חנוכה –
Hanukkah or Chanukah is also known as the “Holiday of Lights.”
And for the winter holiday season, Jerusalem, Israel fills with lights!
The Jerusalem Botanical Gardens “Winter Lights” Festival is back again.
The colored lights at night are reflected in the pond.
I came back, again and again, to stop and watch as they changed colors.
Brilliant in purple, it was hard to stop taking photos and set out on the trail.
The display is the work of light artist Gil Teichman and his staff, who hung over 2 million small bulbs along a one-kilometer area of the garden using about 25 kilometers of cable.
The LED bulbs used are ecologically-friendly and save electricity.
Background music by the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra is heard at multiple locations as you stroll along the garden path.
Actors dressed in illuminated costumes are also there to entertain.
I admit a favorite this year is the large chanukiah, the Hanukkah menorah, reflecting in the water.
But there are many more lights along the Jerusalem streets.
These new light installations have been posted on poles.
This one with three dreidels, on the top right.
This one has a snowflake and colorful shapes.
These were the older ones at night.
These are from two years ago, I have not found them up now.
The lights at the YMCA are back on again each night, as are many new ones inside New Gate. So much to do this week, will I have time to get there?
The large hanukiah is back and ready at the Kotel, Western Wall, to be lit by various officials each night of Hanuka, from Sunday night, December 18 – December 25, 2022. Watch live HERE
Happy Hanukkah from the Jerusalem streets, may the lights spread far and wide for a good week and good year for all.
A video of light projections with Hanuka music to add to the holiday mood.
חנונה שמח