Pillbox – The Real Jerusalem Streets

What’s Happening on Jerusalem Streets after Holidays?

October 24, 2017October 24, 2017Sharon A

After the chagim, after the holidays.

The holiday visitors have gone.

Now what? Plenty.

The universities are finally starting.

The Knesset is back in session after long break.

Way too much is happening in Jerusalem to keep up.

The imposing Tower of David (ToD)

was open for the launch of its new Innovation Lab.

These old statues were being relocated,

and over 20 technology startups in augmented reality/virtual reality,

AR/VR, were being presented.

Click and see history of 3000 years unfold!

With glasses like these,

one day you will be able sit at home

and feel as if you were in Herod’s old fortress.

And with these glasses,

eye movements can operate a robot.

Much more is happening and planned for AR/VR.

It all sounds like science fiction,

but is being developed daily to enhance the museum experience

and improve quality of life.

Oh the contrast of old and new!

Outside those walls of the Old City, near Jaffa Gate,

these Christian tourists were singing and dancing,

while across the street a woman was sorting

the olives she had just taken from this olive tree.

Olive harvesting is nearly finished for this year.

However, new festivals are beginning.

Here are 3 favorites of new Hebrew signs.

Until I saw it in English,

I had hard time understanding,

the Lev Smadar Theater is hosting “Eclectic Jerusalem” cultural films.

Then there is this sign for an illustration and poetry,

“Out-Line Festival.”

And how about an International Animation Festival

in Jerusalem, at Cinematheque?

Not enough?

Houses WithIn, now called “Open House”

starts on Thursday, with 117 interesting and free tours.

Some are fascinating sites open to public,

some are announced as free access,

others were fully booked at warp speed.

Poor Folks’ Cemetery or the Har Herzl military cemetery,

famous private homes

or the Jerusalem home of the Electric Company, are a few options.

The Pillbox in Rechavia was opened last year.

It was less than comfortable inside and a worse photo op,

but it was interesting to hear about.

Photos from the International Jerusalem

Jewish Contemporary Art Bienalle will have to wait for next time.

Oh and soon, Open Restaurants – 5 days, 100 options!

More next time,

will see how many I can get to.

So much is happening on the Jerusalem streets.

Jerusalem Summer Colors

July 4, 2017July 18, 2017Sharon A

Summertime in Jerusalem, Israel, when it gets hot,

it is often hard to walk outside.

In the evening, sometimes it cools off.

A photo walk provides a great excuse to leave

my air conditioned room.

Though plants are drying out from the harsh sun,

there is new color to be found.

These British Mandate post boxes in

Yemin Moshe have been painted bright red.

The Rechavia Pillbox has British soldiers again.

I doubt the British army dressed like that

back in the summers of 1930’s in Jerusalem.

This live bird on top of Lion’s Fountain,

had gotten my attention.

The water has stopped flowing at the top,

but children still cool off in the fountain below.

However,

Teddy Fountain is more popular these days, and nights.

This view at sunset never tires,

always a new color reflected on the walls at sunset.

Also in Yemin Moshe,

windows with flowers,

and its stairs are always photo worthy.

The flowers this time of year,

I love the colors,

though the heat wave has faded many of these.

The light festival is over.

The Maccabiah sports events have concluded.

Thousands came from around the world.

Tens of thousands participated in the Night Run

racing through the streets of Jerusalem.

The annual Jerusalem Film Festival is going strong,

with new this year,

multiple community showings for children.

Families are encouraged to come out in the evening

for these free films.

Hot, but still,

so many things happening on the Jerusalem streets.

10 Photos of this Week in Jerusalem

June 21, 2017Sharon A

I love a day when the weather is the top news.

Last night, as the sun set, cool winds came across the city.

I thought my camera lens was dirty,

but those were clouds over the Old City.

As it got darker, more clouds blew in over

the Montefiore Windmill and the King David Hotel.

By morning, the sky looked winter grey,

and certainly not like the first day of summer.

But by afternoon, most of the clouds were gone,

and it was back to sunny warm streets and a normal June day.

A great time to get out and appreciate the Judean hillside.

This view is just minutes from Malha Mall,

and was taken from these lovely gardens.

This week’s exciting event (for some people) was a visit by

18 US football “Hall of Famers.”

Willie Lanier of the Kansas City Chiefs

was wearing Jerusalem on his hat at the end of his visit.

It goes well with his Canton, OH, Hall of Fame shirt.

Thousands tried to meet and

photograph their favorite sports stars.

I was told that I missed Joe Montana by seconds.

Oh well.

It was better than standing in the heat outside

the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs waiting for security.

The Simon Wiesenthal Center and

the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung Israel held a conference there

on digital terrorism and hate speech on the internet.

I am afraid you will be hearing lots more

on this EchoChamber in the future,

as cyber terrorists look for new ways to attack.

The next day was

the Eli Hurvitz Conference on Economy and Society,

of the Israel Democracy Institute,

where we heard that Israel, the ‘Start-Up Nation’,

is #52 in the world in the ease of opening a business.

Changes must be made in taxation, regulation and bureaucracy

in order to get Israel to the next level

to be known as the ‘Nation of Innovation’.

After two days inside, it was good to get out.

Our local pillbox got a much needed painting.

This new sign was posted for Beit Avi Chai.

Lists of children’s summer programs are planned,

but this informs us that July 6 will be Leila Lavan.

an all-night loud summer music party.

Mekudeshet, a festival working hard on integrating cultures,

is also planning a long list of events for this summer.

If you remember the photo I posted of the Mamilla Hotel,

there is now a fourth banner flag on the building.

The 2017 Macabbiah will be bringing tens of thousands

of international Jewish athletes to Jerusalem, Israel.

All of this is amazing.

Especially if you stop and reflect

that all of the above locations,

from the Pillbox to those hills,

were mostly empty and barren, except for rocks,

not so very many years ago.

And Mamilla Mall and Mishkanot-Shaananim,

were dangerous zones inhabited by the poorest of poor.