middle east current events – Page 114 – The Real Jerusalem Streets

Signs of Rosh Hashana in Jerusalem

August 27, 2013rjstreets

The days are getting shorter and the nights are cooler.

Summer is coming to an end.

All around there are signs of the new year.

The first day of school is a big deal in Israel,

the Prime Minister, the President and

a long list of politicians get involved.

Lining the Jerusalem, Israel, streets,

are new signs announcing the new school year,

“There’s nothing like the education in Jerusalem,

good luck to us all in school.”

Here is a new, special place to post community announcements.

I can’t wait to see how it will be used.

Not sure why this sign is still up,

as Maccabiah events are long over, so there is no need for parking now.

The Jerusalem Sacred Music Festival attracted extra attention this year.

It certainly was not a good sign that one performer,

Selif Keita, had to cancel due to threats.

If he had come he would see what is really happening

on the Jerusalem streets.

There were signs all over for many musical performances,

like this one is for an end of summer concert in Kikar Safra, Safra Square.

These fresh limes on the tree almost ready to pick

has to be one of my favorite signs of the Rosh Hashana season.

It is really coming soon this year,

too soon for some of us,

but mountains of rimonim, pomegranates, are a sure sign that of the new year is almost here.

They even appear above the streets on this new sign

wishing all a Shanah tovah in Jerusalem,

a very good new year to all.

Jerusalem Formula One – Peace Road Show Photos

June 16, 2013rjstreets

Jerusalem came to a stop for two days,

as thousands upon thousands of people came to see,

this Ferrari Formula One race car.

Some people paid a fee and sat in the stands constructed for

the Jerusalem Formula One Peace Road Show.

Special video cameras recorded the event,

which was projected on screens at several locations along the track.

Several Ferrari GT Challenge

sports

cars

and a black Lotus LMPZ zoomed around the track.

Each lap took these cars around two minutes,

but this was a show, not a race.

Many residents were furious that so many streets were closed,

but people came early and from all over to find a good spot.

Large crowds could be found

at every one of the free vantage points,

from high on top of walls of The Old City

to along the street across from the Liberty Bell Park.

Huge crowds lined the track both days.

Remember that guy on top of the bus stop?

The only “action” from the sports cars,

a deliberate smoke producing spin took place in front of us.

He had the front row seat and got the shot

and it was so loud, I still do not have normal hearing in one ear.

The Formula Peace Road show was promoted for the racing cars,

but there were also motorcycles,

and by all accounts the show stopping favorite

was the dare-devil stunt routine of Chris Pfeiffer on a BMW 6800R.

And as always, I thought that the police horses were beautiful.

Was this Jerusalem Formula Peace Road Show

worth all the inconvenience?

Getting stuck on the inside of the track,

it took me over an hour to walk what is normally a ten minute distance.

One girl I saw was literally in tears trying to get to her destination.

Some loved it, some thought it was a total waste of time.

I do know, it was a very diverse crowd and there was no violence.

And Italian race car drivers,

Ragazzi Riccardo (left) who drove a Ferrari GT Challenge 430

and Daniel Mancinelle who drove a Ferrari GT Challenge 458

were very excited and happy to be in Jerusalem for the first time.

And I know a lot more about race cars.

Who would have thought that would happen in Jerusalem, Israel !

More photos on The Real Jerusalem Streets Facebook page, HERE.

And Ferrari video from on the car, and more see HERE.

Hebrew Book Week in Jerusalem Warning

June 10, 2013rjstreets

The sirens of the motorcade of

Juan Manuel Santos Calderon, President of Colombia

can be heard on the Jerusalem, Israel streets

and the flag of Colombia can be seen flying.

Most people will never notice.

But what is amazing is that after so many years,

and now with so many Israeli tech users and kindle readers,

Hebrew Book Week in Jerusalem is back in the Liberty Bell Park.

Thousands of books and at least one hot-pot are ready for

Shavuah Hasefer, the annual Hebrew book fair that runs from June 5-13.

There were fewer book vendors in the park this year.

But every night, many children

helped fill the park.

Everyone was out looking for a good deal on Hebrew books.

As every year, in the park there was also free entertainment for children.

This one young man was ready to get up and move to the music.

Passing on the love of books and reading is an old tradition.

But look past this book vendor and you will see

viewing stands being set up for

the Formula One Peace Car Run in Jerusalem.

Not sure everyone will appreciate the streets closing

and noise of what some want to be a new tradition.