Israel apartheid – Page 3 – The Real Jerusalem Streets

19 Favorite Scenes this Week in Jerusalem

May 8, 2014rjstreets

Raining, pouring weather in Israel in May

is most unusual, but it started last night.

Too bad that I missed getting a photo of lightning over the Knesset,

or little children splashing in puddles this afternoon.

But this was such a colorful, event-filled week it was hard to keep up,

so I decided to share just a few favorites scenes.

The weather had been warm and summer-like last week,

perfect for the many groups of children on school trips to see Jerusalem.

The planes for flyover air shows are such a favorite that I did a whole blog post on them.

What a spot for a show, in the Jaffa Gate plaza of the Old City,

with the King David Hotel as backdrop

The flags inside of Tower of David Museum fly all year.

But this week there were lots more flags to be seen,

my favorite decorated car was this one.

The Jewish Agency Building was one of many draped with long flags.

However, I hate to see so much water being used for cleaning

when getting ready for holiday ceremonies.

Back to Israeli flags,

these Arab women walked under rows of them.

It was nice to see one hanging in a new Jerusalem yeshiva.

While down the street,

I met these two Kurdish women.

They are in Israel with their children who are receiving life saving medical care.

It is always a favorite to share that kind of under radar story.

By day there were various flags flying,

by night for Yom Ha’aztmaut, Independence Day

this sign warns of street closings.

The all night parties and fireworks were really something else.

Not just Israeli flags,

but Jerusalem flags are also lining major streets.

I loved this warning in hotel lobby,

that things will be closed on Yom HaZikaron, Memorial Day

On our first time in Israel for Yom Ha’atzmaut our tour bus drove

for hours looking for somewhere to get food.

I never understood how that could have been so poorly scheduled,

everyone in Israel should know about these closing times.

Blue and white flags and cars fill on the streets,

and people and smoke filled Gan Sacher, Sacher Park and other green areas.

Some people know how to stake their claim to a picnic spot.

The blue and white plastic hammers keep getting bigger.

This dog was dressed in red, white and blue.

It felt like US July 4th Independence Day, hot and muggy,

so no idea why he needed to wear anything.

Grilling meat went on all day,

at just this one mangal BBQ over 250 pounds of meat were consumed.

The photo of a girl in Gan Sacher in a “GO VEG” tee-shirt

came out good, but not many were paying attention to her advice

and this is getting too long.

It has cooled off and I had better get going,

after the violent weather, the sun is starting to come out.

Passover Scenes in Jerusalem

April 23, 2014rjstreets

Passover in Jerusalem, Israel, as always, was like nowhere else.

10 rockets rained in from Gaza to the south and Sderot.

In Jerusalem, it rained dirt for a short while; what a mess for the cars!

But it cleaned the air and with much less traffic,

everyone was breathing easier.

This 24/6 store was closed for seven days,

and bread bakeries were shut tight.

One restaurant was selling used books instead of food.

Passover matzah meals were enjoyed on the streets,

as families paraded in their matching holiday outfits.

A banner welcomed all to the National park that surrounds the walls of the Old City.

A small, peaceful protest about the Temple Mount

at Jaffa Gate was not newsworthy.

Arab protesters and rock throwers got all the media attention,

but I was impressed with this police officer,

armed for serious crowd control – with a bull horn.

I was not the only one this year to come to the Jewish Quarter after the big

Birkat Kohanim, the Priestly Blessing at the Kotel, the Western Wall.

Last year was such a mob scene.

Popcorn and fresh juice were for sale on the route through the Old City.

Bagel shops were closed,

but the shwarma bar was open, with its tables covered.

The image of the new Hurva Synagogue

against a blue sky is always impressive.

People were dressed in so many ways for the holiday,

as they offered holiday greetings to one another.

Many Ethiopians gathered around their leaders,

who stood under their colorful umbrellas.

But theirs were not the only umbrellas on the Kotel plaza.

With so many people converging in a small area,

the streets outside of the Old City were blocked to cars.

While inside the Old City roads were also blocked,

these young Arab men making a delivery had no trouble getting by,

and this Arab woman also walked freely.

However, I was not allowed to use my regular exit.

We had to walk all the way around.

Look at the nice view of Jordan in the distance,

for nothing is very far away in Israel.

These people stopped to enjoy the view.

Another barrier,

but this time ice cream trucks were ready for tired tourists.

And all day every day, tourists kept coming.

Then another closed road at Zion Gate,

but this car got through.

Finally outside the walls, a picture perfect time,

that rock throwers did not ruin for the hundreds of thousands

of visitors who came from around the world.

There was as always too much to do and too little time,

and too much to eat.

And this year some major supermarkets ran out of eggs.

Big news,

that the new Waldorf-Astoria Hotel opened its doors to the public,

but that will have to wait for next time…

must go bake some cookies now before all the kids go home.

In Jerusalem, Fulfilling the Zionist Dream

November 10, 2013rjstreets

As usual, there is much happening in Jerusalem, Israel.

Jewish community leaders from around the world are gathering

with four major conferences in one week,

including the Board of Governors of Jewish Agency

and the Jewish Federations of North America’s General Assembly.

There has been a “summit” on Jewish identity

and a talk about Ethiopian Jewry.

But what a shame

these world leaders were not around last week

on the 29th of Heshvan to experience the annual Sigd holiday,

which falls 50 days after Yom Kippur.

They would have seen the tens of thousands of Ethiopian

olim from all around Israel who came

to the Tayelet, on the Sherover Promenade, to celebrate.

There were young people doing traditional dances,

elders sitting quietly,

and women in traditional white.

The main stage was filled with Kessim, the spiritual leaders,

under their colorful umbrellas.

I am not sure why this one was not on stage.

It was so crowded that only a few could actually see the stage,

and most did not even try.

Most people were walking and talking,

some were fasting, while others offered food.

For centuries in their villages in Ethiopia,

the Kes went to a hilltop to pray for the return to Zion,

and now their prayers were answered and they are here in Jerusalem.

From this spot with the best view of the Old City,

they can pray for the rebuilding of the Temple.

Many faced poverty and discrimination,

some walked through deserts from Ethiopia to get here,

and everyone had to learn about this new, strange culture and adjust to it.

However,

some of my favorite scenes were of the young people in uniform,

proud Israeli soldiers.

Buses were lined up all around the area for most of the day.

Thousand of Israelis of Ethiopian origin filled the streets.

While Jewish world leaders talk,

these Ethiopians ‘just did it.’

They came to Israel

and are living their ancestors’ Zionist dream.