Jerusalem March

The seasons have changed,

 days are shorter

and evenings are cooler.

 Children are back in school

 after a long break for holidays.

It was, as always, a busy holiday season,

but before getting back to business,

I want to share a few favorites from Sukkot 5744.

Many share photos of Jerusalem, Israel’s religious neighborhoods

where every residence has a sukka,

but my favorite this year was this sukka in a forest outside Jerusalem.

So many sukkot are on the streets, one year I did Only Sukkot,

but it is so nice to pass by a new sukka in a spot which was empty in recent years,

and see someone you know sitting inside. 

Thousands waited to pass through the Presidential sukka,

but be it ever so humble, our sukka is also a favorite.

For some, Sukkot was the holiday of pizza in a hut.

I wonder how many thousands of pizzas were consumed over the holiday?

People gathered from all over the world for family celebrations.

It started to rain on this bar mitzvah party,

and then the wind blew a shade umbrella on top of sukka.

The weather was almost as crazy as we remembered in Melbourne,

but nothing could dampen holiday parties.

The huge public sukka in Kikar Safra was again a favorite this year.

For weeks a friend has been asking,  Have you seen the bikes?

These are the special bikes that share the plaza with the sukka

and they were a favorite for all who came to government square.

The Jerusalem March went from Gan Sacher through Jerusalem,

it was a huge international event.

There seemed to be fewer participants from Nigeria this year,

but Israel is a favorite destination for Nigerians all year-long.

Many Israeli groups marched also,

two of my favorites were the El Al pilots who stopped to dance

and the Jerusalem football club members who came dressed in uniform.

There were more rain drops during the parade, 

but spectators did not seem to mind,

and loved cheering and receiving flags.

Some held signs showing just how much they appreciated the marchers’ support,

tens of thousands watched the parade, see more photos.

Meanwhile Jaffa Street was still busy.

Two more favorites,

 were people who carried their lulav and etrog all day

and those who held the lulav and etrog waiting for those who did not.

As the water fountain at Teddy Park went on at the hour,

you could hear squeals of delight from children.

What a favorite it has become with all!

When there are large crowds,

 those beautiful police horses can be seen on the streets;

they always are a favorite.

It was great to see Ben Yehuda Street so busy over the holidays.

This man was sitting alone and asked me to take his photo,

but there were tens of thousands more smiles.

Sukkot is a favorite time of year in Jerusalem.

Thousands sang and danced on the streets all week, 

but these guys with their feet in the air were really something special.

Jerusalem on Sukkot was indeed a happy season.

Wish there were more?

 See The Real Jerusalem Streets Facebook Sukkot album.