Jerusalem, Israel – what is really happening
Winter has arrived.
Jerusalem, Israel, experienced
pouring rain and windy stormy weather last night.
While parts of North America are colder and covered in snow,
the sun is shining in Jerusalem this morning.
I hope those winds do not blow me away,
but we are off to celebrate with friends from Australia.
Wishing all a warm and healthy and restful Shabbat.
שבת שלום
The tenth day of tenth Hebrew month,
Asara B’Tevet is a fast day.
It marks the beginning of the siege of Jerusalem
which culminated in the destruction of the First Temple in 586 BCE
and the exile to Babylon.
This model of the Holy Temple sits outside the Israel Museum
and this inscribed corner stone from the Second Temple is on display inside.
Another model sits on the roof of the Aish HaTorah Center in the Old City,
with the Dome of the Rock showing in the background.
Thousands of people attended
special prayers for rain held yesterday at the Kotel,
the Western Wall, as Asara b’Tevet was coming to an end.
Farmers are complaining of poor growing conditions
because of the lack of rain and the warm weather.
But the weather was good for weddings this week.
So many weddings,
and each night the blessings ended with
“Soon, Lord our God, may there be heard in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem,
the sounds of joy and gladness,
the sounds of the bridegroom and bride…”
The sun set, and the fast was over.
Time to prepare for Shabbat.
From the days of old
to the present,
may there always be singing
in the streets of Jerusalem.
Shabbat Shalom.
שבת שלום
In Jerusalem, Israel,
every year after the holiday season,
I wait for things to quiet down.
However, it never seems to happen.
This year after the Trump Jerusalem announcement,
the mainstream media reports spewed forth about imminent unrest.
But the streets have remained “normal,”
as a huge US flag hangs on the Municipal building
together with flag of Jerusalem and the 50-year anniversary banner.
Before the recent drenching rains,
the weather was warm, almost like summer.
Friday morning, on a photo walk to Yemin Moshe,
there were so many photographers out
it was hard to get an empty street view.
Though weather had been dry for weeks,
the private gardens were beautiful,
with citrus fruit drooping from full trees.
Birds were perched above the synagogue door,
and on the bare branches in Teddy Park.
Fall colors are not easy to find in Israel,
but during a stroll through these Yemin Moshe lanes
you can find a bit of most anything.
But not all is a stroll through the park around here.
Much touted before it opened,
the cafe in Gan Haatzmaut, Independence Park,
is now an empty shell.
This new access ramp for the bank was just completed.
Now, after weeks of work,
one can enter without going up steps.
But so much for optimism about progress,
yesterday it was ripped out.
I have no idea why,
or how long will it take to rebuild.
At Municipal Hall there are large posters of photos
displaying future building projects in Jerusalem.
Any bets when they will be completed?
Walking yesterday I saw
a man sitting and reading,
against the walls of the Old City.
While along Jaffa Road,
people were sitting outside in cafes.
For winter, it was not such a bad day,
even though I was wearing a winter coat and boots.
This bloke in shorts said he was from Australia.
Well, it is summer there.
No time to fiddle away,
this was part of an art piece at Mamilla Mall.
There last week, but gone yesterday.
This large piano is still outside in Zion Square,
for the use of young and old.
It is still December,
but large signs are already up, this one in Tzahal Square,
near the Old City of Jerusalem, Israel.
The Jerusalem Marathon is set for March 9, 2018,
and tens of thousands from near and far,
young and not so young, are getting ready
to again enjoy and race through the Jerusalem streets.