I do not understand Israeli politics,
do not want to speculate as so many are doing,
so will just keep it simple today,
with wishing all
שבת שלום
current-events
Jerusalem Education Week Opens with Special Children’s Exhibit
A wise man from Texas once told me,
“One is not “good” or better.
It’s the sum of it all that matters.”
It is education week in Jerusalem, Israel.
An opening event took place at the Israel Museum,
and was held in the plaza outside the museum’s Children’s Wing.
There were 40 winning art projects
made by hundreds of Jerusalem school children
on the theme My home, Your home.
Art projects in Hebrew and Arabic were next to each other.
Israel Museum director James Snyder spoke in English,
but his remarks were translated into Hebrew and Arabic.
Water, shade and seats were provided for the hundreds of
students, teachers and family members who came to see the exhibition.
A lucky few had a head start on frozen treats.
The projects were spread out all over the plaza area.
They were interesting
and diverse,
and colorful too.
Speeches were blessedly short,
as was the audience attention span.
It was super hot even with the shade and water.
People came not to listen,
but to see the winning projects which were on display.
When the exhibits were officially opened,
the area was packed
with a crowd as diverse as the neighborhoods of Jerusalem.
Good news?
For this Jerusalem municipal education project
supported by the Jerusalem Foundation
and the Israel Museum,
what do you think?
“One is not “good” or better.
It’s the sum of it all that matters.”
Jerusalem Spring Colors
Passover is over.
It is back to school,
except for high school students who are on a two-day strike.
Back to work, back to “normal”
and trying to get back on a schedule.
It will take awhile to clean up mess left behind
by tens of thousands of people in all the outdoor spaces.
But I started the week indoors at the Israel Museum,
where colors are waiting to greet you.
What a treat,
I had a guided tour with the curator.
I am so pleased that I went back to get more of
Pharaoh in Canaan: The Untold Story.
From a visiting the sphinx
to games from ancient Egypt,
this is a fascinating era in history,
and one I had not thought about before.
With Passover over, do not worry,
there is no time to get bored.
It is now time for the Yoms,
Yom Hashoah, Holocaust Memorial Day,
then next week Yom HaZikaron,
Memorial Day for Fallen Soldiers and Victims of Terrorism,
followed by Yom Haatzmaut, Israel Independence Day.
I love to catch the dress rehearsal flyovers.
This year there were only two small planes,
against the blue sky with wisps of white clouds.
Only two short flights,
with two planes flying in formation.
I assume there will be much more action mid-day on Yom Haatzmaut,
and I plan to be in Gan Sacher, Sacher Park for the show.
The blue and white Israeli and Jerusalem flags
are waving over many Jerusalem streets,
hung annually for the Yoms.
But new this week,
these large umbrellas
are hovering over Music Square in Jerusalem,
with smaller ones in the lanes as you approach
the square from Yoel Salomon Street.
Color from real flowers,
or another 3-D street art piece, or
I love movie posters in Hebrew,
especially this red one is for “Angry Birds.”
Yom Hashoah, Holocaust Remembrance Day,
begins tonight, real torches will be lit at Yad Vashem,
but many buildings have not only blue and white Israeli flags,
but also red and orange memorial flames,
like this one on the King David Hotel.
Slow, sad music has started on the radio.
On the Jerusalem, Israel streets,
it is easier to remember,
“Never Again.”