Purim is a big deal in Israel,
Especially in Jerusalem, where celebrations go on and on,
not for a day or two like the rest of world,
but starting at the beginning of the Hebrew month of Adar
and continuing for two weeks.
This year it has been hard to figure out,
what is real.
What is Purim nonsense?
What is satire?
What is a joke?
You can see trucks like this one driving around
all the time blasting happy music.
This van, however, is also promoting a political party running for Knesset seats.
No joke, and there is an official pot party too,
as in marijuana, in the race for our new government.
This year an Anglo Vote Event was held in Cinema City,
two of my favorite characters were with the hot chocolate cakes.
Some of the political parties were represented
and candidates answered questions in English.
As one friend noted, no female candidates were in attendance.
However, there is one new party where women do have a voice.
Ruth Culian (right) and Noa Erez are two of four women
running in a new party of religious women,
בזכותן B’Zehuton which means “in their merit.”
To their credit, this is trail-blazing effort.
It took a lot of guts for Ruth to go to law school
and start a political campaign in her community,
maybe even more than for the Prime Minister
to make a speech in Washington, DC.
.A sign wishing Bibi well was hung on the String Bridge.
There were more talking heads in the media,
for and against the speech,
than I could count.
Here former Ambassador Yoram Ettinger
was headed to the Jerusalem Press Club for one pre-speech debate.
The speech is over.
The Prime Minister is back,
but the talking is still going on and on.
And on the real streets,
the snow felt like ancient history,
as a new ice skating rink opened in Cinema City.
The cats enjoyed the warm weather,
and wild flowers exploded in open spaces.
However, the real color and excitement was for Purim.
Children are wearing their costumes everywhere.
Adults wearing Micky Mouse ears while driving in cars.
People dressed in wild outfits and
crazy hats while eating in restaurants.
Most anything can be seen this week on the streets,
at least through Shushan Purim and the weekend,
we can assume it is all in the holiday spirit.
Happy Purim.
