Jerusalem photos – Page 35 – The Real Jerusalem Streets

Jerusalem WeWork site under construction

Royal and Creative Week in Jerusalem

June 27, 2018Sharon A

What a week!

Summer has arrived and the hot midday sun is blaring down.

His Royal Highness, Prince William Arthur Philip Louis of Wales, the Duke of Cambridge, Baron of Strathearn, and Baron Carrickfergus was in Jerusalem.

The first British royal making an official trip to Israel, HRH made a stop at Beit Hanasi, the Israeli President’s Residence.

HRH has one very long name, and he appeared very tall when standing next to Israel’s Prime Minister. Sitting next to the President, we can conclude, that besides a long name, Prince William also has long legs.

However, his is a very short signature for such a long name. This is the message HRH left in the Presidential guest book. Some guests write long passionate messages, however, the Prince left nothing in writing which could be used for or against him. Facebook photos HERE

The end-of-school-year graduations and performances were too numerous to follow this week. Many families were running from one performance to another stage and then to another end-of-year event, with no end in sight.

However, one event was bigger than a glimpse at a future king or a school musical. Thousands of people came from around Israel to attend a heavily promoted event at the Jerusalem Pais Arena.

It was my first time back in the massive building since it opened in 2014.

The halls were filled with food, from meat-filled pita sandwiches to gluten free dinners, plus wine and beer and more, all at no cost to those who registered in advance.

Entrance was free too. One problem was getting to those Master Classes with your hands full of food, which made it difficult to navigate the crowded halls.

Israeli mentalist Lior Suchard performed at the first Master Class to a full audience. Doors were shut when seats were filled.

There must have been tens of thousands of selfies taken by the 5,000 participants.

I think that this was the biggest Israeli networking event held in Jerusalem.

Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat with Adam Neumann CEO of WeWork presented the second Master Class.

From the top of the theater area for Master Class, you can see size of audience. Look at the top left and you can see the Arena’s VIP boxes and empty seats. This small theater was created by the black cloth partition you see at the left.

The arena can seat over 11,000 people. Adam Nuemann on main stage, with sister Adi who acted as MC, hosted almost half that number.

Finalists in the WeWork Creator Awards appeared on stage after presenting their startup innovations.

Winner Yehudit Abrams, the creator of MonitHer, won the first-place cash award in this regional competition and the chance to present in New York. Her hand-held ultrasound device could save lives by enabling early breast cancer detection.

But that was not all. After $770,000 was given away to the winners, the audience which was already on its feet never sat down as Netta, Israeli Eurovision winner, performed.

More music kept the event which began at 6:00 pm going until midnight. More photos posted on Facebook HERE

Meanwhile, Jerusalem WeWork is to open in October. This was how it looked this week.

For more than two years, we have been following progress on Jerusalem building. I hope it is not like the fast train opening, constantly postponed.

Worn out from so much happening?

Relax. Meditate.

Jerusalem event for International Yoga Day: “The Big Picture” was held in Hinnom Valley.

And finally, for football (soccer) fans, the World Cup games, Mondiale Mania, continues.

Outdoor Jerusalem cafes are filled with viewers well into the night.

Another week with so much happening on the Jerusalem streets.

Entering the Creator Awards competition was simple. Just apply online by submitting a minute and half long video.

This was my video, one of 1,300 submissions.

From Jerusalem, Education Uniting and Empowering

June 13, 2018June 13, 2018Sharon A

Another incredible week in Jerusalem, Israel, as tens of thousands filled hotels and their buses made their way through the Jerusalem streets.

The Unity Prizes were awarded at Beit Hanasi, the Israeli President’s Residence. With the Gesher Foundation and Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat, the Fraenkel, Ifrach and Shaar families initiated these awards four years ago.

The families of the three murdered teens Eyal, Yifrach, and Naftali z”l wanted to find a meaningful way to express their appreciation for the unity and support they felt during those difficult days.

$Unity Prize founders three families Fraenkel, Ifrach and Shaar at Beit Hanasi for Unity Awards Ceremony$

The program was held in the main hall and included music and entertainment, with the families and prize winners filling the room.

Boca Florida won a prize for Jewish Engagement, unity in Jewish education. Representatives from Florida came to Jerusalem to receive their award.

Other winners were Runners without Borders, TEC Center, Koolulam, and a special Global life achievement went to Birthright.

Three video clips were included in last week’s Shabbat Shalom greeting. They can be seen HERE.

Soon after I left Beit Hanasi, there was another event in the gardens of OneFamily.

Photo ops with former NYC Mayor Rudy Giuliani were popular that night.

Giuliani was mayor at the time of September 11 terror attack. He spoke of dealing with victims of terror in the aftermath and emphasized the good and important work of OneFamily helping victims of terror in Israel.

Not all of his remarks would be considered politically correct, but here is one short clip on Arafat and the PLO.

Beit Hanasi, as usual, was a busy place all week. The presidential gardens were ready for numerous international guests.

The leadership of American Jewish Committee (AJC) lined up so politely to enter. Should I confess that I smiled and went in the other door to bypass the line?

At AJC closing plenary, one of the many faces of Israel, Ahlam Alsana, stressed the importance of education in her remarks.

For locals, it was the annual Shavuah Hasefer, Hebrew Book Week, again held in First Station. As every year, thousands of volumes were for sale, attracting young and old.

A volunteer student theater group performed as families gathered before the entry gate opened.

After their performance, confetti covered the ground and the actor/painter was back at his easel at work.

Another “you never know what you will find” scene for sure.

You never know what you will find at those end of school year performances filling schedules in June. Mega events, with professional staging and lights, lasting well into the night – for elementary school. Interesting, as college graduations in Israel are so low key compared to US.

The new Orient Hotel was the scene of a gala dinner celebrating the 80th year of Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz and Steinsaltz Center contribution to education.

What other dinner gala featured a wall of impressive books, under the authorship of one person?

Rabbi Steinsaltz was escorted into the full banquet hall by his son and grandson.

Popular singer Avraham Fried gave a powerful performance.

The key note speaker was Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks, who spoke about power and knowledge.

To end with some inspiration, take two minutes and listen to a brief clip from his insightful remarks.

So much is happening in Jerusalem.

Israel Festival has ended. Jerusalem Design Week has begun.

Then on June 27, begins another week of the annual Light Festival in the Old City.

But for this week if there was one overshadowing theme, it was that education is the key.

Education should be everyone’s birthright, not only the privileged.

Am Yisrael Chai.

Out of the Blue, Out of the Box, and Out on the Streets in Jerusalem, Israel

June 6, 2018Sharon A

Blue. Blue is the color of the week.

Blue is the color for good luck, and many doors and windows in Jerusalem, Israel, are painted blue.

Crayola announced it is looking to name its new special blue crayon.

The Bible Lands Museum Jerusalem (BLMJ) opened a new exhibit called “Out of the Blue.”

The Hebrew word for blue is not mentioned in the Bible. However, tekhelet, is mentioned in Biblical literature dozens of times.

At a special press event before the exhibit officially opened at BLMJ, there was a demonstration of dyeing tekhelet wool.

Exposure to sunlight and oxidation causes the wool which was dipped into the dye (which is made from the secretions of a gland in one particular snail, the murex trunculus) to become tekhelet.

This permanent blue dye and the royal purple, are the basics of a new exhibit in honor of Israeli 70th year. A variety of ancient pieces are on display.

Not bad looking, this blue necklace from South Mesopotamia, dated 2700- 2600 BCE, made of gold and lapis lazuli, a semi-precious blue stone used by ancient royalty.

Rounding out the exhibition is the Israeli flag, modeled on the blue stripes of the talit.

Yad Vashem also opened a new exhibit this week on theme of Israel 70 years. Not blue, but showing the longing for Zion and Jerusalem in letters and memorabilia from the 1930’s of Euroepean Jews yearning to go to Palestine.

“Thinking Out of the Box” was the theme of a special Science and Technology conference held in Jerusalem. Australian Ambassador Chris Cannan and I walked in at same time. For a photo to post on Twitter I told him not to pose so stiffly. Only later did we realize, that above the big, blue word BOX he was pointing to there was a typo which ran through the printed materials.

Inside the First Station hangar, once your eyes got used to the dark, was the entrance to a cocktail reception.

At the sit down dinner for hundreds of international guests, the first course was demonstrated and explained by its celebrity chef. No printed menus, so no typos.

The Ministerial level conference featured Israeli Nobel Prize winners, many who attended the gala opening.

This is table #1 as dinner was served.

It was fascinating speaking with science and technology officials from Belarus, Tokyo, and India.

In one of the video segments, I learned that Israel is ranked number four in world in uploading of videos on to YouTube.

Ovadiah Hamama, sang Ana BeKoach, so of course, I uploaded a video to YouTube.

The “Out of the Box” conference was held at the Orient Hotel and was very exclusive.

The Wolf Prize ceremony at the Knesset, without Sir Paul McCartney, was hardly noticed, photos HERE.

But out on the Jerusalem streets the annual Israel Festival was well under way for all.

Multiple dance, music and drama performances were held in Jerusalem venues for this cultural festival which is in its 57th year.

But one dance performance by Willi Domer, “Bodies in Urban Spaces” was not only out of the box, but out on the Jerusalem streets, and in phone booths,

and multiple unusual spaces for photo op stops along the way from the Ticho House to the YMCA.

Not all appreciated the creativity and uniqueness of the young Israeli dance troupe from Tel Aviv.

The choreographer has done performances in 100 other locations, but this was the first time in Jerusalem, Israel, on King David Street, for this pose.

More unbelievable poses and photos from “Bodies in Urban Spaces” HERE

The Jerusalem Theater, with a large blue poster for the Israel Festival, held multiple music and dance events as usual, which ran from May 23 to June 9.

Out of the box? Ping Pong was in the plaza in front of the theater.

Across the street, at the Islamic Museum a new exhibit opened. A big blue Khamsa or Hamsa, was outside on the wall, while hundreds are on display inside.

For the Muslim holiday month of Ramadan at the National Library, on display were rare copies of the Qu’ran and rare Islamic treasures.

Phew. Not enough yet? There was the international stamp exhibition last week too, and admission was free.

In Jerusalem, as soon as June comes around, it is time to worry about summer programs for children who will be out of school soon.

For older students, there is an all night end-of-school year Summer Rave party in Gan Sacher, Sacher Park, with a huge stage, several bands and lots of beer. It means less sleep for many tonight.

However, after a busy day there is nothing more pleasant than to attend a beautiful June wedding in Jerusalem as the sun sets.

Unless it is with a bottle of special blue label wine.

L’chaim!