Jerusalem photos – Page 12 – The Real Jerusalem Streets

David and Goliath Mars at Tower of David Museum

Jerusalem’s Israel Museum plus 4 more you should know

February 5, 2020February 5, 2020Sharon A

In Jerusalem, the barricades and barriers to keep the public away from world leaders are gone from the streets and sidewalks. People are out again on the streets when the sun appears.

When walking in Jerusalem and someone asks: “where is the museum?”

It is a safe bet to assume they mean The Israel Museum.

So I point to the path up the hill to Jerusalem’s largest and best known Israel Museum.

However, there are dozens of museums in Jerusalem, Israel.

In the past week, four museums opened their doors for special events.

It was a rainy, grey day at the Tower of David Museum.

Over the years, this ancient military fortress has become a popular cultural spot, hosting a wide variety of events, exhibitions, and nighttime shows.

In October 2017, within the ancient stone walls, looking to the future, ToD launched its Innovation Lab.

The ToD is constantly looking for new ways and technology to engage young visitors with Artificial Reality – AR and Virtual Reality – VR, and Apps. Wearing special VR googles was not to be the final answer to get everyone involved with their surroundings.

The newest storytelling-videos taking AR to a new level, launched last week, come from MARS.

Co-founder and CEO Ori Noam explained how his David and Goliath video, developed at ToD Innovation Lab, make the experience unique to the user.

At the entrance desk, for a small additional extra fee, visitors receive a tablet and earphones. Because it was raining outside, demonstrations had to be inside.

MARS lets visitors interact with Goliath as seen on this tablet screen.

Using sub-conscience triggers, MARS creates an experience unique to each family or visitor. And these days, of course, the mandatory selfie at the end.

Did you realize last week was Israeli Space Week?

The Bloomfield Science Museum was open two evenings free of charge in honor of Space Week.

Besides the currently running exhibitions on Leonardo Da Vinci and Journey to Space, Israeli Space Week attracted families with young children to the Science Museum.

A giant astronaut balloon hovered overhead at the entrance.

‘Leonardo’s Questions’ were displayed and answered in the main entrance area with Leonardo’s wings hanging above.

Upstairs on the third floor, I was able to get one image before the room filled with excited children. Oh, to channel all that energy.

The planetarium required registration to enter, but for photography, I think outside was better to see the black starlit dome.

‘Optics and Observation’ was one of the various rooms on the current Leonardo theme.

What would be a good space exhibit without a piece of rock from outer space?

Marc, a former employee of Griffith Observatory in California, held a piece of a meteor found in an Arizona crater. Visitors were encouraged to feel a piece of material that fell from space halfway around the world, right here in Jerusalem.

Jerusalem has multiple private museums on a wide variety of topics.

The Bible Lands Museum Jerusalem, BLMJ, is near the Science Museum and across the street from the Israel Museum.

Its new exhibit is simply called YEMEN. The historical development of South Arabia over the centuries is shown in detail to cover all the senses. I was so impressed with a tour before it opened, I had to go back on opening night to see the finished exhibit.

First, the visitor encounters ancient statues and artifacts used for burning incense.

The Jews of ancient southern Arabia traveled over long distances by camel with myrrh, frankincense, and balsam. Here one can smell the aromas so important and valuable in ancient times and compare them.

I said all the senses. At the opening evening was this traditional Yemenite savory biscuit. I must admit it was not to my taste.

This is one of several powerful photographs by Naftali Hilger on display. Note the Jewish man from Sa’dah is reading a prayerbook upside down. Since books were scarce, children learned to read from multiple directions. Hilger’s photographs taken in the late 1980s add greatly to the exhibit.

Rich colors, old ritual artifacts, and scrolls,

and more recent content, such as this Jerusalem Street sign, add to the scope of Yemenite history.

The father of Batya Borowski, wife of BLMJ founder Eli Borowski z”l, came from Yemen to Israel in 1907. Zacharia Jamil was a talented silversmith and jewelry-maker like his father.

The exhibit with its warm hues radiates the warmth and love Batya Borowski and her daughter, BLMJ Director Amanda Weiss, have invested in sharing a history unfamiliar to many.

Three rings made by Jamil are included in the Yemen exhibition.

Fourth and last is the L A. Mayer Museum of Islamic Art, which also has a new temporary exhibition.

Titled “Trespassing” in English, meaning stretching boundaries, here are 3 examples of works by fifteen Israeli women, coming from religious communities:

Muslim – Fatima Abu Roomi self-portraits,

Druze – special shawl over a traditional home rug,

and Jewish -wax flowers and diorama.

The Museum of Islamic Art has historical pieces and a magnificent antique watch collection.

What stood out for me in the new pieces was this item. Shira Zelwer’s wax figures in the diorama are three-dimensional images reproducing a 1960’s photograph. They show her grandmother surrounded by the waiters of her catering business in Australia.

I fondly remember her grandmother in her later retirement years, still an active personality.

You never know what you will find on the Jerusalem streets or what memories in its museums.

From ancient artifacts to futuristic technology, from Yemen to Australia, worlds coming together on the Jerusalem streets and explored and shared in its unique museum displays.

Digging Up and Cleaning Up the Jerusalem Streets

January 15, 2020Sharon A

Oh, Jerusalem,

Jerusalem, Israel where the very old and new come together.

Where the ancient and the future collide on the streets.

Winter clouds drift over the Israel Museum overlooking the Valley of the Cross.

A street scene in Mea Shearim is another classic image.

However, the Gateway Project at the entrance of Jerusalem seems to be constantly changing.

Indeed, new roads and traffic patterns have been a topic in the past.

Rising above a road out of Jerusalem are new housing projects of Ramat Shlomo.

To build many of the roads, large sections of the Judean Hills have to be blasted away.

When there is a tree to be saved, it is tagged for preservation.

Remember Kraft Stadium, the scene of countless night football games and the Woodstock Revival?

It is now only a memory as digging has begun on a massive municipal project.

The old Kraft Stadium was next to Jerusalem’s Gan Sacher, Sachar Park.

The new biking and walking path in Gan Sacher is now complete.

At night the path is well lit and much more pleasant to use.

However, the other side of Gan Sacher is one big construction site.

The clock is ticking for a new memorial to be ready in the park for its dedication with Vladimir Putin attending.

The Russian President is to arrive with 39 other world leaders for a special Holocaust commemoration at Yad Vashem on Thursday, January 23rd.

Jerusalem residents have been complaining and bracing for major traffic delays for days already.

Presidents, the King of Spain, and Prince Charles of Great Britain and their extended entourages are among the expected guests.

The President is hosting a major dinner reception in Beit Hanasi, the official Israeli President’s Residence, on Wednesday evening for the world leaders.

They even cleaned up the panels on the ceiling in the main hall.

The brightness of the colors so noticeable, I had to take a photo.

Jerusalem is famous for its cats, but a new bred of CATs are now all over the Jerusalem streets.

One of the new Jerusalem electric buses went by.

Drivers try to maneuver around closed intersections during the construction of new sidewalks.

Walking along Azza Street has been a challenge. With work done day and night and in the rain, even for emergency vehicles, it is challenging.

This bus stop was removed the next day, people had to stand and wait in the rain.

But while walking, I discovered an alternative use for those safety vests, a handy substitute for a Muslim prayer mat.

Oh, the new Jerusalem streets, and trying to keep them clean.

Feel good signs have been posted along the main street.

“Jerusalem is your home, keep it clean,” reminds the new bus stop sign.

Oh, there is more, the light rail construction has whole neighborhood streets dug up.

You never know what you will find next on Jerusalem streets – this fire dancer was new to see.

However, along Ben Yehudah Street and Zion Square – music, a common sight.

Jerusalem is ever-fascinating and changing.

We had a wonderful time in Yemin Moshe on a photo walk.

Old or new, day or night, whether you look down or up,

millions of tourists have found what’s happening on the Jerusalem streets.

Come see for yourself.

Jerusalem Israel for Hanuka at Old City Jaffa Gate near Tower of David

Jerusalem Biggest and Best of Hanukkah

December 30, 2019Sharon A

Jerusalem, Israel, for Hanukkah is a very special place.

This year, more than in past years, there were more tourists and more things to do.

New events were planned, though some got rained out.

As the eighth-day ebbs, here are some favorites of the biggest and best Jerusalem happenings.

Jerusalem paper goods stores were ready long before Hanukkah, with all you needed for your table and parties.

Jerusalem bakeries had sufganiyot, donuts rising by the tens of thousands.

Beit Hanasi, the Israeli President’s Residence had a large hanukkiah, Hanukkah menorah, ready outside for all to see.

There were dozens of hanukkiot, Hanukkah menorahs. placed on street corners.

Around Jerusalem and the world, Lubavitch-Habad emissaries put a hanukkiah in public squares.

This one near Beit Hanasi was at Schneurshohn Square on the third night of Hanukkah.

These Hanukkah menorahs come in all sorts of styles and shapes now, but this style hanukkiah was preferred by the late Lubavitcher Rebbe.

At Jerusalem’s Mamilla Mall a large one has been lit for the past eight years.

Huge crowds come to Jerusalem for the lighting and live music and free sufganiyot.

Jerusalem’s Mamilla Mall was full of tourists and holiday celebrants most nights.

Musicians, in more than one location, even a woman with a hand puppet making a video were entertaining holiday-goers in Mamilla Mall.

With tens of thousands of people crowding, pushing, standing in line to buy sufganiyot, these Arab women found a quiet table in a Mamilla cafe.

Jerusalem’s Old City is an annual best-of Hanukkah. Near Jaffa Gate, the signs were up for special events.

Light projections of a hanukkiah were screened on the wall of the Tower of David.

In the Old City at night, hanukkiot both large

of more modest size are lit outside of homes. These four were in special boxes mounted on the stone wall.

This large hanukkiah was again placed next to the Kotel, the Western Wall.

I tried to get a clear view, but men and boys were posing continuously for photos.

The crowds on the Kotel Plaza, both by day and by night, were impressive.

But crowded or not, wedding photos were taken. Many weddings were held during the busy holiday time, to be celebrated with international guests.

One way to get a view of the Kotel and area is from the Aish HaTorah building. This Happy Chanukah Bear was at the entrance to the rooftop observation deck.

On a street in the Jewish Quarter, there was even a hanukkiah on a bicycle.

If you looked carefully, there was another one on top of the Old City tourist train.

That train cost money to ride, but the shuttle vans from First Station to Old City are free.

They could be the only thing in Jerusalem that runs on time, on the hour, and every 20 minutes.

But they do not make stops, and they go from First Station straight to the gate nearest the Kotel.

Oh, I felt sorry for the tourists from England who found out too late and were taken far away from where they wanted to be.

At First Station, there is a new attraction. Jump Up opened before the holiday season.

With rainy, rainy days of Hanuka and holiday from school, Jump Up should have been really jumping.

The big excitement this Hanuka! Another miracle. The fast train from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem was running. It took over 10 years. But the ride was 32 minutes!