gardens,

with olive and orange trees in the distance,

View of synagogue of Beit Hanasi Arden

and the synagogue across the lawn.

But my favorite

Garden table at BEit Hanasi

was just sitting here and enjoying the warm weather

while taking a photo on Instagram with my new phone.

Photos do not capture the beauty of spring in Jerusalem,

but will have to do,

as rain and cooler temperatures are forecast.

Now – what next?

For those of you who asked to be informed:

Beit Avi Chai has a Maghreb Festival going on,

celebrating North African Jewry, from March 27 – 30,

with a variety of programs, some with no entrance fee.

Kikar Safra again has matzah baking and activities,

on March 29-30 afternoons, and is also free.

Children are out of school for holidays starting soon,

and museums are gearing up and getting ready for them.

The Bible Lands Museum has special exhibits to learn about ancient Egypt.

The Tower of David is always a great place to visit,

Tower of David night time inside Jerusalem, Israel

day or night,

and now has new special programs in English.

Check them out HERE.

As always so many things happening in Jerusalem!

Purim sameach, box for mishloah manot

Jerusalem for Purim

Sharon A

Purim is a big holiday in Jerusalem, Israel.

Jerusalem signs Purim sameach

Street signs are posted wishing Purim Sameach.

The variety of celebrations seems endless,

Purim events in Jerusalem Israel

with Funky, Rave and Balkan Beat Box Purim events.

Sign for circus in Jerusalem Israel for Purim

Maybe not three-rings, but the circus is coming too.

In Machane Yehuda Market, the shuk, 

Hamentaschen piled up in Machane Yehuda Market for Purim

 hamentaschen are piled high,

Shuk costumes for Purim

and costumes

Purim costumes for sale in Machane Yehuda Market

and more costumes were out for sale.

Candy in the shuk before Purim

The candy displays have been full for weeks.

Night time bars in the shuk are always ready to party.

Now the Azza Street wine bars include

Wine bar in Jerusalem Israel kosher Corky's

 one that is kosher and is open and ready for celebrating.

Too much wine and your eyes may play tricks on you.

Not a Purim prank, these cars are piled up,

New car park in Jerusalem, Israel with cars stacked

in a new parking lot in town.

Jerusalem celebrates Purim this year,

from Sunday night, March 12, through March 13.

Purim sameach, box for mishloah manot

Happy Purim to all.

Best costumes and variety events next time…

Jerusalem Marathon 2017 finish line

A Jerusalem Marathon finish line is up,

and people are training and running.

I hope all recuperate in time for the March 17 races.

Jaffa Gate where Jerusalem Marathon route will go on March 17

Jerusalem Purim and Marathon Time

Sharon A

Jerusalem, Israel, is a a busy place.

Zambian President Edgar Lungu is in town,

as is the Foreign Minister of Moldova, Andrei Galbur,

plus there are more conferences than one person can possibly attend.

Last week was a bit quieter with the Israeli PM away.

No noisy, late night motorcades with loud speakers blaring

meant the Jerusalem streets were quieter.

Jerusalem construction site.

Of course, the noise of construction sites continued.

Beautiful sounds were heard, the music of Shlomo Katz

Lone IDF soldiers on stage with Shlomo Katz at benefite conert.

for the Lone Soldier Center in memory of Michael Levin,

at a special benefit concert which ended the week.

Making the evening more special, a father-son duet and

Shlomo’s father, Avshalom, telling how he served as a lone soldier.

With Purim approaching,

it was time for a new photo of an old sign,

street sign for Mordechai the Jew

and a stroll down Mordechai the Jew Street,

Synagogue name for Mordechai the Jew in Jerusalem

where Mordechai (however you spell it in English)

has his own synagogue.

The fruit store around the corner

Jerusalem Israel produce store with photos of Rabbis on wall

has not only a colorful display of fresh produce,

but also famous faces to watch over you.

Jaffa Gate where Jerusalem Marathon route will go on March 17

The large Jerusalem Marathon sign is up by Yaffa Gate.

On Friday morning March 17, tens of thousands will be

running the marathon route through the Old City.

Jerusalem Marathon March 17, 2017

When the weather clears, runners can be found training.

One of the conferences this week marked 100 Years

since the Balfour Declaration.

100 years of Balfour Declaration at Waldorf Hotel

While it was a bit early for November 2nd, it featured informative talks.

While Bibi was being celebrated in Australia,

Jerusalem protest site outside PM residence

a camp was set up outside the Prime Minister’s House

protesting the destruction of Amona.

Today, 9 more Jewish houses were destroyed in Ofra.

Rosh Hodesh Adar in Jerusalem at Kotel

A large crowd gathered at the Kotel, Western Wall,

on Rosh Chodesh Adar in the morning.

There were thousands of men and women,

and two women protesting with loud whistles,

 while most people were trying to pray.

Purim in Jerusalem is not a one night event as in much of the world,

but it goes on and on and on.

Starting with Rosh Chodesh Adar, the beginning of the Hebrew month,

for two weeks, young school children

learn upside-down and fun topics,

and wear pajamas to nursery school, or dress as clowns,

or wear a different hat home each day.

Strangely, much of the time too many things feel upside down.

But with all this going on what is getting attention?

Cofizz store where 6 is posted over 5 shekel

I had to pay an extra shekel to get my ice coffee!

A clever ‘6’ sticker was pasted over the ‘all for 5’ on Cofizz.

I was asked to share events before they happen,

so here are a few important dates for March:

Ta’anit Esther – Fast of Esther   March 9, 2017

Reading Megillat Esther – March 11, after Shabbat

Purim – March 12 

Reading Megillat Esther in Jerusalem – evening March 12 

Shushan Purim, celebrated in Jerusalem – March 13

Purim at the Bible Lands Museum – Free Entrance for Children –

Sun – Mon| March 12-13 | 10:00-14:00

Jerusalem Marathon – Friday morning, March 17, 2017.

Jerusalem music festival at night in Old City
?

Sounds of the Old City Music Festival,  7:00 – 11:00 pm – March 20 – 23,

so many things happening on the Jerusalem streets.