middle east current events – Page 62 – The Real Jerusalem Streets

Levi Eshkol House Opens in Jerusalem

December 21, 2016Sharon A

Levi Eshkol was Israel’s fourth Prime Minister,

serving from 1964-1969.

On December 20, 2016,

the Levi Eshkol House officially opened its doors.

After months of construction this former official residence of

Israeli Prime Ministers is now open to the public.

At the opening, President Reuven Rivlin spoke to

dignitaries, Eshkol family members, and friends.

Off the entrance is the book-lined, main living area.

The simple kitchen

and dial telephone reflect the changes of last 50 years.

The Six-Day War in 1967

was commanded from these humble surroundings.

Photos of Eshkol

with famous

and not-so-famous people line the walls.

Sadly, Miriam Eshkol z”l, wife of Levi Eshkol,

who worked hard on this project,

passed away at the age of 87 at the end of November 2016.

Her photos draped in black were next to lit memorial candles,

as the opening day was still within the traditional month of mourning.

Visitors will be able to learn about,

Prime Minister Levi Eshkol z’l

who established Israel’s ties with West Germany,

was the first Israeli Prime Minister officially invited to the US,

and served through the lowest and highest moments of 1967.

He was also the first Prime Minister of Israel to die in office.

In a corner of the garden, a goldfish-filled pond

is hidden from the street by this wall.

After being derelict for decades,

the former official residence on Ben Maimon Street,

has come alive as a new tourist site in Jerusalem, Israel.

Art and Music Brighten Jerusalem Winter

December 15, 2016December 15, 2016Sharon A

Weather.

What a wild week of weather!

It was so warm and sunny one day,

that after lunch at the Malha Tech Park,

people lounged at cafe tables in the mid-day sun,

reluctant to return to their offices.

Then,

came the rain,

along the light rail line on Jaffa Road,

at least this umbrella brightened the morning.

Yesterday, hail pounded down, along with high winds.

The challenge became to aim an umbrella so the wind

would not blow it away or inside out.

However, there is plenty

of music to brighten cold winter nights.

While restaurants come and go,

a new Art and Music Gallery opened on Yoel Salomon Street.

The Jerusalem Jazz Festival and the annual

Hullegeb Festival of Ethiopian music, and more events are this week.

Plus it’s another December weekend of Hamshushalim,

with dozens of entertainment and cultural options

at discounted prices, and many for free.

When it comes to discount options or free,

nothing tops the Yad Sarah organization.

“What’s the catch? What’s the cost?” everyone asks.

I took a tour this week.

The main equipment supply room

brims with medical assistance items,

the emergency hot line operates 24/7,

while the art therapy room has everything,

from this vintage sewing machine

to cabinets full of handmade pieces of art.

Thousands volunteer and are serviced by Yad Sarah,

its list of services and items is massive.

If their supply of hospital beds were piled up

it would be higher than Mount Everest!.

Tours are free, and recommended for all.

What’s the catch?

Yad Sarah has everything but adequate parking.

To end on an upbeat art note:

Besides the growing Bezalel Academy of Art and Design,

a new art center is to be built in downtown Jerusalem.

The $50 million complex is to be called

the Jerusalem Campus for the Arts.

I missed the rainbow yesterday morning,

but there is much happening to brighten

these Jerusalem streets.

Israel: Land of Diversity and Extreme Contrasts

December 8, 2016Sharon A

Israel covers a tiny bit of land.

You can drive the entire country from north to south in less than a day.

We spent more time in the car trying to get from New York City

to Washington, DC, years ago for a Thanksgiving Day wedding.

Taking a trip outside of Jerusalem, Israel, this past week

inspired this post of amazing contrasts.

All photos are from this week,

a week in a month of no holidays.

Kfar Etzion old igloo buildings

The old white stone “igloos” of Kfar Etzion,

perched on a mountain blend into the wintry sky.

While construction across from the Jerusalem Theater

Construction near Jerusalem Theater

goes deep, deep into the earth.

This used to be my shortcut path,

soon it will be sight of a modern luxury tower.

Conference at IDI Riskin, Liat Collins, religion

Religious diversity was the topic of discussion

at the Israel Democracy Institute,

while poverty was discussed at Mishkenot Sha’ananim.

Taub Center conference poverty Elie Elalouf

The Taub Center conference concluded with

a panel and MK Elie Elalouf’s Knesset poverty report.

We hear endless stories of barriers and borders.

Baptism site in Jordan River Israel Jordan border

How does that compare to the river border with Jordan?

On the other side of that simple pool rope is the Kingdom of Jordan.

The man in the white top on the left had just immersed in the river.

Can you spot the soldier on guard duty?

One huge contrast is the sky in summer and winter.

Cloud scene on Israel with windmills

While in summer the sky is pure blue,

the winter sky is often cloudy.

Through these low clouds on a mountain top,

you can almost see the windmills on the right.

Desert scene with cloudy sky

Drive out of hills of Jerusalem,

you will find the desert.

No rain, but blue skies and white clouds.

These two white vehicles were parked,

one day I may photo shop them out.

This was an everyday scene at an Israeli rest stop,

with the prerequisite camel nearby.

Bet Shean park Roman ruins

The ancient Roman ruins at Bet Shean park

are worthy of a blog post of its own.

It is only a short drive to modern Tel Aviv.

And certainly do not forget the diversity

Kez costume and Ethiopian Israel woman

of the Israeli population.

Ethiopian-Israelis are integrating

as judges, rabbis and members of Knesset,

but this man is just in costume, he is not a real Kes.

The clouds make for amazing sunsets this time of year.

My friends were raving one night at this scene,

Sunset and cloudy sky

so I took a little photo liberty with this photo,

adding a some color to the scattered clouds.

One more before I go,

the number and diversity of the street musicians,

old and young, male and female,

Street music religious man

religious and who knows what, is amazing.

Some performers may be down on their luck.

However, from the streets of Eilat to Israeli stardom,

Jerusalem Jewish Media Summit 2016 Gat Brothers

the Brothers Gat were the entertainment for the gala opening

of the Jerusalem Jewish Media Summit 2016,

performing for international Jewish editors, publishers

and journalists.

For a “quiet” month with no holidays,

there was so much happening,

I’m glad I had a few moments for the “Sounds of Silence.”