middle east current events – Page 76 – The Real Jerusalem Streets

Hanukkah Favorites – Old and New

December 10, 2015rjstreets

Hanukkah or Chanuka,

however you spell it

is a favorite time in Jerusalem, Israel.

Hanukiot, special holiday menorahs,

tower above many public locations,

like the hanukia burning

near Jaffa Gate on the fourth night,

and this large one at the Kotel, the Western Wall.

What a find!

On the first night of Hanukkah I saw this new one,

sponsored by the Jerusalem Development Authority,

along with the Municipality and iTravel.

Look for it off of Yoel Salomon Street.

Also new this year

is the light and sound show,

on the Wall of Old City near Jaffa Gate,

which is well done,

with holiday songs and projections!

And of course,

millions of special smaller hanukiot can be found inside.

During the Hanukkah festival

the Jerusalem streets are usually full of visitors and tourists.

Whether it is the winter cold or the security situation,

unfortunately the Jerusalem streets are much too quiet.

Remember those umbrellas over Yoel Salomon Street last summer?

This is the new colorful display in its place for Hanukkah.

Hanukkah is the holiday of the Hashmonaim,

the Maccabees of old.

Their story is of the re-dedication of the Jewish Temple,

and streets are named in their honor, not only in Jerusalem,

but also in Modi’in, the ancestral home of the Maccabees.

This sign explaining the main street named HaHashmonaim,

tells the story remembered from so long ago.

A cross street is “Blood of the Maccabees”

remembering the fight against Greek Hellenism.

Modern Modi’in youth posted a sign,

“Happy Holiday of the Maccabees.”

We had our family Hanukkah party here in Jerusalem on the second night.

I managed to get one photo

of the last sufgania before it too disappeared.

Lots of food and fun and presents for most families,

with four more nights and lots more happening.

However, the weather has turned cold,

and for one woman who has been camped

outside the Prime Minister’s residence in a tent for weeks,

this new sleeping bag was a welcome gift.

Now to end with a new photo of an old favorite for many,

the Jerusalem buses join in wishing all

Hanukkah sameach.

Jerusalem the Week Before Hannukah

December 3, 2015rjstreets

Another week of contrasts-

ups and downs, warm sun and cold rain.

The highs and lows on the Jerusalem, Israel streets

as Hanukkah quickly approaches.

John Kerry may have gone home after his short visit,

but the cat who crashed his

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red-carpet arrival ceremony was still around watching over Beit Hanasi, the Israeli President’s official residence.

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One sunny day, youngsters with Israeli flags were singing and dancing down Ben Yehudah Street, toward Jaffa Road and the Old City.

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Around the corner, it was quiet, with some new graffiti on the wall.

Turn the next corner and you see that renovations to the Froumine House,

which was the home of the Israeli Knesset from 1949-1966, have begun.

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It had been the home of the rabbinical courts,

but was vacated some time ago.

Now it is to become a museum on the history of the Knesset.

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Down the street the new Beit Avi Chai building displays colorful posters for activities and upcoming Hanukkah events,

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while across the road, one of the most valuable real estate properties in the world is home to those who sleep in this stone shell.

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It has this sorry looking neighbor,

right across from the Jewish Agency Building

where the masses gathered and danced on November 29, 1947.

The date when the UN Partition Plan for in Palestine was adopted,

one of the most joyous days in Israel’s history.

Sadly, the Arabs did not accept the UN resolution

and started attacking the next day.

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In Jerusalem, there is a street named for the day.

Hard to believe, but this photo has received 73,313 views and 308 shares since going up on Facebook on the morning of November 29.

On the afternoon of the 29th,

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a special ceremony was held to honor Israeli soldiers

who had been severely injured in various military actions and wars.

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Alive, but injured while safeguarding their country.

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The program was a bitter sweet experience,

it was great to see these men in wheelchairs being honored,

but it’s a shame that there have been so many wars.

Meanwhile,

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outside this biker was on one wheel racing down King George Street.

The week before Hanukkah is always a busy one.

This year people are weary and wary because of the “situation.”

However,

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there is an international dance festival going on,

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a jazz festival at the Israel Museum,

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and the annual December special weekend event called Hamshushalayim.

There are tourists groups around,

and some had to change their plans because of the weather.

The 17^th Jerusalem Jewish Film Festival will be taking place from December 7-12, 2015.

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Cinema City not only has films for Hanukkah, but a special candle lighting and a ‘giant happening’ on the fifth night.

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Chabad has their lights ready to go on most of the busy street corners.

The decorative menorahs are on the lampposts,

ready to go for the first candle on Sunday,

while the city has posted signs below,

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Happy Holiday of Lights,

Hanukkah sameach

from the real Jerusalem streets.

Another Week in Jerusalem

November 25, 2015rjstreets

Israel is under attack: during the past 56 days

21 innocents were murdered,

200 were wounded, 20 seriously,

and there were 74 stabbings,

10 shootings, and 12 car rammings.

It is hard to keep track–should one listen to the news or not?

Oh no, another terror attack.

This past week Ezra Schwartz z”l was one of those statistics.

The 18-year old was in Israel on an educational year program,

and was sitting in a van when an Arab terrorist shot and killed him.

His funeral was live-streamed from Sharon, MA.

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People filled the gym in a Jerusalem school to watch it,

finding comfort in community and unity.

John F. Kerry was back in town.

John Kerry at Beit Hanasi

At his meeting with President Reuven Rivlin,

he signed the official guest book.

Kerry’s motorcade stopped traffic,

but the Prime Minister of Greece, Mr. Alexis Tsipra

is paying a more low profile visit.

Meanwhile, on the Jerusalem streets,

Isrotel hotel construction

building and construction goes on.

I decided it was time to see what was happening outside,

as watching Facebook and Twitter feeds was too depressing.

A trip to the Old City,

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found this gate very quiet,

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and the egalitarian section at the Kotel, Western Wall was empty.

But,

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there was a line of tourists waiting to go up to the Temple Mount,

during the one hour in the afternoon allowed for non-Muslims.

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The scene at the Western Wall Plaza was quiet.

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This man was writing a note to place in between the stones,

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those notes get inserted, but often drop to the ground.

Maybe it was the warm sun and the walking,

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but seeing tourists at eating in cafes

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and taking photos,

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and little children on their way home from school,

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and the young woman with harp in her regular spot,

was so much better than obsessing on the news reports.

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A group of 180 men were touring on a special trip,

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boys speaking Arabic were in Mamilla Mall,

Arqab woman Jerusalem

and an Arab woman was shopping alone.

No one knows what will happen next,

what will be new weapon of terror,

box cutters, knives, or scissors,

or where an attack will occur.

But,

Susan B OU Nov 116 Kisufim,

Jerusalem Conference of Jewish Writers and Poets,

in Mishkenot Sha’ananim under the Montefiore Windmill.

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opened last night and the auditorium was full.

This week I had too many photos to share in one post,

because in spite of the bad news,

so many good things are happening on Jerusalem streets.

Hanukkah is coming, and so are the suffganiot.

There are so many choices, it hard to decide which one to try.

We remember, we mourn, then we celebrate life.

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