Kikar Safra Safra Square – The Real Jerusalem Streets

Jerusalem Colors and Hopes

January 9, 2022January 9, 2022Sharon A

Oh my goodness, we are off to an interesting start for the new year 2022!

Red countries are now green, as rules and regulations changed overnight.

Oh what an upside-down world. Children out during what should be a school day buying ice creams, as their classrooms return to online instruction. Testing positive is bad. Test negative–all is good. The lines for testing are long and longer and the variants seem endless.

A big balloon for 2022 was displayed in Jerusalem’s Takana Rishona, First Station at one eatery.

The winter igloos for restaurant guests to isolate were ready.

But the crowds of tourists were noticeably missing.

At least there was no snow, and the sun came out for a few hours this week.

But the big news to cloud the week was not the weather, but Omicron.

The highly contagious coronavirus variant has the government issuing the go-ahead for the 4th injection for those over 60 years of age and health workers. Free test kits are to be supplied to every child in Israel – in pre-schools and primary schools, as well as teaching staff.

At least our health center was well run and, without the news cameras, the halls were quiet and orderly as people arrived for their appointed times.

Again this week the scene at Jaffa Gate was too quiet without tourists.

The birds resting on the Tower of David above Jaffa Gate seemed to be more than I had ever noticed in the past.

While some areas were lovely scenes not appreciated by visitors,

the food places at Mamilla Mall below were busy with lunchtime crowds.

At Kikar Safra a few people were enjoying the sunny weather and blue sky.

But what caught my interest was the new art on display at Jerusalem’s municipal square, posters by 13 illustrators curated by Dov Abramson.

The artists each portrayed one of the 39 types of work not allowed on Shabbat to create a clever poster.

The colorful posters lined the main Safra Square area

and brightened the way and day for those who stopped to look.

The Jerusalem Theater also had new and different art on display.

Prize-winning quilts lined the wall in the Jerusalem Theater main lobby.

The colorful and clever fabric designs are spread out on various levels throughout the building.

Here is the display outside one of the auditoriums above

and another below the main theater lobby. As you can see I had the entire space to myself on the afternoon I ventured in. Wearing a mask was required, but I saw no other people except staff.

Jerusalem Theater hosts the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra. These past weeks of closings the JSO has performed and also posted regularly online. From the Hallelujah Festival – Leonard Bernstein’s Chichester Psalms | לאונרד ברנשטיין – מזמורי צ׳יצ׳סטר was the video shown last night. Check it out.

I had never noticed this sign at the Montefiore Windmill in the past -“Guy’s Hope,” but thought it amusing that there was one guy sitting alone on the overlook.

I was on my way to check the new art on the walls at the Mishkanot Sha’ananim gallery by Ilan Baruch, “A Painter Facing the Land.” With so many events canceled and going online, I hope this guy’s exhibition is seen.

With a week with too much not-good news, how good on my way home to see a bride having her photos taken on the stairs at Yemin Moshe.

The old British post boxes were freshly painted. And wonders, since I was last in the area – new public restrooms have been installed!

Jerusalem billboards have been updated announcing upcoming arts and culture, music, and song. Everyone I know is hoping events will be able to go ahead as planned, though many things are going back online this week.

When the sun shines and one can get out to walk about, even stop and talk to a friend or two, along with the gorgeous views, you can almost forget the news.

In spite of the latest health scene, nature can be a source of hope. So good to see the almond blossoms will be ready in time for Tu BeShevat.

Some weeks are harder to find, but good and colorful things on and off the Jerusalem streets await those who take the time to stop and look.

What Everyone Should Know about Bursting Amygdalus Communis in Jerusalem

January 16, 2019January 17, 2019Sharon A

The first thing to know is that amygdalus communis is the scientific name for the almond tree. With Tu B’Shvat, the song of “almond trees bursting out” (or flowering) can be heard throughout Israel in school classrooms sung by small children wearing floral wreaths on their heads.

Every year when I review and remember past celebrations of Tu B’Shevat, I stress over how to spell ט”ו בשבט in English. I have found 8 options and already used two here.

Every year I want to bring to you something new and interesting.

Dried fruit and nuts fill the stores and markets as every year.

Carob trees tower over many Jerusalem, Israel streets. This tree is near the Prime Minister’s Residence. I wonder how many of the thousands protesting there noticed it?

For those of us who grew up in the US, Tu B’Shvat meant getting a piece of dark brown, dried out bokser.

Hard to chew and unattractive, why would anyone want to eat it to celebrate the holiday?

Along Jerusalem streets in time for Tu B’Shvat, there are piles of dried pods fallen from the trees, with new growth peaking its way through.

The Knesset opening and birthday are held on Tu B’Shvat. In honor of 50 years in its present location, in 2016 a major celebration was held.

There was a special afternoon service in the old Knesset Synagogue followed by wine and fruit.

These Girl Guides were celebrating Tu B’Shvat in Jerusalem in 1928, on an outing in Beit Hakerem.

Since Biblical times almonds, amygdalus communis, have been a sign of spring, a sign of new life and God’s promise.

“When Moses went into the tent of the covenant on the next day, the staff of Aaron for the house of Levi had sprouted. It put forth buds, produced blossoms, and bore ripe almonds. -Numbers 17:7

Almond, the first tree to flower before winter’s end, symbolized fast-moving events. “…the almond tree blossoms, the grasshopper drags itself along, and desire fails; because all must go to their eternal home…” -Ecclesiastes 12:5

Anyone interested in the nature and the environment of Israel, with the special emphasis given to the linkage between the plants and Jewish traditions and literature, will appreciate the Hebrew website Wildflowers of Israel.

In addition, their English pages have a wealth of information. Hours of dedicated work have gone into research and photography devoted to the study of wild plants of the Land of Israel, a point of interest for people all over the world since Biblical times. In spite of Israel’s small size it has 2,500 plant species. There are about 100 plants mentioned in the Bible, and about 400 mentioned in the Mishnah and the Talmud.

Thanks to Sara Gold, my contact whenever I need information on a flower or plant. (I know next to nothing about Israeli flora and fauna.) Who knew aloe plants flowered?

In honor of Tu B’Shvat – I searched for the almond – Amygdalus Communis.

I searched in the Valley of Cross on the path to the Israel Museum, and there were no almonds bursting forth, but I did find these first flowers in bloom.

I went to see what new trees were planted in Kikar Safra, Safra Square.

Thankfully some tall palm trees survived last year’s infestation and are standing tall.

I searched the gardens at Beit Hanasi, the Israeli President’s residence, and there were no almonds bursting forth, but these new potted flowers were enjoying the morning sun.

In the Beit Hanasi gardens there are 60 olive trees, a line of kumquat trees ripe with fruit, but not one almond tree.

Our lemon tree is full of ripe fruit too. In my search this year, I found no almond blossoms in Jerusalem. It is still too early. They really do seem to burst out when they appear.

So it seems as of now, the best place to search and find those bursting Amygdalus Communis is Wildflowers of Israel – HERE.

Tu B’Shvat is to be celebrated beginning the night of January 20, and on January 21.

In honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, falling the same day this year, here is a new photo of the Jerusalem street sign with trees in distance.

Snow is in the forecast for Jerusalem. Rain has started to fall. After sunny morning weather, this photo is again appropriate.

Jerusalem weather and politics are hard to predict. Both can change quickly.

UPDATE:

When snow started coming down, I grabbed phone and ran outside. This was best photo of predicted snow storm, to see real snow, back to 2015 HERE.

But greetings of a happy Tu B’Shvat and Shabbat Shalom, are good to be repeated every year.

Favorite Sukkot of Sukkot

October 9, 2012rjstreets

The Sukkot holiday is over and as the tourists are heading home,

I would like share a few favorite Sukkot from this year.

In some neighborhoods there were so many visitors

that warning signs were posted asking for quiet.

In the Nachlaot neighborhood,

I found this tiny sukkah down a narrow lane

and another one almost hidden up on a roof top.

At the Kotel, the Western Wall Plaza, where there was a large sukkah

as well as smaller ones for the huge crowds of visitors.

The public was invited one morning to visit the sukkah at Beit Hanasi,

the official residence of Israeli President Shimon Peres.

Arriving inside the building after a long wait outside,

many stopped to peak in

to the President’s Official State receiving room,

before passing through to the sukkah.

As usual the President’s sukkah was not designed for eating,

but rather for showcasing the fruit and agricultural wonders of Israel.

Many hotels had large sukkot, where thousands of visitors ate.

The large sukkah at Kikar Safra, Safra Square,

looked the same as in recent years, but

inside it was decorated with unique decorations using recycled plastic.

Sukkot ranged from the most simple,

to a ‘political’ sukkah on poles,

to this colorful beer bottle decorated bar sukkah.

Perhaps the biggest difference from last year was Jaffa Road.

Jaffa Road was lined with sukkot and crowded.

The Jerusalem light rail trains were running and filled with people,

last year they were going, but filled with sand bags on trial runs.

The city center was busy day and night.

Our sukkah was a busy place too, I just wish it hadn’t rained

so hard during the main course at dinner the first night.

It was indeed a very happy Sukkot holiday in Jerusalem, Israel.

If you missed it perhaps, next year in Jerusalem?