Jerusalem Botanical Gardens – Page 3 – The Real Jerusalem Streets

What’s New for Tu BiShvat in Jerusalem?

February 12, 2020February 12, 2020Sharon A

Finally, the sun came out and warmed up the cold, still wet Jerusalem streets.

The Tu BiShvat holiday was cold and rainy this year in Jerusalem.

ט”ו בשבט – the 15th day of the Hebrew month of Shvat, has close to a dozen ways to be spelled in English. Each year it is a problem and a challenge of how best to spell it.

An easier challenge is to find new ways to celebrate it in Jerusalem, Israel.

In honor of Tu BiShvat, the New Year for Trees, the Jerusalem Botanical Gardens opened its gates for free public entry, extending the holiday this year from Sunday night until Wednesday afternoon. Walking the paths in the sunshine was a good way to warm up after days of bone-chilling cold weather.

On Jerusalem streets, carob pods lie drying and unwanted on the ground.

Oh, how different than Tu Bishvat celebrations years ago in the United States.

Tu Bishvat agricultural celebrations were recorded in the land of Israel, long before the state was established.

The songs we learned were about the shekediah, almond blossoms, bursting out. On the trees in Jerusalem, almond blossoms indeed burst out early this year after the wet winter season in spite of the cold weather, and before most other trees.

One special new tree was planted in the Beit Hanasi, Israeli President’s residence in the back garden. The dedication says, by President Rivlin “and His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales, as a sign of friendship between the two nations, and in recognition of the value of preserving and sustaining the environment and nature.” 26 Tevet 5780, 23 January 2020.

Tu Bishvat seders, special meals with four cups of wine, white and red and mixed are becoming more common. My friends set a gorgeous table, nothing common about her efforts or artistic talents. The holiday food table was laid out for guests and everything tasted as good as it looked.

A special first-time event was held for Tu BiShvat at the Bible Lands Museum Jerusalem.

A Malida table for Tu Bishvat set for a traditional ceremony originating from India.

The Ambassador from India to Israel Sanjeev Singla attended and wore a blue kippah. He spoke in English but said he hoped next year for Malida to know more Hebrew.

A candle was lit while special coverings covered the food.

Prayers were recited beginning with “Simon tov and Mazel Tov.”

The words ended with a psalm at the completion of the ceremony. Then traditional foods were served.

It was an emotional evening. For the first time, Malida has been included as an official holiday.

For hundreds of years, Jews in India prayed of the Prophet Elijah and to return to the land of Israel. At this time Malida was being celebrated in Jerusalem in a meaningful public venue.

While the Jerusalem Botanical Gardens are wonderful on a spring day, on a cold night not so much. However, on the quest for new this year, the new building was lit up on Tu Bishvat night.

The now impressive Botanical Garden, a former garbage dump, is looking ahead to take on social roles in the community.

The story of Honi planting a tree and seeing it 70 years later is an old rabbinic legend.

Fruit optimization of every tree in an orchard is the story of the future. Now there’s AI, artificial intelligence, and ML, machine learning to track layers of factors to get maximum growth for trees and fruit production.

When it got down to the specifics of data collection, Hebrew or English, I was lost.

But at the meeting, they served beautiful fresh fruit platters with giant strawberries and pomegranate seeds.

Also, the dried fruits and nuts, and fresh dates for Tu BiShvat that looked good enough to share.

Also, the Super Moon peeked out from behind the clouds on my way home.

A bonus to a few minutes without rain when walking.

Last year the President and the late Nechama Rivlin z”l hosted a Tu B’Shvat seder.

This year for Tu BiShvat the President hosted a special group from KKL-JNF.

Young people received awards at the event that highlighted inclusion.

One of my favorite moments on this busy Tu BiShvat week was at Beit Hanasi at the conclusion of the official program with the President. For the first time, I watched closely the signing of Hatikvah. Thanks to Shani for her special translation of the familiar words

Finally, a reminder to check out amazing Israel WildFlowers.

With attention to detail, and in English now, Sara’s website has a wealth of information.

And new for this Tu BiShvat, check out Hidden Blossom walks.

On the Jerusalem streets, throughout Israel so much was happening and new this Tu BiShvat.

ט”ו בשבט שמח

Happy Tu BiShvat

Jerusalem Summer is Festival Time

July 4, 2018July 4, 2018Sharon A

Summer in Jerusalem, Israel, means it is festival time.

“Dream Herzl” is being held this week at the Har Herzl Museum on Har Herzl.

Would or could have Herzl ever dreamed of any of these?

PlayMobil Festival at the Jerusalem Botanical Gardens is opening July 23.

The new center is getting closer to completion.

Brides pose near the pond for wedding photos.

A PlayMobil pirate ship is ready for youngsters to climb.

The big sign is up, and grandmothers have arrived with young children, only to be told it is not open yet.

Children who live in Jerusalem from families with Yerushalayim discount cards can get in for free.

Will have to see if that is for the special summer festival also.

Also free and open now are the galleries at the Jerusalem Theater. One foyer has black and white photos of Ethiopian Israelis.

Upstairs at the Henri Crown Auditorium is an exhibit called “Haready Made.”

Contemporary Jewish religious art of the Hamiklat, ArtShelter Gallery, is on display until July 7.

The Outline Festival has 150 illustrators, animators, writers and poets, providing 15 exhibits in various locations.

Not free, but starting July 8, for the entire summer is IceLand.

Do you think Herzl would ever have imagined people would be ice skating in Jerusalem in August?

All summer, Jerusalem public parks will be hosting weekday events for children at 5:00 pm.

Rock, Paper and Scissors is a new exhibit opening at the at Tower of David Museum.

Three days of Chazanut, cantorial music, called HaNaviim, the Prophets, will be at Beit Avi Chai.

Then there is the Jerusalem Film Festival from July 26-August 5.

The annual Streetball Festival is the end of July.

Blood Moon over Jerusalem is on July 27 for Tu B’Av.

More than Herzl or the ancient prophets ever could have envisioned, is happening in Jerusalem.

However, today is July 4th.

Entebbe and Yoni Netanyahu are remembered in Jerusalem’s Liberty Bell Park.

I decided to end with the US anthem from a special program honoring First Responders at the King David Hotel.

The program honored Israeli and US security, police, fire and EMT, all working together to make the world safer.

Best of Passover in Jerusalem

April 4, 2018Sharon A

The Passover holiday in Jerusalem, Israel, is always a busy time with so much to do.

After days of cleaning and shopping, and a late night seder, what next?

This year I decided not to spend hours in the car along with millions of other Israelis going to lush camping sights and sandy beaches, but rather to stay home and explore what Jerusalem has to offer.

Now to share with you some of the best of Jerusalem for Passover this year 5778.

Where else to start, but with food.

Some restaurants like this new humus place were closed tight for Passover.

But not to worry, in Jerusalem, there was an abundance of kosher for Passover places to eat. This Holy Bagel in the Old City is not only mehadrin kosher, but “KOSHER without fear of legumes!”

With baskets of matza on the table, this potato crust pizza looked good enough to eat. People were standing in lines for seats to taste for themselves.

Pizza, rolls, sandwiches, pies, cakes and more…one of the best places for Passover food is in Jerusalem, Israel.

Mamilla Mall was busy and crowded with local shoppers and international tourists, plus entertainment and performances for children.

Another favorite was seeing the clothing in the Old City, with many dressed in their holiday finest, wearing every type of outfit imaginable.

With so many activities for families, it was hard to decide what to do first, as dozens of museums and sites were free for children. The Tower of David had families walking, touring, and climbing.

From the Tower of David you could see the Old City ramparts walk with tourists going along the top of the walls of the Old City.

Days were warm and the sun beat down midday. But volunteers were in several locations in Old City offering cups of water, free to all who walked by.

The Golden Menorah was moved near the Hurva Synagogue, where tourists were busy taking photos.

This menorah is a photo posted near where the gold one was located. The Western Wall elevator is to be constructed here.

Remember I said every type of clothing imaginable? How about a Betar uniform from the 1920’s?

It was reported 100,000 people were at Birkat Kohanim, the Priestly Blessing, Monday morning.

In the afternoon and for most of the week, the Western Wall Plaza was still filled with families.

All day long tens of thousands of people came and went from the Old City.

This line was not at the security entrance leading to the women’s section, but just a long line of tourists waiting to access the Temple Mount.

The egalitarian section, however, was almost empty. On the right of this photo, if you look very closely, you can see children playing near the stones from the Second Temple.

While so many were in the Old City, other Jerusalem locations were also holiday destinations.