The Biblical Zoo, as the Tisch Family Zoological Gardens in Jerusalem is called, is another popular open area that could be reopened.
However, the new Jerusalem Aquarium which is further down the road from the zoo might be one of the last sites to be fully open again to the public.
At the end of January 2020, I finally got to the Aquarium.
I have had it on my list to share and now seems like the right time.
Remember that cute video of penguins walking around an aquarium after it was closed?
Sorry. It was not the Jerusalem Aquarium but could have been.
The Jerusalem Aquarium is an accessible and temperature-controlled space.
The inside venue would have been perfect for a hot summer day visit for all ages.
Beautiful tanks of fish and underwater flora line the walls.
Sections are divided according to Israel’s local bodies of water.
The Dead Sea exhibit will have to be updated.
Recently they have found life in the freshwater sinkholes.
I could have spent hours watching the seahorses.
There was an area to take a break and rest and listen to trained guides.
Have you heard of the LongHorn Cowfish before?
Can you find Nemo? Especially for children of any age or size, there is a special tank. You can get inside to search for and be photographed with the real fish that famous animated feature Nemo was based on.
Coral reefs provide background in one of the seas.
Large tanks of large fish,
and small tanks of colorful fish are inside the Aquarium.
There’s much more to see and to do to keep all ages engaged.
It was a wet wintry-like day when I finally got to the two-year-old tourist site for the first time.
Sure hope it is not another two years until the giant seahorse outside greets visitors.
Who could imagine that an enclosed and interactive space would be a problem?
At least the cold wet weather and this most unusual spring was good for the roses.
Stay well and healthy.
Hope to see you all on the Jerusalem streets one day soon.
Blessed are You, L‑rd our G‑d, King of the universe, Who has withheld nothing from His world, but has created in it beautiful creatures and trees for human beings to enjoy.
Photo credit: Mark Neiman / GPO
President Rivlin went out to the garden at Beit Hanasi to make the blessing.
He and his staff were wearing masks at per official instructions.
Photo credit: Mark Neiman / GPO
President Rivlin’s office also sent out this photo of him and Director-General of Beit HaNasi Harel Tubi selling Israel’s chametz in a video call to the Sephardi Chief Rabbi of Jerusalem, Shlomo Amar.
In Jerusalem, Municipality volunteers handed out over eleven thousand food packages to help the elderly and quarantined residents, three times last week. Thousands of people volunteered daily in Jerusalem delivering food, making phone calls, bringing medicines to the sick, doing good and feeling good, to 12,500 seniors alone at home. Other private volunteer groups have been formed in Jerusalem around the country to assist those in need.
Photo credit: Ramada Hotel
Similar to Tel Aviv municipality, the Jerusalem Ramada Hotel, and empty hotels across Israel lit their windows in the shape of a heart to send a message of solidarity and love to the people of Israel during this difficult time. More and more empty hotels are being converted to “melonit,” locations for those with mild cases of coronavirus to be quarantined.
Photo credit: MDA spokesperson
MDA has set up more and more test sites for testing coronavirus.
A team of over 40 medical experts & engineers from Israel released blueprints for AmboVent, a low-cost, medically tested #COVIDー19 ventilator device, made from off-the-shelf components, to answer the worldwide need for emergency equipment.
In a recent tweet, Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh claimed that Israel and its policies thwart efforts to protect Palestinians from the spreading Coronavirus.
While around the world countries closed borders, Israel kept the border to Gaza open. COGAT published its information in an easy to read format. In case the small print is hard to read, 145 tons of medical supplies were sent into Gaza by way of Kerem Shalom Crossing last week. Yet Israel haters have not ceased their campaign of lies against Israel. What they should be questioning is where all the tons and tonnes of materials go.
Photo Credit: IDF
This photo of Palestinian Authority doctors training in Israel to learn how to treat COVID-19 did make some news sites.
It is interesting that it made the news because, for years, there have been medical training sessions for doctors from Gaza and Arab countries in Israel.
In November 2017, four pediatric emergency room medical specialists from Sydney, Australia came to a Jerusalem hospital to train medical experts from Gaza, Iraq and other Middle East unmentionables.
I have over 500 photos of the Israeli and Arab doctors and nurses working together. The smiling group selfie images to home countries were my favorites. However, for privacy’s sake, I am only sharing this one group photograph.
A big van with loud music playing is making the rounds in Jerusalem as well as other Israeli cities. One day there was loud music coming from the direction of the Israel Museum over the Israeli Scouts base. I tried to get a video for you to hear, but it was difficult over the sounds of traffic and birds.
No moving music truck was spotted on our little street. However, for a second time, the street was sprayed this morning by the municipality.
So I am off the streets for a while, with plenty of Zoom sessions to follow and connect.
Sunday evening Rav Yisrael Meir Lau was the first speaker for a Government Press Office Zoom session live with journalists and rabbis from around the world. Rav Lau stressed we have a common enemy, and with this new enemy the virus, there is no east or west. We have no choice, he said, but to be united. Peace. Friendship. Even love.
At home with my zoom lens, I can get a decent image of Nahlaot.
The Knesset is quiet, as is the Crown Plaza Hotel behind it.
Sorry, still no new unity government to report.
President Reuven Rivlin has gone into a grandfatherly Saba Ruvi mode with another story time.
At least we can all learn the classic Israeli children’s stories and with the English translations, a bit of Hebrew too.
Photo Credit: Micha Mitch Danzig
These lights in Tel Aviv were of the Azrieli Tower windows illuminated with “Shema Yisrael HaShem Elokeynu HaShem Ahad – Listen Israel, the L-rd is Our G-d, the L-rd is One.”
Pesach this year coincides with Easter, and Ramadan begins right after.
Tens of thousands will be disappointed not to be on the Jerusalem streets for these religious holidays.
However, here’s hoping for a happy and healthy holiday to all, and one day we can retell the stories of the time of the historic pandemic.
Yes, a rush on eggs has caused panic throughout the Jerusalem streets.
The rest of the world may have hoarded toilet paper but in Jerusalem, eggs were grabbed off the shelves and stashed away in large quantities. People might be in isolation for the Passover holiday, but they were not going to be caught short of eggs. Facebook friends were posting frantic messages.
I got the Sec-Gen’s phone number. In response to my message, he replied, “Tomorrow will be enough eggs in the supermarkets. People are in a little panic but I think that it’ll be stopped soon. Yours, Abu.”
So there you have it. But I still hear complaints about an egg shortage.
Eggs for Passover set off panic in the Jerusalem streets.
Meanwhile, Olim, new immigrants keep on arriving, knowing they will be sent into 14-day isolation because of COVID-19.
Having been off the streets this past week, I have been following Zoom sessions and webinars.
I have also been following scenes from the Western Wall Heritage Center WebCam much more often. This view is of the locked Wilson’s Arch on the evening of Rosh Chodesh Nissan. They have since straightened up the chairs. However, that lone empty chair caught my eye.
For a mass prayer of tehilim, psalms for healing, there was a distanced crowd last week.
Facebook Live-streamed as the rabbi spoke and people watched around the world.
On another coronavirus night, one lone man was seen near the Kotel.
photo credit: The Western Wall Heritage Foundation
The notes were cleared out of the Kotel almost as usual before Passover.
There was a social distancing of workers and no holiday crowds this year.
More and more events have moved online for work and for conferences.
And willingly posed for photos before running off to an election event.
I was hoping to say that the unity government was in place.
Maybe next week?
Photo credit: Courtesy Beit HaNasi
President Reuven Rivlin met with the Head of the IDF Manpower Directorate, for a briefing on IDF efforts to halt the spread of the virus in light of the global pandemic. In light of the instructions, the meeting was held in the garden of Beit Hanasi, at the appropriate distance.
This current coronavirus operation has been named “Ray of Light” by the IDF.
No on-site visitors are allowed, but Beit Hanasi has posted its first virtual tour. I have shared many photos from these spots, but this video includes background information.
As Dr. Tzvi Sheleg said discussing the COVID-19 situation at the Galilee Medical Center, “Emergency preparedness is part of our DNA.”
The Defense Minister announced that hundreds of IDF teachers are helping the doctor’s children all over Israel as part of a project called “Educational Framework.”
Magen David Adom (MDA) has begun collecting plasma units from those patients who recovered from Corona. Based on the assumption that those who have recovered from the disease have developed special anti-virus proteins (antibodies) in their plasma, these units could provide patients with a “passive vaccine” that may help them cope with the disease.
Photo credit: Tel Aviv Jaffa municipality
The Tel Aviv municipal building was lit with the MDA symbol to show appreciation for the thousands of health care workers on the front lines in what has been described repeatedly as a war against the tiny microbe. Approximately 8,000 people were sampled yesterday by MDA teams, of whom 4,000 were in the “Drive-Thru” complexes across the country.
On the very good news front, the Deep Knowledge Group, a consortium of commercial and non-profit organizations active in the realm of DeepTech from scientific research, has ranked Israel above Singapore as the safest country to stay. Ok, for efficient treatment it is not rated so high.
But Singapore is a very different culture. There are cameras everywhere. Do NOT try spitting gum out on the street! People follow orders. They have smaller family units. In Israel, even with the President sitting away and outside with only one staff member, protests are still allowed. Dozens of people have assembled in Tel Aviv on the beach to drive to Jerusalem to protest at the Knesset.
Photo credit: Tel Aviv Jaffa Municipality
Last night Tel Aviv municipal building was lit with the “US flag in solidarity with the American people and the residents of our partner cities…We hold you close to our hearts,” tweeted the Mayor of Tel Aviv.
Also, it was done as a sign of gratitude to supporters and friends of Tel Aviv around the US who have shown their support by making significant contributions to the individuals and communities most affected by the coronavirus in Tel Aviv.
Where ever you are, stay safe and healthy.
Hope to see you back soon for more from the Jerusalem streets.
