Old City – Page 18 – The Real Jerusalem Streets

Jerusalem Lights 2013

June 6, 2013rjstreets

Jerusalem, Israel is once again hosting an international

festival of lights in The Old City.

Opening night attracted tens of thousands of people.

Young and old, foreign visitors,

and all of Jerusalem’s diverse population were represented.

Thousands had cameras, and countless

photographers were armed with tripods to get perfect night shots.

As usual the problem is deciding which trail to follow first.

I decided to start with the blue trail

which went through the streets of the Christian Quarter.

I want to share a few of my favorites.

So let’s start with

the impressive Israeli light display in the Cardo.

I confess that I had to consult my map on this one.

Heinz Kasper used plastic bottles in this piece which was displayed

in front of the Hurva Synagogue in the Rova, Jewish Quarter.

In another courtyard in the Rova,

the light displayed on this building along with music,

Ocubo’s Garden of our Dreams, from Portugal was popular.

The Israeli created changing colored lights with music

on the archeological park was impressive.

But nearby, as alway the Kotel, the Western Wall

lit at night was an impressive sight.

This moving ballerina was popular to video.

“Tree of LIfe” was displayed on Shar Shechem, Damascus Gate.

I thought the pinball machine there last year was more clever.

There were many light displays along the streets of the Old City,

and it is very hard to see all three trails in one night.

But I am so glad that friends told me not to miss the cave.

At the end of the green trail was Zedekiah’s Cave.

Deep under ground, from Holland was “Lotus Dome.”

However, the colored lights along the natural walls were stunning.

The Arab media was at Damascus Gate.

Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat was doing live radio from Jaffa Gate.

“Les Lumineoles” from France floated in the sky near Jaffa Gate,

with the illuminated walls of The Old City in the distance.

Jerusalem was a city of lights of the world to the world.

Tower of David Museum’s New Threads

May 29, 2013rjstreets

Even after a really busy day, I could not pass up a chance to attend

the opening of a new exhibit at the Tower of David Museum.

Summer of Inspiration: “Threads” exhibit is now on view

down inside the ancient fortress of the Tower of David.

Ten Israeli fashion designers have created

original costumes around the theme of ‘Women of Jerusalem’.

There are dresses for Queen Helena

and the Queen of Sheba.

Want to try to guess who inspired this red number?

This is an outfit for Salome Alexandra

and this one for Shira.

This black and white outfit is very prim & proper

as is the dress for Hemda Ben-Yeuhda.

But this one for Melisende

and this one for Roxelana are as unusual as the names of the women.

No matter what you think of these designer fashions and the show,

I think we might all agree,

that while it is impressive by day,

as the sun sets and the lights go on,

the Tower of David is even more magnificent!

These one-of-a-kind fashions and their photographs

will be on display in the museum until October.

New threads in an ancient fortress,

where else could this be happening,

but in Jerusalem, Israel?

WOW – What a Rosh Chodesh at the Wall

May 13, 2013rjstreets

Rosh Chodesh Sivan at the Kotel, the Western Wall,

was not just any old prayer time for the new month.

The Women of the Wall were coming to pray at the Kotel.

Until Friday, I had stayed away from this monthly event,

figuring that there was enough publicity without me.

This time I had to see for myself what was really happening.

Arriving at 6:30 am,

the size of the huge crowd and the press were overwhelming.

The press has covered the dreadful behavior of Haredi men.

Most were young boys, but there are no excuses for their acting like animals.

The shouting, pushing, and deafening whistles were so upsetting,

the experience is impossible to express adequately in words.

What in the world did they think they were accomplishing?

How could any rabbi condone this?

Throwing of a bag full of sewer water was most shocking,

its stench lasted all morning.

Police grabbed the suspect immediately, however.

I wonder if the two girls on the right

will ever forget being in the middle of such a distressing scene?

Here one woman is being pulled back by security.

There were several incidents of Women of Wall supporters

going over toward barriers to provoke the men.

The media that gathered around the Women of the Wall

at times outnumbered the number of women inside the police circle.

Security people certainly outnumbered the WOW supporters,

and were everywhere recording the events.

Were there any empty spaces for watching the scenes unfold?

Rabbi of the Kotel Shmuel Rabinovitch,

Jerusalem Deputy Mayor Yitzchak Pindrus,

and other officials were present for some of the time.

Security did a great job to keep control of the mob-like crowd,

and kept them away from the Women of the Wall in the plaza.

I was able to fill an entire photo album called Bad Boys – Wall of Shame,

though of course, not all present were abusive or involved directly.

But as usual, there was more happening than the press showed.

There were those who were actually trying to pray at The Kotel

for the morning service for Rosh Chodesh.

And there were thousands and thousands of women and girls,

who came to support a new group called Women for the Wall.

That beautiful scene at the Kotel did not make the news,

even though their numbers were by far the greatest.

As we enter the Shavuot holiday, a time of beginnings,

a time to remember acts of goodness,

it is acts of goodness that will bring our salvation,

not acts of provocation or baseless hatred.

More photos from WOW and W4W

HERE