Jerusalem Botanical Gardens – Page 2 – The Real Jerusalem Streets

Check out Jerusalem’s Week of Ups and Downs

November 17, 2024November 17, 2024Sharon A

On the Jerusalem streets it was another week of a prolonged war that no one wanted.

The number of fallen has sadly gone up to almost 800, and the injured are too many to count accurately.

When there is a short time to “get away from it all” the Jerusalem Botanical Gardens is a favorite destination to check out the change of seasons.

Every autumn the pond is cleared of the end-of-season lilies.

These remains on the top of the surface, this caught my eye for a close-up.

Friends in the Northeastern United States are sharing amazing fall colors photos, this is the best I could find at the end of the season in Jerusalem, Israel.

The lookout at the Bird Sanctuary has a new big sign, but bird migration season is ending. If you look up through the trees, you will see the new Jerusalem skyline is filling with towers over the Jerusalem streets.

And oh those streets! You better look down as you walk. Digging and changing in too many locations to share – sometimes fixing them and then changing them a month later.

I am certain the driver of this car was not happy to end up on top of the flower bed.

At Cinema City if you look up above the Israel flag, the white umbrellas have hostage posters on them.

I have avoided the hostage protests on the Jerusalem streets, however, this week there were four of them.

One across from Cinema City has been featured here before with the faces of fallen soldiers at night.

Across from the Knesset, this has been going on for a year, against the government’s handling of the war.

This one near Paris Fountain has counted the days as they advocate for the hostages to be released.

A new one this week on Rechov Azza, not far from the Prime Minister’s home, blocked the street with white umbrellas and people wearing white clothing.

Everyone is war-weary and worried about the hostage situation. I was glad I wore black clothing that day so police let me walk by the barricades.

Our municipal bomb shelter is getting an upgrade and the door was open. Happily, it was not needed.

Meanwhile, groups are arriving and being welcomed. Supporters, families, and volunteers are here.

New signs are up for Jerusalem events. The Piano and Arts Festivals took place this week.

And a new sign with sadly familiar faces, Iris Haim and her fallen son Yotam- “Together we will be heroes.”

As the full moon wanes and the calendar looks to the month of Kislev, the Hanuka donut season has arrived and the calorie counts go up, as the waistline grows.

And yes they were as good as they look.

It was a week of lows and highs, and time goes on…

as we wait to see what will happen next on the Jerusalem streets.

7 New Views in Jerusalem

August 6, 2023August 6, 2023Sharon A

What’s considered new in Jerusalem, Israel, is a constant surprise.

Every week something new seems to grab headlines and attention.

The suspension bridge over the Hinnom Valley (shared here in May) was officially opened and caused a bit of social media discussion.

What a view from the bridge!

But is it a bridge over the valley to nowhere on Mount Zion?

A photo taken during the development of the new bridge (twice mentioned here) appears that more development of the area might be called for.

Who remembers this photo and view from October 2021?

And this photograph was taken in December 2019 BC – Before Corona.

Well, here is the same spot near the end of Jaffa Road this past week!

Oh, how the view has changed!

All around Jerusalem, one day there is a store. The next day it’s gone.

The white sign over the door of the old Shaare Zedek is for Social Space.

The same sign as over the President Hotel entrance. Making use of old Jerusalem landmark buildings as the new ones pop up around them.

On Jaffa Road outside of the building workers were busy removing red Xs, from the new stones made so they look old.

Did you notice the new buildings built across the street?

The Jerusalem Gateway Project is at street level and visible from Jaffa Road.

Note on the left how the old cemetery remains as the towers rise above,

and well above the Jerusalem streets to change the view.

At first, this view of the Machane Yehuda Market on a summer weekday appeared the same as before strolling in off of Jaffa Road.

But now covered with a new roof, it was more pleasant than outside in the sun and filled with people, tour groups and shoppers, and summer camps.

People filled some of the passageways lined with new shops.

Fascinating to see cucumbers and corn packaged in plastic.

Even some of the baked goods were wrapped in plastic and not open as in the past. Good news for some, and outrageous for others.

The Jerusalem Botanical Gardens has a new attraction for summer 2023.

Colorful inflated “monsters” are meant to provide families with an outing to view the new kid-friendly monster balloons around the gardens.

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But I am waiting to view the details of the Japanese pagoda opening.

You can see it from the street, near the entrance of the Botanical Gardens next to the cherry trees and the Japanese flag.

The flag of Zambia was on view near Beit Hanasi, the President’s Residence, to welcome Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema to Jerusalem on an official state visit. The African leader had a busy schedule planned.

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I assume HH missed the popup flea market in the community park nearby.

This past week was Tu B’Av.

The time after the sad day of Tisha B’Av is filled with weddings.

But at all Jewish weddings, a glass is broken to remember the Jerusalem of Tisha B’Av and the destruction and promise of rebuilding as a new couple begins building their home.

As we left the wedding, I stopped to admire the view of the full moon.

Sturgeon moon over Yemin Moshe in Jerusalem Israel

Who remembers the same Sturgeon Moon over Yemin Moshe last year?

So it’s summer in Jerusalem, and signs are up for the Thursday night concerts back again in Safra Square with live musical entertainment.

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Saw this sign too late, but there are more Feel events on August 9 and 16.

And signs for even more events, to end off the summer before school starts, the Jerusalem Israel Festival, the International Puppet Festival at the Train Theater, The Tower of David Circus, and much more.

Solomon's Quarries for a piano performance

Remember the amazing views in Zedekiah Cave?

It’s to have reopened with a special video of King Solomon’s Quarries.

Enough views of above and below the Jerusalem streets for now.

Time to go and see what else is happening on the real Jerusalem streets, and to share next time what the mainstream media does not view as news.

Jerusalem Days of Topsy Turvy and Upside Down

March 6, 2023March 6, 2023Sharon A

I was stuck, trying hard to find new words for another roller-coaster, emotional week in Jerusalem, Israel.

How about upside down, or how topsy turvy?

The commotion was too much of a downer at the start of the week, so I went to the Jerusalem Botanical Gardens for a bit of fresh air and sunshine.

Stopping to watch a white swan swim across the pond,

appreciating the small wonders in nature,

and seeing the brilliant colors makes it’s also hard to remember it’s winter.

But to be real, not all is so pretty and pleasant on the Jerusalem streets.

Barriers abound and block sidewalks.

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As the weeks go on, the barriers are getting bigger.

And they seem to be multiplying, and blocking the pathways.

Barriers are set early on Friday, ready for the after-Shabbat protesters at Beit Hanasi, the Israeli President’s Residence.

Barriers have been placed around the fountain at French/Paris Square.

Then Wednesday, the street where the Netanyahus live, was closed.

The barriers in front of their home remind me of those in the park.

However, there was much more happening in Jerusalem this week.

My friend from the US noted there was no armed guard at the entrance to our synagogue in Jerusalem on Shabbat.

But security is on higher alert, as seen here in Gush Etzion last week.

However, road works, such as the second tunnel from Jerusalem to Gush Etzion, are finally reaching the final stages, after years of construction.

For the first time, the Speaker of the Senate of Canada was visiting the Knesset and flags were flying for the official welcome.

Sunday, Slovakian Prime Minister Eduard Heger was in Jerusalem.

Buildings are going up and up all over Jerusalem. These towers tower above and off King George Street.

The center of Jerusalem off of Jaffa Road along the light rail tracks has come back to life again after pandemic closures.

New stores are opening in anticipation of returning tourists.

Old streets are being regentrified with new boutique hotels and shops.

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HaBoydem has opened a new larger space to sell its recycled clothing.

Shaon Horef – שאון חורף or Winter Noise was back Monday nights in February.

Winter Noise was on the street near where we lived and also in the 2014 Winter Noise. I used to go to all four Monday nights, but not this year.

This time I only got to the last one on the last Monday of February.

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These guys were my favorite as they walked into Harvey’s and sat down.

Oh, Jerusalem streets, where much of the year, one can often ask whether it’s Purim or not Purim.

The Shaon Horef of 2023 was well done, check out a few video highlights.

And it was held on Shushan Street, a perfect location before Purim.

The Purim holiday signs are up along the Jerusalem streets.

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Mishloach Manot baking and preparations have begun.

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Signs of Purim in the neighborhoods were up last week.

The streets were filled with schoolchildren dressed in costumes, however, some of the cutest did not want to be photographed.

So you will have to come back next week for Purim favorites.

There are too many Jerusalem Purim events to list, at the Israel Museum, the Tower of David, the Train Theater, Safra Square, and more,

but you can find Purim events in English on the Jerusalem website.

Purim week is always a time of upside-down, topsy-turvy.

Hoping this Purim will be celebrated in a good way, so check back next week to see.

פורים שמח

Purim sameach!