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.
![image prayer protest, photo prayer at Western wall, picture Al quds](http://realjerusalemstreets.files.wordpress.com/2014/02/dsc_6026fb.jpg)
Thousands gathered on Thursday evening
![image Kossel, photo Kosel, picture Al Quds](http://realjerusalemstreets.files.wordpress.com/2014/02/dsc_6004b.jpg)
at the Kotel, the Western Wall,
![image prayer at Western Wall, photo Western Wall, picture Kosel,](http://realjerusalemstreets.files.wordpress.com/2014/02/dsc_5987bjl.jpg)
for a special service with silver trumpets,
with tehilim, psalms, and prayers,
![image man praying, photo man covering eyes. picture man praying](http://realjerusalemstreets.files.wordpress.com/2014/02/dsc_6010b.jpg)
ending as the sun was setting with the Shema Yisrael.
![image Uri Ariel, photo MK URi ARiel, picture Uri Ariel at western wall](http://realjerusalemstreets.files.wordpress.com/2014/02/dsc_6011fb.jpg)
Housing Minister Uri Ariel was one politician who showed his face.
But did you read anywhere
![prayer photo, image women praying at western wall, picture women praying](http://realjerusalemstreets.files.wordpress.com/2014/02/dsc_5955b.jpg)
that the women’s section at the Kotel was full?
![image women praying, photo praying, picture women at Kossel](http://realjerusalemstreets.files.wordpress.com/2014/02/dsc_5980b.jpg)
Thousands of women were
![image kosel, photo Western Wall, picture Kosel](http://realjerusalemstreets.files.wordpress.com/2014/02/dsc_6017b.jpg)
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.
![image Jerusalem prize, photo Jerusalem prize, image Nafatali bennetnt, photo Naftali Bennet](http://realjerusalemstreets.files.wordpress.com/2014/02/dsc_6141b.jpg)
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.
![photo Israeli politicians, image Michael Ben Ari, picutre Avi Wurtzman](http://realjerusalemstreets.files.wordpress.com/2014/02/dsc_6108b.jpg)
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.
![image panel at Jerusalem Conference, picture Rabbi, photo Israeli politicians](http://realjerusalemstreets.files.wordpress.com/2014/02/dsc_6117b.jpg)
The entire panel got involved,
![image Ayelet Shaked, photo Ayelet Shaked speaking, image Ayelet Shaked](http://realjerusalemstreets.files.wordpress.com/2014/02/dsc_6126fb.jpg)
but when MK Ayelet Shaked got the microphone
![image Ayelet Shaked, photo Israeli politicians, picture Ayelet Shaked,](http://realjerusalemstreets.files.wordpress.com/2014/02/dsc_6124bjpg.jpg)
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.
![image tent, protest sign, photo mother vigil](http://realjerusalemstreets.files.wordpress.com/2014/02/dsc_6097ib.jpg)
The week- long Mothers say YES to Israeli Sovereignty vigil
near the Prime Minister’s House started off on a gloomy, wet day.
![photo Nadai Matar, picutre Arieh Eldad, image food at protest](http://realjerusalemstreets.files.wordpress.com/2014/02/dsc_6082ic.jpg)
But there were plenty of cookies and drinks as former MK Arieh Eldad spoke.
All week long there has been a schedule of speakers.
![photo tent, image Shani Taragin class, picture women studying.](http://realjerusalemstreets.files.wordpress.com/2014/02/dsc_6191b.jpg)
The sun was shining when Rabbanit Shani Taragin led a class.
![image vigil, photo Mothers say Yes, picture vigal at Prime MInister's hOuse](http://realjerusalemstreets.files.wordpress.com/2014/02/dsc_6197b.jpg)
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.
![photo shuk fruti, image strawberries, picture strawberries in market](http://realjerusalemstreets.files.wordpress.com/2014/02/dsc_6233b.jpg)
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.