Jerusalem’s Changing Landscapes

Jerusalem’s Changing Landscapes

The landscape of Jerusalem, Israel, is constantly changing,

photo Jerusalem bus station, picture Jerusalem, image Jerusalem skyline bridge

with new structures

image Holyland, photo building Jerusalem, picture Jerusalem  Holyland

towering over the old.

image Cinema City Jerusalem, photo new cinema Jerusalem, picture Cinema City Jerusalem

Just before the bad weather began in December,

workers were busy on top of new Cinema City Complex.

image GAn SAcher, photo SAcker park, picture park

Remember the old photos of Gan Sacher, Sacher Park?

This is the scene now, 

photo Sacher park, image Jerusalem, picture Cinema City, image snow damage

with those large trees cut back to tall stumps.

But it does allow a clear view of the roof and foot bridge

and the future train station at the Cinema City Complex.

Israel has long been known as land “flowing of milk and honey,”

photo mulcher, image storm cleanup, photo snow damage Jerusalem

but Jerusalem now seems to have become the city of ‘flowing mulch.’

While the snow has finally melted, 

picture tree clean up, image after snow cleanup, photo tree trim

the mountains of tree trimmings are still being collected

and being churned up into mountains of mulch.

image firewood in truck, picture man collecting firewood. photo fire wood

However, no fire-wood logs seem to stay around for long.

picture protest banners. image signs for protest, photo banner out prime ministers house

The protesters of prisoner release have gone from the streets,

and their signs are removed.

image protesters Jerusalem, photo migrant protest, picture protesters Jerusalem

Bus loads of protesters have arrived from Tel Aviv to protest

the detention and deportation of illegal foreign workers.

The Jerusalem streets are constantly changing.

Tu B’Shevat Is Coming

 Today is Rosh Chodesh Shevat,

 and stores will be stocked with dried fruit

with sales galore all over Jerusalem and Israel.

image Tu B'Shvat, picture for New Year of Trees, photo for Tu B'Shevat

While most of the world is celebrating a new year,

on the Hebrew calendar the New Year of Trees is in two weeks.

Chodesh tov! 

A Good month to all!

Inspiration for 2014 in Jerusalem

Inspiration for 2014 in Jerusalem

I was having trouble finding something positive to share,

as the clock ticked to the end of 2013 in Jerusalem, Israel.

Everyone has heard enough kvetching about the snow

and the massive clean up which is still going on.

image protest Jerusalem, Photo Israel protest, picture protest signs.

The protest against prisoner releases was sad enough,

picture protest at night, image Israel protets, photo protest banners.

but the “March with Umbrellasin the cold, wet dark night,

found many depressed by this “gesture of good will.”

The next morning the sun was shining,

image Bell Park , Jerusalem park photo, picture Jerusalem Bell Park

 and the fresh blue paint in the Liberty Bell Park looked good. 

It was interesting to see how 100 years after

 Rabbi Dr. Yitzchak Halevi Herzog z”l  wrote on his dissertation 

about Tekhelet, that maybe a “student of chemistry may be interested”

that a conference filled the auditorium at The Begin Heritage Center.

But it was still not what I wanted for an inspiring blog to end the year.

However, I was back at The Begin Center the next day,

for another conference with another long list of impressive speakers.

And then,

photo inspirtational speaker, picture Noam Gershony, image Olympic gold medal winner

 Noam Gershony stood at the podium and started to tell his story.

How he was so close to death the doctors held little hope for him.

How he lost his leg and almost his life in Second Lebanon War.

How his friend Dov next to him was killed.

How he slowly came back to life, 

to play tennis, 

image skiing one leg, photo Noam Grshony, picture disabled skier

 to ski on Mount Hermon,

image disables biker, Noam Gershony riding a bike, photo bike rider with one leg

and to ride a bike.

By the time he finished his story of winning a gold medal

at the 2012 Olympics in London with the music of Hatikvah  playing,

there was hardly a dry eye in the room.

image Noam Gershony, picture Noam Gershony, photo standing ovatiion

After he finished and received a standing ovation,

image Noam Gerhsony, photo man walking with one leg, photo Noam Gershony

Noam walked to the elevator surrounded by admirers.

That was it,

what I want to share,

what the world must see.

Certainly not everyone can win a gold medal in the Olympics,

but Noam Gershony exemplifies the Israeli spirit.

After what happened to him, 

he did not become a suicide bomber,

but he does blow people away.

He inspires them to get up and get going,

no more excuses, too tired, too busy.

Now let’s make 2014 a good and positive year for all.