Hansen Hospital

Things Mainstream Media Won’t Tell You

rjstreets

It is that time of year.

 All over Israel there are end of school year celebrations.

These events start soon after the Shavuot holiday ends

and go until the end of June when school is out for the summer.

end of year celebration image

Most performances are put on for families and friends and become

true extravaganzas that rival the Israel Festival Jerusalem programs.

Israel festival image Jerusalem Theater

The Jerusalem Theater hosts many of the musical programs

of this May-June annual cultural festival.

sign for Hanson House, Jerusalem photo

This year new venues were added to the program. 

Though the English on this sign is a bit curious, 

I was anxious to see the results of the extensive renovations

to the old Hansen Hospital.

people outside Hanson House Jerusalem photo

People were lined up early at the main entrance,

gardens at Hanson House, Jerusalem photo

which went through the gardens.

gardens of Hanson House, Jerusalem photo

However, this is as close as I could get.

The guard would not let me in to take even one photo.

But I had no time to stay and argue.

I was on my way to opening of the Jerusalem Light Festival

and the Hebrew Book Week in Liberty Bell Park.

And there is more.

image football Israel under 21 champs, Jerusalem photo

Signs are all over for special sporting events.

The European Soccer Under-21 Championship is being held in Israel.

And Formula One sports cars are on display.

The cars are to run on the Jerusalem streets from the new First Station

on a route near the Old City on Thursday afternoon and Friday.

Preparations are well under way for next week’s huge 

Israeli Presidential Conference at the Jerusalem Conference Center. 

There is so much happening in Jerusalem this time of year.

So it’s no surprise that in May tourism in Jerusalem hit an all time high.

However, the mainstream media continues to ignore the good stuff.

Houses From Within

rjstreets

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Houses from Within was not just open houses in Jerusalem,

 but the event also opened gates that are usually closed to the public.

One of the most popular of dozens of free tours was at the Hansen Hospital,

located on Marcus Street.

In the large, walled compound is a two-story structure built

by the Protestant community in 1887.

It became known as The Leper’s Home 

and was an asylum for up to 60 leprosy patients.

The once ‘luxury’ structure, it was built with a bridge

so patients could easily reach the toilets,

outhouses located on the right side of the main building.

The grounds had gardens and enough livestock  to be self sufficient.

One interior room is now on display.

While patients were always free to come and go,

the last patient left in 2000; the gates were sealed during the intifada.

Not far away in the German Colony,

the Houses from Within event included

 #41 Emek Refaim Street, the Alliance Church International Cemetery.

Thousands of people walk by each day,

but most have never seen the mural inside.

Next to it, is the Templer Cemetery which was established in 1878.

Located in one of the most popular parts of Jerusalem,

the vast size and beauty of these three hidden properties often goes unseen.

 But, there is one spot in Jerusalem that has become an international

 ‘must-be-seen’ venue.

Visitors are now bringing their own film crews to record their visits 

within the Shalit family tent.

 Hamas has refused to deliver a letter to Gilad Shalit 

through the International Red Cross. 

  With all that was going on this week,

there was one issue that united evreyone in Jerusalem,

it was not security, but

 the price of tomatoes!

From within every home, there was disbelief …

tomatoes cost more than chicken!