Naftali Bennett – Page 2 – The Real Jerusalem Streets

Thanks on Thanksgiving – Shabbat Shalom

Thanks on Thanksgiving – Shabbat Shalom

November 24, 2017November 29, 2017Sharon A

Thursday was Thanksgiving in the US,

a holiday when millions of American families

gather to eat an annual turkey dinner.

In Tel Aviv a special Thanksgiving dinner was held.

Also an annual event,

the Lone Soldier Center in memory of Michael Levin,

sponsors a mega turkey meal for lone soliders.

Away from families,

these young men and women, in uniform or out,

have come from around the world to enlist in IDF.

Not just Americans participated,

Mexico, Australia, Canada, Ukraine, and Great Britain,

did not matter where you were from,

good food and fun, if you get leave, you come.

Close to a thousand solders came this year.

Education Minister Naftali Bennett came,

and gave thanks for their contribution to Israel.

MK Michael Oren, who is a former lone soldier,

often participates in these events.

It took two hours to drive to Tel Aviv in the rain,

but glad we went to see the wonderful energy and fun.

Now time for Shabbat,

with turkey and most all the fixings,

still miss fresh cranberry sauce,

but will make do with lots of other side dishes.

From Jerusalem, giving thanks.

שבת שלום

Shabbat shalom.

More photos HERE

Jerusalem Formula Road Show

October 7, 2014rjstreets

For two days the Jerusalem Formula 2014 Road Show

shut down some Jerusalem, Israel streets.

Naftali Bennett advised a group of visiting Vietnamese government officials,

if there are two Jews, there will be three opinions,

and for this event there certainly were different opinions.

The weather was warm and sky clear,

as the opening stretched an hour over scheduled time.

There is no special track in Israel for racing

and knowledge of race cars is limited,

Many do not know a Blu blue car

from another blue car.

But for the second year,

beautiful fast machines

were out near the Old City to impressive.

The track was not a loop like last year,

so it was easy at Tower of David

where cars turned around to take photos.

But I did get this car speeding up.

A big difference this year was that several young Israelis were featured:

one was Roy Nissany.

More Israeli flags were out this year.

Terry Grant not only smoked up the street with his spinning Hot Rod,

but got out, walked away, and then got back in the moving vehicle,

all without wearing a helmet.

And then there were the motorcycles,

flying over the streets

upside down

and sideways,

with riders doing amazing stunts,

as crowds lined the show areas.

Do we need to shut down streets before a holiday

(a summer event had to be postponed)

or any time for this spectacle?

I heard an American tourist say,

“Seems to me to be a lot of money and noise for not so much.”

As we walked the long way around because of barriers on the track,

she added that she was 66 years old,

and does not think the same way she did when she was 16.

Young people were excited and came out to see the cars,

thousands were out to see,

what was happening on the Jerusalem, Israel streets.

Mayor Nir Barkat and Eugene Kaspersky think motorsport history has been made in Jerusalem

and that it is great and an investment for the future,,

but many others disagree.

Now enough with cars,

it is time to prepare for Sukkot,

but if you want to see more of that crazy motorcycle show,

please click HERE.

Inspiration from Story of Esther Today

February 6, 2014rjstreets

Yet another red alert in southern Israel!

Talk of SodaStream ads and photos of Scarlett Johansonn

have made headlines around the world.

But I want to share some photos of real women in Jerusalem, Israel,

that did not make the headlines this week.

Thousands gathered on Thursday evening

at the Kotel, the Western Wall,

for a special service with silver trumpets,

with tehilim, psalms, and prayers,

ending as the sun was setting with the Shema Yisrael.

Housing Minister Uri Ariel was one politician who showed his face.

But did you read anywhere

that the women’s section at the Kotel was full?

Thousands of women were

praying for the future of Israel.

Also, this week was the Jerusalem Conference.

Out of the ten Jerusalem prize winners awarded there,

Geulah Cohen was only woman to receive the honor.

Avraham Duvdevani was presented a certificate by Naftali Bennett.

Interesting that younger attendees had never heard of Duvdevani

and his contribution to Zionism and aliyah.

Last year I thought the lively “discussions” were because it was pre-election season.

But, with Rav Yisrael Rozen in the middle,

MK Avi Wurtzman and former MK Michael Ben-Ari had quite an exchange

over government funding for education and families.

The entire panel got involved,

but when MK Ayelet Shaked got the microphone

and started to speak, everyone quieted down.

We may have had the driest January in history,

but this week we had enough rain to make tires spin on wet streets.

The week- long Mothers say YES to Israeli Sovereignty vigil

near the Prime Minister’s House started off on a gloomy, wet day.

But there were plenty of cookies and drinks as former MK Arieh Eldad spoke.

All week long there has been a schedule of speakers.

The sun was shining when Rabbanit Shani Taragin led a class.

Even a neighbor coming to complain of noise could not stop her.

In an amazing Torah class she talked of Esther and Vashti,

so timely as Purim is coming.

Every child has had a special day of fun this week in school.

The story of Esther is one of taking action, not giving in to an evil decree,

of not obeying a monarch, and of our survival and hope for future.

And finally to end on a bright note, the strawberries that were piled high in

the shuk, the Machane Yehuda market, were so red I had to stop and look.

Maybe John Kerry keeps coming back to get away from the snow in US

and because he loves the strawberries that are in season in Israel?

Yihyeh beseder.