Jerusalem: Days, Nights, and more Knights

After the last two years, Jerusalem appears to be getting back to life as we knew it. Crowds are filling the Old City in spite of the summer sun and heat.

The large number of visitors during vacation time means that getting a bus back to the city from outside the Kotel Plaza can be a challenge. People waiting (as seen here on the bottom right) have been known to pack on the city buses leaving the timid tourist behind.

Yes, this entrance to the Kotel plaza really was closed, temporarily to enter from the Jewish Quarter. I tried to warn people not to head down the stairs.

This was the main entrance to the Kotel, Western Wall the afternoon I went last week along with hundreds of others.

In spite of the number of visitors, the egalitarian section which is shaded from the blazing sun was nearly empty, as usual.

The main reason I went during the day was to check out the free shuttle from First Station to the Kotel. This stop near Dung Gate is where it was located before the vans stopped running during the pandemic.

The bus stop in the First Station parking lot was not marked but is in the same location.

The new vans do not look like the ones in the past, but run on the same schedule, every 20 minutes on the hour. Arrive one minute late and you will have to wait for the next one, as I did. They run on time.

They also stop at the Ir David nature activity, on the way to the Old City.

The Tower of David has an event with Knights. Only in Jerusalem can a period of persecution become a family fun activity, I was reminded of the Jerusalem Knights Festival – 12 years ago. Where has the time gone?

At night, there are the new little cars to drive for site seeing.

But also a special bus runs at night to see Jerusalem’s iconic buildings lit.

The water at Teddy Park across from Old City walls is still popular.

I was on my way to the Artists Colony, for a lecture by Irvin Ungar at the Kol HaOt gallery on the artist Arthur Szyk.

The slides presented of Szyk’s vast artwork were fascinating.

UN Security Council, 1948

(To the greatest mockery of them all, the Security Council of June 1948)

“We agree with you on every point, except your stubborn insistence on surviving…”

Note China, Syria, and Belgium sitting at the table facing an Israeli in chains in Szyk’s political cartoon from 1948.

Also later that night was the opening of the International Puppet Festival.

Smoke and skaters entertained the public as the audience was allowed to enter the Skating Park at Jerusalem’s Liberty Bell Park for free.

Mime actors and lights enthralled the young families up close.

There was action all around the skateboard peaks and valleys,

and spaces for the audience to sit and watch.

The new Train Theater hosted varied theatrical and puppet performances inside and out all week.

And by day, the Teddy Park water fountain was filled again with families at the end of the summer holiday time.

Perhaps the oldest and most Israeli festival Hutzot Hayozer is back again next to the Artists Colony and Teddy Park.

Israeli products, arts, and crafts were again featured in various booths. I went early to surprise one businesswoman setting up her space.

The big stands in the middle area held international booths in the past.

But this time, the booths from various countries were replaced with international food offerings.

I suppose Israelis who did not travel overseas this summer, consider this their end-of-summer splurge. First, you pay to get in. Then you pay again for your food. There is a different musical performance every night.

You can go for the golden seats set up in Sultan Pool, as thousands come each night for the shows. They come year after year, except during the corona time.

Besides the dozens of young security staff on guard, a fire engine waits inside ready for an emergency.

But not far away is something new, very new.

The new StandwithUs sign is on King David Street by the King David Hotel.

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Stand With Us has opened its new educational center with a program designed for groups to explain – What is Zionism.

Breaking down the Jewish story into sound bites to keep it simple.

The Israel story in its simplest form, indigenous roots, exile, and liberation, SWU is trying to reach the new instant information generation.

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The Jerusalem, Israel story is not short and goes back thousands of years.

The infamous “green line” is barely green, but I passed over it this week

to get to the New Gate of the Old City for a new Jerusalem street festival.

Inside New Gate, music and more entices tourists back to the Old City.

I was sad to see too many shops shuttered in the Christian Quarter as I walked thru to Jaffa Gate.

Oh there, was much more, but this is getting too long.

Docotext festival was back at National Library and the Outline Festival is to extend on to Jaffa Road from August 17-23.

Shalom Kitah Aleph signs went up to welcome first-grade students to the start of school. When that will be will depend on the outcome of the negotiations to see if there is another teachers’ strike.

Plenty of signs are back on the Jerusalem streets–see if you can explain this sign.

Ah, the Israel Festival returns to Jerusalem streets on September 15-22, 2022.

So there you have a bit of what was happening this week, days and nights, on and off the Jerusalem streets.

Hope to see you here soon!

Welcome Presidents to Jerusalem Winter Noise

 February,

it was so warm outside that I could not walk in the morning sun,

yet inside this afternoon I need boots, a sweater and to put on heat!

The US had Presidents Day,

but we also had our share of Presidents this week.

image flag Peru,photo flag Peru in Jerusalem, picture Peru flag

Flags were flying for Peru President Ollanta Humala’s visit.

The annual Conference of Presidents of Major Jewish Organizations

held its 40th Mission this week in Jerusalem, Israel.

Not just presidents attended the main dinner event.

image Malcolm Hoenlein, photo US ambassador to Israel, photo Hoenelin  in Israel

 US Ambassador to Israel Dan Shapiro was welcomed by

Malcolm Hoenlein, the executive vice chairman of the Conference.

After Shapiro spoke and left,

image Conference of Presidents in Jerusalem, picture of Israeli Prime MInister. Hoenlein and Netanyahu photo

 Hoenlein and PM Benjamin Netanyahu put their heads together.

image Netanyahu speaking, photo Israeli Prime Minister, picture Bibi Netanyahu

I already blogged about that speech on Israellycool in a lite way,

but today showed we can make a difference.

image Moshe Arens, photo Moshe Arens. picture Moshe Arens

I wondered what Moshe Arens was thinking as he listened.

image PM giving a gift, photo Hoenlein getting gift from Israel, picture Malcolm Hoenlein and Bibi Netanyahu

The size of the gift from Hoenlein to the Prime Minister was a joking matter!

UPDATE:

image Shimon Peres, photo Malcolm Hoenlein and Shimon Peres, picture Shimon Peres at Bet Hanasi

Later in the week President Shimon Peres got the same gift.

With intense security precautions and not full ballroom,

that dinner was worlds away from what was happening right outside.

Every Monday night in February, in a different site is

a Jerusalem street festival called שאון חורף – Winter Noise.

שאון חורף , photo Azza st, image art on building

This week all of Azza Street,

starting across from the Prime Ministers’ residence was the happening.

image band at night, photo singers on street, picture festival Jerusalem

Along the way were several musical groups,

picture Shaon Horef, photo building illuminated, picture Azza st

 illuminated buildings,

image Israeli flags, photo lots of flags, picture a lot of Israeli flags

and street acts, many hard to describe or photograph.

Sorry I did not get in all of the skis, but think I got all the flags.

Just please do not ask me what this was supposed to be,

and I will spare you of more

‘I have no idea what this is supposed to be’ acts.

image street festival Jerusalem,  photo shaon horef, picture legal grafiti

I am sure that I have that graffiti face in other street photos.

image of art on building, photo for Shaon Horef, picture Azza festival

The mikvah for women located in Yad Tamar finally reopened,

after it was shut for a very long time for repairs.

I could not help feel sorry for some young tourist using it that night!

Usually boring and quiet, the building was bright

image people dancing, photo dancing in street, picture dancers in street

and people were dancing in street outside.

image undera ge drinking, photo sign in Hebrew no one under 18, picture from Aza st festival

Hundreds of people were out and many were drinking beer.

Trying to control drinking, at one main site

signs were posted for 18-year old entrance and IDs.

image two men on street at night, photo two religious men, picture night on Jerusalem street

Who knows what these two men must have thought?

Perhaps like they had found themselves in another planet!

image Gaza, photo Azza Street, picture Gaza Street.

The next morning the street was clean.

This the only sign of Winter Noise,

 though I imagine at least a few people had some dark circles

under their eyes from lack of sleep.

Watch out Ein Kerem, it is your turn next week.

Never know what you will find next on the Jerusalem streets.

I would like to mention that

 photos are available for purchase.

Jerusalem Knights Back in Saddle for Old City Festival

The Jerusalem Knights Festival is back again in the Old City.

Since attending the Jerusalem Knights first night,

I have tried to return each year to see what is new and different.

image Jerusalem Knights, photo people blowing horns, oto

These trumpets and trumpeters greeted visitors

as they approached the Walls of the Old City at the Jaffa Gate.

image inside Jaffa GAte

Upon entering  Jaffa Gate

image dancing girls, Jerusalem knights festival

the plaza was filled with dancing-girls and spectators.

image actor in medivial costume

Many actors were positioned along the route,

image actor in costume, photo old costume and cell phone. man using cell phone picture

but this gladiator with his cell phone has to be my favorite photo.

spider costume photo, image man dressed in costume.

Some costumes were unusual, 

image knights festival. photo stage

and others like these Medieval fashion show costumes

were hard to see, as crowds blocked the view of the stage.

Young children on shoulders have a distinct advantage at this event.

image walls Old City , photo fire, picture Old City walls night

However, this man with a lit torch on top of the walls was easy to see,

 everyone who looked up could see the fire show.

image clown, photo clown, picture jester in costume

Many performances, like this clown act and jugglers,

entertained the thousands of young children who attended.

image sign in Old City, picture Jerusalem signs, photo Jerusalem Knights

The route this year was both through and around the Armenian Quarter, 

sparing the residents of the Christian and Jewish Quarters

the noise of four consecutive Thursday nights,

with thousands of people outside their windows late into the night.

image people posing for picturs

These photo-ops were not just for the kids.

image old instruments, picture old musical intstruments

Medieval musical instruments

image old intstruments., picture medical musical instruments, photo old musical instrument

were featured at more than one site.

Old City walls, image festival, photo Jerusalem knights

Movies screened on the walls of the Old City in Gan Habonim

could never have been predicted by Medieval seers.

iamge old city, photo knights, picture Jerusalem

There were live shows with plenty of tacky costumes,

image man on horse, photo knight

but beautiful real horses.

two men on horses, knights on horses photo, picture real horses

There were also knights in not-so shining armor jousting,

image Old City, photo out side walls old city

colorful lights, the Gravita aerial-acrobats,

and a Knights’ Pub with a bar with real wine.

Though there are those who oppose the idea,

 once again thousands and thousands of people

were out on the Jerusalem, Israel, streets, enjoying the experience.

The last night of Knights, is Thursday night, November 21.