Save the Nature Museum

Doctors are striking.

Protest tents are popping up like mushrooms in the parks.

The price of gas, electricity and temperatures are rising.

With so many serious issues at once, it was easy to miss a protest meeting

   to save the Nature Museum in Jerusalem.

Thousands of visitors drive down this little street leading

  to the Moshava Germanit, German Colony parking lot,

and probably never noticed the main entrance to the Nature Museum.

This old Armenian house and sprawling grounds are home

to the Nature Museum in Jerusalem,

where thousands of children have been exposed to nature and animal life.

In spite of the heat, a crowd gathered in the afternoon on July 26, 2011

to protest its threatened closure.

Professor Ariel Hershfeld was the first of several speakers.

City council member Meir Turgeman, who grew up in the neighborhood,

was the last speaker and called for the city to listen to its residents.

It was hard to gauge the attendance at the protest, as the many activities,

entertainment,

and animals provided constant distractions.

The soft music of this protest was quite a contrast to the loud demonstrations.

Will Shalem College get the grounds for its new campus?

The grounds of the Hanson Hospital are near by and could be restored

to offer a new and improved neighborhood Nature Museum.

There was mumbling in the crowd of another Holyland

where the interests of business and money

win over the interests of the people.

More photos are posted  on  The Real Jerusalem Streets Facebook page.

Jerusalem Marathon 2011 Winners

Less than 48 hours after a deadly bomb exploded in Jerusalem,

streets were again clear of traffic.

street empty of traffic

Schools were closed in Beersheva on Friday, March 25

because of grad missiles.

In Jerusalem classes were cancelled

Sachar Park, Jerusalem marathon image

because the first full Jerusalem Marathon was running

from Gan Sachar, Sachar Park.

Parking was difficult, necessitating long treks to get to Read more

Security on Shushan Purim

Dozens of missiles keep coming from Gaza into many parts of southern Israel.

Jerusalem was on a high security alert for the Purim holiday

and there were more police uniforms in sight than usual.

"walls of Old City"

Near Jaffa Gate, an ad for a food festival in the Old City was hard to miss,

but as Muslim prayers ended on Friday, security was hard to find.

Not the regular security in Malcha Mall

"bread" "challah" "wigs"

or selling bread in the Machane Yehuda Market, the shuk.

"Jaffa Street"

Most of the world celebrates Purim for one night and the following day…

in Jerusalem it goes on and on.

First there are weeks of school events, then the Fast of Esther on Thursday,

and the megillah, the story of Purim, is read three days later on Sunday night.

Mishloach manot, gifts of food, are delivered on Monday.

"Purim costumes" "Mamilla Mall"

On Shushan Purim, March 21,  Mamilla Mall

"bunny costume"

fills with colorful characters large

and small.

"face painting"

There is face painting,

"costumes"

more costumes,

and photo opportunities.

"Arab women"

The large crowds

include everyone from Spiderman to

this Aussie bloke

"mask"

and a mystery man.

It is way too warm for a real snow ball fight at Kikar Safra,  

Safra Square’s snow and ice event,

"cotton balls"

so there are cotton ball fights instead.

But on Shushan Purim

"Purim sign'

the place to be

"Shushan'

is on nearby Shushan Street!

"Purim celebration"

The little side street is packed

"Man in hat"

with people

enjoying

"Chinese dragon"

the many street performers

"puppet show"

and entertainers.

Even this Purim post is going on and on...

"bus sign"

and everything from the buses

"dog"

to pets are in holiday mode.

"colorful costumes"

It is such a colorful day.

A  light rail train near Shushan had to make an emergency stop,

and security is called…

"light rail train" "Jaffa Street"

to remove a party hat from the track.

"street band"

Music fills many Jerusalem streets and goes on well into the night.

What next?

What could be bigger?

"Jerusalem marathon sign"

Friday the city will come to a complete standstill 

for the first Jerusalem full marathon;

if you cannot walk or run…better to just stay home.

More Purim photos on The Real Jerusalem Streets’ Facebook page.