Hanukkah – Page 9 – The Real Jerusalem Streets

Counting Chanukiot or Hanukkiot

December 12, 2012rjstreets

Yesterday, 834 people in a hangar in the Princeton, New Jersey airport

set the Guiness world record for the most Chanukiot lit at the same time.

I do not know if we could even get that many people

in Jerusalem, Israel, to agree on anything.

It is even hard to agree on the spelling in English.

Are they Chanukiot or Hannukiot?

This time of year in Jerusalem, Israel,

Hanukiot, special Hanukkah menorahs,

pop up on top of buildings,

and are displayed in windows

in all colors and types.

They are sold at many craft fairs before the holiday

and can be found on top of cars during Hanukkah.

We have done whole blogs on Just Chanukiot in the past

and Chanukkah lights.

So what is new and different this year?

I set out yesterday to check the Jerusalem streets,

but did not get very far before the rain started.

There are those who count every single millimeter of water,

yesterday it came down in buckets.

When it rains in Jerusalem, the sky gets grey and the people go inside.

At one popular destination is the Israel Museum, the garden was empty,

as people looked for shelter and families filled the children’s sections,

where Hanukiot were made of recycled materials.

But I wanted to find the special Hanukkah exhibit

on Hanukiot

from around the world:

simple ones from Yemen

as well as ornate ones from Europe.

Families looked at the various small Chanukiot

and admired the large ones,

while the weather outside also got plenty of attention.

I really wanted to go across the street to see the new

“Fire” exhibit at the Bloomfield Science Museum.

But I was still wet, so I went home to get some hot tea and dry clothes.

Today the sun is shining again, it is a much better day for photos.

Happy Hanukkah!

Hanukkah Light from Jerusalem

December 9, 2012rjstreets

Last night was the first night of Hanukkah.

I went to Mamilla Mall to watch the candlelighting of the large hanukiah

led by Sephardic Chief Rabbi Shlomo Amar.

Some of his followers came,

but hundreds were in the crowd that gathered and watched from below.

There were even a few who watched from above.

Inside the mall were many hanukiot,

and one very proud family posing with one of the artists.

That was going to be the theme of this blog:

the signs of family, creativity, happiness and LOVE.

Then I got home and listened to the news of Hamas celebrations in Gaza

and Mashaal’s vow to continue fighting against Israel,

and not to give an inch. So much for peace partners.

Hanukkah is a celebration of good over evil and light over darkness.

So let me add a few other photos taken at Mamilla Mall all that

you will not see in the media stream media.

People of all religions were present at the candle lighting.

Arab girls were shopping in the mall as usual,

Arab young men were walking freely as usual, and there were even

Arab boys out riding their bikes near the large hanukiah near the Jaffa Gate.

Even with hundreds of Hanukkah celebrants on the streets, as usual,

there was no sign of Apartheid or BDS – Boycott, Divestment or Sanctions.

Hanukkah time in Jerusalem, Israel and there is just too much to do,

but here is a great source for some of the top Jerusalem events.

Meanwhile, while Hamas prepares its babies to be killers,

please contrast to how children are “used” in Jerusalem.

May the light from Jerusalem, Israel continue to be a light unto the nations.

Just Chanukiot

December 7, 2010rjstreets

In Jerusalem, the variety of chanukiot, Chaunkah menorahs,

seems without end.

In Mamilla Mall, a traditional style

is on display near the unusual

and the hard to describe.

There are chanukiot on top of tall buildings.

One ‘candle’ is added each night to the chanukiah on the Knesset building.

This store display of silver ones was dazzling,

but the first night of Chanukah these simple wine bottles

in a bar window were also beautiful,

as was the chanukiah on a fast food restaurant counter in the Old City.

The chanukiah in the Mahane Yehudah market, the shuk,

had lanterns for lights.

Someone might assume there is religious significance to plastic chairs,

as there are so many

chanukiot placed on them.

Every night the Old City has been full of walking tours,

with people wandering the streets looking for lights

in normally shuttered windows.

The chanukiah near the Kotel, the Western Wall, is very impressive,

as is the one which reads “Gilad Shalit lives” and

this chanukiah which remembers all the MIA’s.

And Chanukiot line some of the main streets.

CHANUKAH SAMEACH

Happy Chanukah