Jerusalem: Good & Bad, Hot & Running

Jerusalem: Good & Bad, Hot & Running

  Jerusalem is having a September heat wave.

Not so good for me,

I complain a lot and slow down.

But things are still going strong,

and Jerusalem is busier than ever.

Flowers in shape of Jewish star in Bloomfield Park

Not sure if these raised arrangements like the heat

or if they are good or bad,

but this new flower display is near the Montefiore Windmill.

I passed it on my way to the Jerusalem Press Club to hear

EU and Israel relationship discussed at Jerusalem Press Club

Dr. Michael Borchard, the Director of the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung,

who reported on a survey of Israelis’ opinions of the EU.

The conclusion:

good news and bad news, but pretty much the same.

Economic missions, trade missions, and overseas delegations

seem to be everywhere, all the time.

US Congressmen were at the King David Hotel recently,

Iowa Economic Development Authority mission meets Jerusalem JLMBIOCity starups

and this week the Governor of Iowa Kay Reynolds

led an Economic Development Authority mission to Israel.

Iowans really are some of the nicest people,

here a group met to hear about Jerusalem based bio-startups.

The amazing innovations seek US collaboration to grow.

But besides back to school,

there is much more happening on the streets.

Sign in Hebrew for Jerusalem street fair second hand goods before New Year

Another Second Hand Fair was on Emek Refaim St.

Arab and Jewish music festival Kulna Season of Culture

Kulna, part of Mekudeshet, a festival of varied events

of the Jerusalem Season of Culture,

was set up in Mitchell Gardens.

Kulna Jerusalem Season of Culture Kulna music event

Those who came early to the had the option of seats

and food and drink to buy,

Mitchell Garden in Jerusalem, Israel ready for music festival featuring Arab music

with the walls of the Old City across the street in the background.

Jerusalem music festival with Arab music

One Arab family came early to get a good spot,

Amman is 71 kilometers from Jerusalem Israel

and much of the program featured Arab music.

Amman is 71 kilometers from us, one slide informed us.

Members of Mada, emergency medical staff at Mitchell Park for music festival

As always, emergency medical care was on site.

Arab family in Jerusalem, Israel park for musical performance

But though there were hundreds, maybe 2000 people,

there were no reports of injuries or emergencies in the crowd.

Jerusalem Marathon for Women

Signs were up all along the way to the park for

a first-ever Jerusalem Run for Women,

Main street Cerech Beit Lehem closed to traffic Jerusalem Israel

but not everyone saw those warnings of major streets to be closed.

Jerusalem Night Run map and times.

Security checked out their locations

for the 5k and 10k races.

Arab girls running in Jerusalem Women's Night Races

Women and girls came from all over to run.

I tried to take one of those water bottles,

but it felt so hot, I put it back.

Running in night in Jerusalem Israel Women's Night Run

After dark the women, and a few men,

started running.

Here goes the winner of the 10K

Ilana Guttman before winning the 5K race in Jerusalem

and my friend who won the 5k

was already smiling on the way to starting line.

Runners in Jerusalem Women's Night Race

I love when people race by and scream out “Sharon.”

If you know who is waving please let me know.

One of my favorite runners

Jerusalem Israel Women's Night Races young child and father follow running in closed street

was this cute little guy.

His father was right behind with the stroller making a video.

Jerusalem Festival in Jerusalem Park free with music

These posters tell of events in parks with live music,

Sign for special selihot at Kikar Safra before Rosh Hashana Jerusalem

and special musical nights in the Municipal Square,

 Opening the Gates Of Prayer,

with seasonal High Holy days songs.

So much is happening on the Jerusalem streets,

now if would just cool off a bit so we can enjoy it.

But at least no one is complaining about no rain this year.

and I guess that also could be good.

Jerusalem After Summer, After Hours

Jerusalem After Summer, After Hours

School has started

Posters for summer events in Jerusalem Israel

but the signs for summer events are still up

along the Jerusalem streets.

One of the most popular spots,

summer or winter,

is the Machane Yehuda Market, the shuk.

Shuk closing at night, Machane Yehuda Market

As the day ends, the food stalls close

Shutters with graffiti in shuk, Jerusalem Machane Yehuda Market

and shutters come down.

Night time in shuk, Machane Yehuda Market bakery before closing

The last bits of bread are sold

Shuk Jerusalem Israel Machane Yehuda Market closed at night

and empty crates are stacked away.

Then

Man puts out water pipes on tables shuk, Jerusalem Israel Machane Yehuda Market

the tables and chairs come out,

and the loud music starts playing for the night-time crowds.

With special glasses or goggles, virtual shows

are presented at the Music Museum,

Western Wall tunnels virtual tour people in room with goggles on to see show

similar to these at the Western Wall Tunnel tours.

Five years ago, near the shuk,

Mysttorin Theater in performance near Shuk, Machane Yehuda Marker

at a Mystorin Theater performance,

I described them as “out-of-the- box.”

Now, they have gone out of this world.

Gone virtual.

Jerusalem Israel Machane Yehuda Markter shuk street sign

Meeting at night, ‘AfterShuk’

includes three stops with virtual shows.

No photos are allowed during the performances.

Scene in shuk Machane Yehuda Market of woman in virtual performance by Mystorin Theater called AfterShuk

It was painful to comply.

Such a shame.

Some scenes I really wanted to share, but I had to settle

  for the above screen-shot from a promotional video.

One of the most amazing things was,

as our group proceeded from location to location,

only the cats seemed to stop and take notice.

People went about their business,

walking, talking, or hanging laundry on a porch above.

Last week I shared creativity of the Start-Up world,

 this week is of the diverse Jerusalem cultural scene.

Sign for Piyut Festival in Jerusalem Israel

Another year of the Piyut Festival,

to be held September 24-28,

Kulanu Mekudeshet Jerusalem Season of Culture Festival

and the Jerusalem Season of Culture,

Mekudeshet, and Kulana,

 are major September events.

Around the Jerusalem streets, or in the shuk, 

so much is happening it is hard to keep up,

shuk Machane Yehuda Market Jerusalem Israel shuttered painted with women's eyes looking over display tables

 there is so much to see and do.

10 Photos of this Week in Jerusalem

10 Photos of this Week in Jerusalem

I love a day when the weather is the top news.

Last night, as the sun set, cool winds came across the city.

 I thought my camera lens was dirty,

old City walls at sunset

but those were clouds over the Old City.

As it got darker, more clouds blew in over

Jerusalem Israel summer clouds. over King David Hotel and Montefiore Windmill

the Montefiore Windmill and the King David Hotel.

By morning, the sky looked winter grey,

and certainly not like the first day of summer.

But by afternoon, most of the clouds were gone,

and it was back to sunny warm streets and a normal June day.

A great time to get out and appreciate the Judean  hillside.

Hills around Jerusalem, Israel near zoo

This view is just minutes from Malha Mall,

Yehudah Hotel garden Jerusalem Israel

and was taken from these lovely gardens.

This week’s exciting event (for some people) was a visit by

18 US football “Hall of Famers.”

US Football star Willie Lanier in Jerusalem Israel

Willie Lanier of the Kansas City Chiefs

was wearing Jerusalem on his hat at the end of his visit.

It goes well with his Canton, OH, Hall of Fame shirt.

Thousands tried to meet and

photograph their favorite sports stars.

 I was told that I missed Joe Montana by seconds.

Oh well.

It was better than standing in the heat outside

the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs waiting for security.

Simon Wiesenthal center at Israel Foreign Ministry

The Simon Wiesenthal Center and

the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung Israel held a conference there

on digital terrorism and hate speech on the internet.

I am afraid you will be hearing lots more

on this EchoChamber in the future,

as cyber terrorists look for new ways to attack.

The next day was

Conference on Israeli economy in Jerusalem Israel IDI

the Eli Hurvitz Conference on Economy and Society,

of the Israel Democracy Institute,

where we heard that Israel, the ‘Start-Up Nation’,

is #52 in the world in the ease of opening a business.

Changes must be made in taxation, regulation and bureaucracy

in order to get Israel to the next level

to be known as the ‘Nation of Innovation’.

After two days inside, it was good to get out.

Pillbox in Rechavia painted Jerusalem Israel history

Our local pillbox got a much needed painting.

White Night Beit Avi Chai in July 2017

This new sign was posted for Beit Avi Chai.

Lists of children’s summer programs are planned,

but this informs us that July 6 will be Leila Lavan.

an all-night loud summer music party.

Mekudeshet, a festival working hard on integrating cultures,

is also planning a long list of events for this summer.

If you remember the photo I posted of the Mamilla Hotel,

Mamilla Hotel flag for Macabbiah in Jerusalem Israel 2017

there is now a fourth banner flag on the building.

The 2017 Macabbiah will be bringing tens of thousands

of international Jewish athletes to Jerusalem, Israel.

All of this is amazing.

Especially if you stop and reflect

that all of the above locations,

from the Pillbox to those hills,

were mostly empty and barren, except for rocks,

not so very many years ago.

And Mamilla Mall and Mishkanot-Shaananim,

were dangerous zones inhabited by the poorest of poor.