middle east current events – Page 120 – The Real Jerusalem Streets

Shh, Sharing a Secret Spot in Jerusalem

February 10, 2013rjstreets

I lived in NYC when snow came down so fast all the buses stopped running.

The only way to get home was to walk or hitch a ride with a stranger who

got off the Long Island Expressway, and tried to drive on side streets.

I also lived in Boston where once the snow was so deep that guests

could not walk the short distance to come over for our Purim seudah.

Once in Maryland, Shabbat guests got snowed in until Wednesday.

Oh, I do not miss shoveling all that white stuff one little bit.

This weekend, once again the Northeastern US got buried in white.

What a contrast,

as the Hebrew month of Adar begins,

and in Jerusalem, Israel, it is such a colorful time of year.

There are plenty of colorful costumes and things for Purim on display,

but it is the natural colors that are so impressive after so much rain.

On Friday, white almond blossoms were in full bloom against the blue sky.

Thousands of people drove to the Negev to see anemones in bloom,

but the wild red flowers

and beautiful scenes

can be found right in Jerusalem, off the Yael Sapir Trail.

Maybe these anemones are not as dense as in the Negev,

and only a few people seem to know about this nature spot,

but it is near the center of Jerusalem.

I love seeing the anemone in full bloom.

The Jerusalem marathon is coming soon.

Red flowers are not the only things popping up in the Valley of the Cross.

Runners in red tee-shirts are getting ready for the Jerusalem marathon.

This road is the end stretch of the marathon route.

Wonder if any runners will notice the flowers,

or will it stay our secret spot for another year?

Jerusalem after a very Wet Week

February 5, 2013rjstreets

Last week it rained, and then it rained some more.

Today the new members of the 19th session of the Israeli Knesset

eagerly await to be sworn in.

Those people who stayed up all night to watch the Super Bowl live

are suffering from football fatigue and moving slower than usual.

But for most people, after a week of rain and grey clouds,

the big excitement is that sun came out and the sky was bright blue.

Runners were not the only ones out on the streets;

many people were happy to be able to walk outside again.

Even little babies seemed to enjoy the warm temperatures.

I love that a rose in the garden is budding in the middle of winter

and that flowers are blooming in so many small parks.

But I hate that these steps are usually blocked by a parked car.

Free parking is hard to find in Jerusalem, but still, it is real chutzpah

to constantly block access to stairs leading to a public park.

And what would Jerusalem be,

without cats out enjoying the weather too?

It is clouding over again, so better get going before the rain starts.

Yes, we need rain, but people do smile more when the sun is shining.

Warm Story for a Cold Week

January 31, 2013rjstreets

It is foggy, grey and wet outside.

The white snow seems so long ago.

Last week the colors were so beautiful,

it was perfect weather to train for Jerusalem’s marathon next month.

Even now, tree cuttings still block many parks and sidewalks,

with even more cuttings appearing after the first cleanup.

So much talk this week was of weather and elections.

It wasn’t just branches that were blocking sidewalks in Jerusalem, Israel.

These TV news trucks were parked on the sidewalks near Beit Hanasi,

the President’s residence, as they waited for official election results.

However, before the rain started on Monday,

there was a very special wedding in Jerusalem.

The oldest of these three young men was 16 years old

when their father was shot and killed by terrorists and

their mother instantly became a widow with 7 children,

the youngest 4 months old.

Their mother Elisheva Chai was getting married to Gil Efrati of Jerusalem.

Rain drops fell as the chupah stood ready outside,

heavenly tears lightly covering the ground.

The chatan sat with friends before the ceremony,

then the dancing began as the bride and groom were led

to the bright and still dry chupah at Ramat Rachel.

But were there any dry eyes at this celebration?

Gil Efrati has never been married before,

and now he is the father to seven beautiful children.

After Rabbi Meir Avshalom Chai z”l was murdered,

Elisheva Chai was able to raise a wonderful family.

She gives credit to the support they received from OneFamily.

Cars are honking, people are cranky and trying to stay warm.

I am so glad for this wonderful story to warm up

an other wise cold and dreary week.

To see more of this story and special simcha please, click HERE