current-events – Page 61 – The Real Jerusalem Streets

Israel: Land of Diversity and Extreme Contrasts

December 8, 2016Sharon A

Israel covers a tiny bit of land.

You can drive the entire country from north to south in less than a day.

We spent more time in the car trying to get from New York City

to Washington, DC, years ago for a Thanksgiving Day wedding.

Taking a trip outside of Jerusalem, Israel, this past week

inspired this post of amazing contrasts.

All photos are from this week,

a week in a month of no holidays.

Kfar Etzion old igloo buildings

The old white stone “igloos” of Kfar Etzion,

perched on a mountain blend into the wintry sky.

While construction across from the Jerusalem Theater

Construction near Jerusalem Theater

goes deep, deep into the earth.

This used to be my shortcut path,

soon it will be sight of a modern luxury tower.

Conference at IDI Riskin, Liat Collins, religion

Religious diversity was the topic of discussion

at the Israel Democracy Institute,

while poverty was discussed at Mishkenot Sha’ananim.

Taub Center conference poverty Elie Elalouf

The Taub Center conference concluded with

a panel and MK Elie Elalouf’s Knesset poverty report.

We hear endless stories of barriers and borders.

Baptism site in Jordan River Israel Jordan border

How does that compare to the river border with Jordan?

On the other side of that simple pool rope is the Kingdom of Jordan.

The man in the white top on the left had just immersed in the river.

Can you spot the soldier on guard duty?

One huge contrast is the sky in summer and winter.

Cloud scene on Israel with windmills

While in summer the sky is pure blue,

the winter sky is often cloudy.

Through these low clouds on a mountain top,

you can almost see the windmills on the right.

Desert scene with cloudy sky

Drive out of hills of Jerusalem,

you will find the desert.

No rain, but blue skies and white clouds.

These two white vehicles were parked,

one day I may photo shop them out.

This was an everyday scene at an Israeli rest stop,

with the prerequisite camel nearby.

Bet Shean park Roman ruins

The ancient Roman ruins at Bet Shean park

are worthy of a blog post of its own.

It is only a short drive to modern Tel Aviv.

And certainly do not forget the diversity

Kez costume and Ethiopian Israel woman

of the Israeli population.

Ethiopian-Israelis are integrating

as judges, rabbis and members of Knesset,

but this man is just in costume, he is not a real Kes.

The clouds make for amazing sunsets this time of year.

My friends were raving one night at this scene,

Sunset and cloudy sky

so I took a little photo liberty with this photo,

adding a some color to the scattered clouds.

One more before I go,

the number and diversity of the street musicians,

old and young, male and female,

Street music religious man

religious and who knows what, is amazing.

Some performers may be down on their luck.

However, from the streets of Eilat to Israeli stardom,

Jerusalem Jewish Media Summit 2016 Gat Brothers

the Brothers Gat were the entertainment for the gala opening

of the Jerusalem Jewish Media Summit 2016,

performing for international Jewish editors, publishers

and journalists.

For a “quiet” month with no holidays,

there was so much happening,

I’m glad I had a few moments for the “Sounds of Silence.”

Back to "Normal" in Jerusalem

November 2, 2016rjstreets

It is after the chagim,

the holidays are over.

Our prayers for rain were answered quickly.

“Don’t you love walking in the rain?”

asked an elegantly-dressed British woman

I passed walking Thursday night.

No, not really, since my umbrella was at home.

But we all know rain is good and needed.

After a few days of this wet weather,

the Valley of Cross will have green covering the ground,

and olives on those trees will be over-ripe to pick.

Winter comes and Jerusalem, Israel,

turns colors, mostly turns to green.

On my way to Knesset yesterday,

a small demonstration was going on,

in a regular protest location.

Today thousands of bus drivers were protesting.

I sure hope they work out a deal before November 7,

which is the date set for general bus drivers strike.

With the holidays over,

the universities, except for the Hebrew University,

are finally back in session.

Youth organizations are back to “normal”

and as always I love to see

what the Israeli Scouts are building.

The winter session of Knesset began,

and on the second day,

you can see for yourself how many MKs were in the building.

PM Benjamin Netanyahu spoke to the Board of Governors

of the Jewish Agency on his usual topics, such as BDS.

“Israel is home to all Jews.”

“Jews never quarrel among themselves, ask Moses,”

quipped the Prime Minister who stressed patience and tolerance,

and woke up this morning to some of those same delegates protesting

at the Kotel, the Western Wall, carrying Torah scrolls.

When I walked to the Knesset,

it was hot,

but when I left a short time later,

it had poured and was still raining.

Good for the grass at Gan Sacher, Sacher Park,

but not so great for people who want to play or picnic.

These new butterfly shaped floral planters

appreciate the sudden downpours

much more than I do.

This time, however, I had my umbrella,

now to go find my boots also.

After perfect weather for holiday tourists,

it feels like winter has arrived in Jerusalem.

With changed clocks and clouds,

3:00 pm,

and street lights were on.

Cars are to have their headlights on, even during the day,

until end of February,

getting dark early, the new “normal.”

Jerusalem More than Sukkot on Sukkot

October 23, 2016rjstreets

Intense.

Exhausting.

Sukkot are special,

we even found one in the fields of a moshav.

However, in Jerusalem, Israel,

there was much more happening.

Birkat Kohanim, the Priestly Blessing,

attracted tens of thousands as it does every year.

Not just on Wednesday morning,

but on other days of the holiday

thousands walked to the Old City,

and to the Kotel, the Western Wall.

This way or that way,

on Friday of Sukkot,

thousands of Jews and Muslims

were walking toward the Old City together.

The annual Jerusalem Parade again

attracted thousands of international participants

with thousands of Israeli spectators.

The feel-good event started in Gan Sacher,

Sacher Park. where flags and flowers lined the street.

The Israeli Museum held its annual Kite Festival,

but you had to provide your own wind most of day,

so we did not get to see the huge kites in the air this time.

The musical events seemed endless,

with way too many to list.

However, a few of them

we wished we could have attended include:

Chabad had Yishai Lapidot at the Great Synagogue,

and at the Yellow Submarine were

our friends Moshe Hendel and Zusha.

Every night of chol hamoed

a large show was staged at the Sultan’s Pool.

Also, those Simchot Beit Hashoeva with music and more

at homes, yeshivas and places too many to recount.

Then there were the fairs!

A street fair on Derech Beit Lechem,

had this unusual dancer/s.

The only carved pumpkin I saw this week was at the fair.

There was everything from carved vegetables

to live musicians and more.

Thousands turned out for the evening fun.

Another new fair was held at Mamilla Mall,

where the young and not-so-young could purchase

Israeli products at a Mini-Market set up in the mall.

First Station had its stalls ready to sell goods.

For holiday tourists,

Octoberfest beer and food were also ready.

A parade of very different type,

Women Walking for Peace also ended

in Jerusalem, Israel, near the Prime Minister’s house.

Here four women are carrying a banner from the march.

Sukkot comes to an end with Hoshana Rabba.

Signs were up all week for classes

and all-night study programs

of all types and locations.

For those more into sport than study,

the Harlem Globetrotters were at the Sports Center.

I wanted to be sure that I had a photo of that sign

towering near the walls of the Old City.

And more sports,

new oleh and former NBA basketball star,

Amar’e Stoudemire came out to support charities

for his new Hapoel Jerusalem basketball team.

What next?

AniNation, an international celebration

of animation meets in Jerusalem, Israel.

I have no idea what that will be,

but first we have Simhat Torah.

Tonight the streets will be filled with thousands

celebrating, singing and dancing with the Torah.

Soon it will be after the chagim,

universities will begin their classes,

and children will go back to school and “normal.”

But first, for the last time for a while,

chag sameach.