Best of Hanukkah in Jerusalem

Hanukkah in Jerusalem, Israel, is celebrated in a big way,

picture sign for Chanukah, image Chanukkah activities, photo Chanukah in Jerusalem

actually, Hanukkah is celebrated in a huge way.

image preparing for hanuka, picture large chanukiah, photo Jaffa Gate hanuka

This giant chanukiah, Hanukkah menorah, covered in small electric lights,

 is put up each year outside Jaffa Gate.

image unusual donut, Israel suffganiah, photo donuts

Each year there are new kinds of sufaganiot

photo donuts for Chanukah, image Chanukah in Israel, picture suffganiiot jerusalem

and lots of them, as huge quantities are consumed.

image street decorations, photo streets on Hanukkah, Jerusalem photo streets decorations

Electric street lights light up the sky at night at this entrance to Begin Highway,

image Hanukkah, picture Chanukah, photo Channukah in Israel

while others line city streets.

image lots of chanukiot, photo menorahs, picture hanukah

The Israel Museum is always a popular destination, especially this Hanukkah display.

Of course, 

image chanukah, picture hanukah candls, image hanuka

colorful candles can be found burning inside homes, 

image Chaukah, picture of chaukiah in store, Chanukah in Jerusalem photo

and in stores

image chanukah candles, photo candle lighting in hotel lobby, picture lighting candles

and  hotel lobbies. 

image chanukah, picture large menorah, photo Hanukah celebration Israel

Chanukiot can be found inside office buildings,

image lighting cahnukah candles, photo lighting candles outside, picture candle lighting outside

and outside the front doors of homes.

image Chanukah celebrations, photo Huankkah, picture celebration Hanukah

Candle lighting is often accompanied by live music and dancing,

as here with the new Chabad chanukiah at First Station.

image hanukah semach on bus, picture Hanukkah in Israel, , photo egged bus sign for holiday

Lights from the chanukiah on the street corner are reflected in this photo

of an Egged bus with a Hanukkah sameach sign.

Huge crowds and tour groups filled the streets of the Old City,

picture Hanukah Israel, photo Hanukah in Old City, image chaukah candles

as people came from all over to see the candles burning in windows, 

image chanukah, picture chanukah candles, image Chanukah in Old City

and scenes such as this man sitting and watching the flames.

To see and to learn and to remember, 

image Hanukah in Israel, picture banner Chanukah, photo sign Nes gadol hara po.

that a great miracle happened here.

Hanukkah Light from Jerusalem

Last night was the first night of Hanukkah.

DSC_0133e

I went to Mamilla Mall to watch the candlelighting of the large hanukiah

led by Sephardic Chief Rabbi Shlomo Amar.

DSC_0188e

Some of his followers came,

DSC_0198e

but hundreds were in the crowd that gathered and watched from below.

DSC_0154e

There were even a few who watched from above.

DSC_0112e

Inside the mall were many hanukiot,

DSC_0119e

and one very proud family posing with one of the artists.

That was going to be the theme of this blog:

DSC_0104e

the signs of family, creativity, happiness  and LOVE.

Then I got home and listened to the news of Hamas celebrations in Gaza

and Mashaal’s vow to continue fighting against Israel,

and not to give an inch.  So much for peace partners. 

Hanukkah is a celebration of good over evil and light over darkness.

So let me add a few other photos taken at Mamilla Mall all that

you will not see in the media stream media.

DSC_0209e

People of all religions were present at the candle lighting.

DSC_0083e

Arab girls were shopping in the mall as usual,

DSC_0123e

Arab young men were walking freely as usual, and there were even 

DSC_0086e

Arab boys out riding their bikes near the large hanukiah near the Jaffa Gate.

Even with hundreds of Hanukkah celebrants on the streets, as usual,

there was no sign of Apartheid or BDS – Boycott, Divestment or Sanctions.

Hanukkah time in Jerusalem, Israel and there is just too much to do,

but here is a great source for some of the top Jerusalem events.

Meanwhile, while Hamas prepares its babies to be killers,

please contrast to how children are “used” in Jerusalem.

May the light from Jerusalem, Israel continue to be a light unto the nations.

Chanukah Lights

One of the names of Chanukah is Chag ha’urim, the Holiday of Lights.

In Jerusalem on the first night of the holiday,

one could find both large public flames

and small private ones.

This bright chanukiah was on display in Mamilla Mall,

but the mall itself, inside

and out, was full of lights.

Each night of Chanukah, hundreds of people tour the Jewish Quarter of the Old City,

many are families with young children who run excitedly through the streets,

counting the lights,

 low and high above.

Some of the flames burn quietly inside a residence,

while others are placed outside by the door post

and closely attended.

The large chanukiah, at the Kotel, the Western Wall, received attention

when it was lit by the chief rabbis on the first night of Chanukah.

However, near by a couple of hours later, these two boys to the left,

  lighting two small candles attracted people who joined in the singing…

maybe off-key, but sharing the light and mood in the spirit of the holiday.

A new Chabad menorah was put up in Mamilla Mall this year

and a crowd gathered waiting for

Chief Rabbi Yona Metzger to light it for the first time.

 Chanukah lights burned in a pizza shop in the Old City,

in windows in the city center

and in many windows all around Jerusalem.

So many Chanukah lights and this year for the first time there is a fire truck ready…

 by Mughrabi Bridge at the Kotel Plaza.

Happy Holiday!

Please decide for yourself on the singing:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wyf8f29QOdg&feature=share

chanukiah: a special menorah for Chanukah, 8 lights are the same one for each night

and 1 larger the shamash that is used to light the flames of

 the Chanukah lights.