Jerusalem in November: More than Elections

At the beginning of November when the clocks changed it was dark so early that 7:00 pm felt like midnight in Jerusalem, Israel.

But the long dark nights are good for noticing the new spots where lights have been added, like here on the top of Mishkanot HaSha’ananim with the Montefiore Windmill in the distance.

The work on France Square and Paris Fountain resumed as new sod was brought and placed instead of the fake grass.

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Work went well after dark to complete the landscaping.

Signs on a temporary barrier warned people to keep off the real grass.

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As construction fences come down more new buildings are visible.

The election for the 25th Knesset took over this week’s news and headlines, with commentators around the world projecting opinions.

The boxes of the low-tech paper slips with letters from the various parties were kept filled so as not to reveal what party was more popular.

But in our neighborhood, the letter ל – lamed – filled the streets. Election Day was a public holiday and student drivers were out in droves for lessons.

My first time voting in a new location and I thought that these steps were cute with colors and names in English. However, on closer look when I got home, I noticed that it was “ORENGE” instead of orange.

But more happened this week in Jerusalem than just the elections.

Aliyah Day was overshadowed by the elections, good thing there is another chance to celebrate Olim in the spring on yud Nissan.

The Zalman Shazar Prize for Jewish History was awarded at Beit Hanasi.

The award recipients sat in the front row with President and Michal Herzog in the President’s Residence main reception room.

Chili Tropper spoke at the event, perhaps for the last time with the expected changes of government, as Minister of Culture and Sports.

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Yesh Atid, but what the future will be for Yair Lapid and his administration is unknown.

Also, this week at Beit Hanasi, was an event hosted by the President for the Israeli delegation to the United Nations Climate Change Conference, COP27, which he will head this week in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt.

Significantly, a woman working for better Bedouin living conditions was included in the program along with government ministers.

I missed the photo op outside of the President with tech leaders, as the door to the smaller diplomatic room was open for the first time in weeks. Renovations were completed and the room has a new look in shades of blue, with new furniture and upholstery in the special seating areas.

Looking back at the yellow decor of the past, I found one of the first photos I took in this room almost 10 years ago.

Almost time for new Chief Rabbis–those who are saying that five elections in under four years were enough, should get ready for more elections when 2023 comes around.

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People come and go, however, one constant in Jerusalem at Beit Hanasi, is the Presidential Cat, but even he was up a tree this past week.

The Jerusalem International Animation Festival, the Einstein Festival, and more new signs are along the Jerusalem streets for November events.

On November 9th, for the 84th anniversary of Kristallnacht, Walter Bingham is to be honored near Jaffa Gate with his image projected on the walls during the Jerusalem commemoration. Walter is the oldest working journalist and is busy planning for his 99th birthday in a few weeks.

If you don’t know his story, Google it, it’s a great one, but way too long for now.

November 23-26 is time for the 10th Piano Festival at the Jerusalem Theater.

The new Jerusalem signs are up to warn to prepare for the winter weather.

In Jerusalem in November, winter is approaching with long dark nights. But it also means the vivid colors of the flowers lining the Jerusalem streets are out during the daylight hours.

Come and see for yourself, on a Jerusalem Photo Walk, what’s really happening on Jerusalem streets.

Elections, Elections, Israeli Elections.

Elections, Elections, Israeli Elections.

Elections. Elections. Elections.

Supreme Court Judge Hanan Melcer, chairman of the Central Elections Committee has been busy.

The media has been working overtime trying to explain the forty-plus political parties.

A trip to the Modi’in Industrial Park last month took us to see the Central Election Logistic Center.

Security gate at election committee logistics center

The security gate and entrance inside at the site is only a first step.
Israeli elections
This is the only slide I may show you from the introductory presentation.
Not sure why as we were allowed to photograph everything else in the building.
Perhaps it was because there were English spelling or grammar mistakes on so many slides?
Israel Committee Logistic Center
In operation since 2004, the election logistic center consists of this vast warehouse.
Israeli election logistic center workers
People working 24/6 to sort and pack the 12,000 paper boxes to go to polling stations.
Counting paper clips at logistic center Israel elections.
Counting paper clips for boxes. Hospitals and prisons receive boxes also.
Israel election materials
In hi-tech Israel, each piece of paper is put in by a person, and a real person checks the contents.
Special department for army and diplomat ballots
For the army and overseas government officials ballots were prepared in advance, and organized from this control room. They received two envelopes, ten days before election. For the first time not only diplomats overseas can vote, but so can Jewish Agency employees stationed abroad.
Packing boxes for Israel election
Papers, pens, envelopes and paper ballots, require 100% accuracy.
Boxes for Israel election
Then they are wrapped up tight, and sealed with big rolls of plastic wrap.
Example booth for Israel election 48 spaces
This election required new ballot boxes to hold all the parties.
Transportation of the heavier boxes is just one detail of the massive project.
400,000,000 ballots,  140 million more than last election.
There will be 250 tons of paper to recycle after it is all over.
Israeli election day is an official holiday.
Businesses are closed. Schools are closed. But national parks are open.

Man with microphone red on his nose as a clown

On the way home after the visit to the logistic center, loaded with pages of parties, spokespersons, and headquarters, Walter found a new use for his microphone cover.
If there is no new government formed in 90 days, no clowning around, no joke, we get to do this again folks.
No one I know wants the phone calls, survey questions, or negative campaigning.
One good thing, it is only 90 days, and not two years of campaigning as in the US.
The Central Elections Committee has moved to the Knesset to count the ballots.
With so many people still undecided, stay tuned for results.
One sure thing, you never know what well happen next on the Jerusalem streets.
Updated April 9, 2019 after voting midday:
Elections for Knesset in jerusalem
And there they were ready for action.
Voting booth with paper ballots in Jerusalem Israel for Knesset
The paper ballots in aleph-bet order. So many as to be confusing.
Random survey of people on street after voting, just happy for this to be over.
Some things have not changed since Knesset 19 voting, so adding post from January 2013 HERE
Difficulties with accessibility remain.
It doesn’t get easier watching the elderly votes having to do those stairs! But they came to vote.

Only Some Israelis Vote for Knesset 19

Today is Election Day in Israel for the 19th Knesset

and some are calling it a celebration of democracy.

photo Israeli election box

For a hi-tech country voting is decidedly low-tech,

photo Israeli election

with a cardboard ballot box and voting booth in a school classroom.

Israeli election photo

 Inside the booth, write-in votes are possible with a pen on white paper.

Israeli election photo

The nice workers in our polling place were happy to pose for a photo.

Israeli election photo

Across the hall the scene was similar,

Israeli election photo

and though the turnout is described as heavy,

the lines were short at midday.

BUT,

stairs photo

in order to get to the voting place you had to climb stairs, lots of stairs.

While I was trying to get a good angle to show a serious problem,

Israeli election photo

a friend who had moved to Haifa came up the stairs to vote.

However, for the disabled and many elderly in the neighborhood,

there was nothing to smile about.

Israeli election photo

Outside, to get in the building there were more stairs,

Israeli election photo

and for some getting down could be as hard as going up to vote.

Israeli election photo

As I left, this woman with two walking sticks tried to vote, 

 and I do not know how long it took her to do all those stairs.

The situation for access of the disabled and elderly  

is terrible in many of the old buildings in Jerusalem, Israel.

Jerusalem election day photo

One thing no one could complain about was the weather.

blocked sidewalks

Even though many sidewalks are still blocked by trees downed by the snow,

photo from Israeli election day

today was a day to get outside and enjoy the spring-like weather.

The temperatures certainly added to a party atmosphere, 

but access for disabled must become a priority.

I still think it is outrageous that someone in a wheel chair

has a hard time to vote in a democracy.

There are  locations for wheel chair access,

but isn’t it time to make public buildings accessible?