Southern Israel Red Alerts in Alumim

Southern Israel Red Alerts in Alumim

Sometimes you have to get out of Jerusalem, Israel, to appreciate the view.

View from Highway One Jerusalem Israel

All this rain we have been having may dampen our spirits, but it is fabulous for making the countryside green.

View from Jerusalem Highway 1

From the roads leading out of Jerusalem the valley is at its best.

Israel lines along road

Once on the road south, you see flat land and wires stretched across it.

Southern Israel farm land from highway

Farmers working between the rain storms along the way.

Sign from Red South Israel spring flower Adom Festival

February and March, and southern Israel is famous for its red flower festival.

However, once again southern Israel has red alerts, not flowers.

Kibbutz Alumim sign southern Israel

The sign at Kibbutz Alumim was the same as  on our previous visit in December 2012.

Kibbutz Alumim security fence

The electric security fence was opened carefully for our arrival.

Kibbutz Alumim green fields southern Israel

The green fields of the agricultural kibbutz stretched into the distance.

Kibbutz Alumim fence with warning sign to border of Aza

But it you turned around, another sign warned of the Gaza border ahead.

Kibbutz Alumim view of Gaza southern Israel

From the fields of Kibbutz Alumim, the Gaza border and buildings beyond are clearly in view.

Kibbutz Alumim bomb shelters near factory

Because of missiles and rockets fired from Gaza at southern Israel, these bomb shelters are situated next to the factory. Workers have seconds to get inside to safety when a red alert warns of an oncoming projectile.

Kibbutz Alumim Iron Dome southern Israel

Alumim has two Iron Domes positioned for protection from Hamas and its rockets.

Kibbutz Alumim in spring southern Israel green

Why live in southern Israel? It’s beautiful. Israelis have made the desert bloom.

Aluim collection of rockets and missiles fired at southern Israel from Gaza

When Hamas is not firing these missiles, it is a wonderful place.

Long time resident Esther took time to share with us a bit of her story.

Southern Israel Kibbutz Alumim bomb shelter in home, bedroom safe room.

Rafi’s house, and every home, has a bomb shelter bedroom. Sealed rooms have again become a necessity with nightly rockets from Gaza.

Twenty years living under fire from Gaza. Esther and others try to keep a positive attitude, to make music chimes from missiles.

Kibbutz Alumim in southern Israel

Kibbutz Alumim had no red alerts when we were there last week, after a night of terror when a house in Sderot was hit. However, the newest round of red alerts included Alumim. The residents of southern Israel are weary, tired of red alerts, and want to go back to being known for their red flowers.

Jerusalem: Aventures to the Moon and Back to Earth

Jerusalem: Aventures to the Moon and Back to Earth

The Israeli Prime Minister is on his way to Moscow.

The Israeli President hosts visitors from Greece and Cyprus.

The Israeli spacecraft Beresheet is on its seven-week journey to the moon.

Beresheet capsule ready for launch to moon
SpaceIL

The privately-funded Israeli space capsule was launched from Florida.

If successful, Israel will be the fourth country to land on moon.

Mamilla mall art blue man on ball

Back here on earth, in Jerusalem, in Israel, life is a balancing act.

Highway in Israel

On the one hand, new modern roads stretch for miles over former donkey paths and barren sand.

Jerusalem Israel new hostel

New lodgings in Jerusalem are too many to list now.

Near Jerusalem main bus station man sleeping in tunnel pass under street

But on the first really cold night in awhile, this homeless man was sleeping in the underground passageway to the new Navon fast train station and Jerusalem Central Bus Station.

Opening event at Jerusalem Urban Place cowork space

At the same time, on the fourth floor of the bus station, Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Lion was speaking at the launch of Urban Place, a new co-sharing work space for nearly 100 businesses.

Jerusalem Council Hall at Kikar Safra

Also this week, Lion hosted mayors from around the world at a conference which opened in Kikar Safra, Jerusalem’s City Council Chambers.

Jerusalem Israel construction fence with graffiti

Around Jerusalem, construction fences surround building projects, which descend many stories down into the ground, and are covered with graffiti.

Construction site in Jerusalem Israel

It is always exciting to see when these projects finally reach street level.

Jerusalem street market

Nearby a market on Agrippas Street is busy when weather permits.

Muslim women walking in downtown Jerusalem

But rain or shine people come to the city center to shop.

I was on my way to hear about Arab voting patterns in the upcoming elections.

Israeli elections Arab vote

My only comment on elections, these two men from Abraham Initiatives were well prepared and extremely impressive in their presentation in English.

Elan Carr in Jerusalem Israel speaking at confernce

Also that afternoon, Elan Carr, gave his first major address after being appointed the US Special Envoy for Monitoring and Combating Antisemitism in Jerusalem.

Jewish Agency in Jerusalem

The Jewish Agency Board of Directors also met in Jerusalem this week.

Isaac Herzog speaking about anitsemitism

New head Isaac Herzog also spoke on countering antisemitism.

View near Hansen House in Jerusalem Israel

Meanwhile, a new synagogue building nearby is approaching completion.

When the sun came out after rain, so did the wild flowers in fields of green.

Rechavia view of green and trees Jerusalem Israel

Around Jerusalem, the nature areas are lovely.

Shabbat shalom poster with flowers

But I am not sure these petals will outlast the hard winds blowing up now.

Night view of art work in plaza in Jerusalem Israel across from Mamilla Hotel

At night for the Shaon Horef  I was not sure what this was.

Jerusalem Israel street art piece

The many new street art installations are better appreciated by day.

Art work in Mamilla Mall

Mamilla Mall has some new out-of-the-box, out of this world, art on display.

Mamilla Mall art work with figure reading

At least the sculpture figures are still reading books.

Jerusalem art work on Mamilla Mall at night young woman sitting on art piece

Real people seem to interact more with their phones these days.

The world, politics, and weather seem so uncertain one minute to next.

Jerusalem Israel view toward Jordan from a city office building

But, on a clear day from Jerusalem, you can see still Jordan not so far away.

Urban Place in Jerusalem where adventure begins..

I liked this poster at the end of hall of offices at Urban Place.

“Adventure begins at the end of the road you know.”

Beresheet may or not get to the moon.

But it is still a wonder.

With all the problems, from near and far, amazing what tiny Israel has been able accomplish.

Elan Carr gave such a powerful speech, I thought I would share a few minutes of it.

And to end on a high note, these young Israeli dancers with so much energy are hope for good things in the adventures ahead.

Hard to believe, but much more was happening on the Jerusalem streets this week.

Jerusalem Oh What You Can See

Jerusalem Oh What You Can See

In Jerusalem, Israel, it is hard to predict what will happen next during the winter.

One day it’s rainy and grey. Then the next day, skies clear and the sun warms up the streets.

Inside is another story, even with heat my feet are cold wearing boots or furry slippers.

But if you get out and walk on the Jerusalem streets, oh the colors you can see.

Jerusalem Israel morning street scene off Ben Yehuda

In the morning a shopkeeper gets ready for the day in his little alleyway.

Public toilet in Jerusalem Israel

You can see the public toilet in the park is clean.

Jerusalem graffiti old and new

You can see graffiti and a clear blue sky in an old building under renovation.

Cloudy sky and building crane in Jerusalem Israel

You can see the blue sky through white clouds, and building cranes reaching toward them.

View from Jerusalem Israel

You can see the construction for new light rail stations, this view from Har Hotzvim.

lemon tree in Jerusalem in winter

It is winter, look up and see the lemons are yellow on the tree.

Yellow flowers in Jerusalem in winter

Look down you can see yellow flowers on the ground.

pink flowers in winter in Jerusalem israel

Here pink flowers are peaking out on top of a wall.

Aloe flowers in bloom in Jerusalem Israel in winter

Those orange aloe flowers abound.

Large aloe in Hansen Garden in Jerusalem Israel

In Hansen Garden the aloe plants are huge and green.

This old brown palm tree needs to be propped up, but the ground is covered in green.

Jerusalem park green in winter

In the park across the road, after winter rains it is also green.

Blooming almond tree in Jerusalem Israel

And the blossoms can be seen on trees all around.

winter rose in Jerusalem Israel

Winter and delicate roses are in bloom.

Rose bud in winter in jerusalem

White or pale pink, I love the ones that bloom in winter.

flower box in winter in Jerusalem

As much of the northern hemisphere is frigid and covered with snow, here in Jerusalem flowers flourish outdoors in winter.

Flowers planted in garden at Beit Hanasi jerusalem

These flower pots at Beit Hanasi, the Israeli President’s Residence, are hard to see from the street.

Beit Hanasi garden in Jerusalem Israel photo with visiting UN Ambassadors

But once inside, even the 28 visiting UN Ambassadors stopped to have a look and pose for a photo.

Flags at Beit Hanasi for President of Austria

Oh the colors of flags you can see in Jerusalem!

The President of Austria received a red carpet welcome along with his red and white flags.

Band members on way to position for President of Austria at Beit Hanasi

For official diplomatic visits you can see and hear the police band,

IDF honor guard at Beit Hanasi for Austrian president

and see the colors of an IDF honor guard.

Presidents of Israel and Austria in Beit Hanasi in Jerusalem Israel

President Alexander Van der Bellen spoke on serious issues, of the Holocaust and antisemitism.

But you could see a smile on President Rivlin’s face when he mentioned schnitzel. 

Austrian lapel pin in Jerusalem Israel

There were many blue and white flag lapel pins, for Israel and for EU.

If you looked hard you could see this tiny, red and white lapel pin.

It made me think of candy canes.

President of Austria signs guest book as his wife and President Rivlin watch

The presidents met so long not many stayed around to see the pen did not work when signing the guest book – Oops, quick get a new pen.

Woman looking at photos at Islamic Museum in Jerusalem Israel

Across the street at the Islamic Museum there is a new exhibit.

Photo exhibit at Islamic Museum

These large photos are printed on special wallpaper like panels. Taken with special camera equipment, you can see fine details.

Netanyahu and Trump on side of Jerusalem building election time

However, at the entrance to Jerusalem you can see even larger photos.

It’s election time again. The Likud Party had its primary elections yesterday.

Winners and losers and predictions flow from pundits over the air waves.

But no matter who wins, when the weather clears, and one gets out to walk on the Jerusalem streets, chances are you can see a black cat staring back.