Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu – Page 5 – The Real Jerusalem Streets

Prime Minister Stephen Harper from Where?

January 22, 2014rjstreets

Timing and location are everything.

I was feeling badly for Romanian President Basescu who is here for an official state visit.

Though the Romanian flag was flying over some main Jerusalem, Israel streets,

his visit seemed so overshadowed by

the visit of Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper and his wife Laureen.

PM Harper received a red carpet welcome,

and a full honor guard review.

Israeli political leaders lined up to shake his hand,

along with Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat and many religious leaders,

and Jewish leaders from Canada.

It was as close to a royal reception as you will find in Israel.

But then I talked with an Israeli receptionist,

she was much more interested in my camera than these photos.

She had no idea who Harper was and seemed to care less.

One of those famous Jerusalem chutzpah cats

came through to check out the flowers and red carpet.

But unless you were stuck in traffic with all the various motorcades,

it seems possible not to have even noticed.

As a new snow storm is hitting North America,

the weather here has been perfect.

The trees damaged in the Jerusalem December snow in Gan Sacher, Sacher Park

look stark against the blue sky,

but the first wild flowers of spring are popping out.

The overseas visitors are heading home,

and the Israeli President and Prime Minister are leaving

for the World Economic Conference in Davos,

so the Jerusalem streets should be a bit quieter for a few days.

Perfect time to head out for lunch in an out-door cafe,

and enjoy the warm sunny weather,

another good reason to be living in Jerusalem, Israel.

Federation General Assembly Goes out in New Style

November 13, 2013rjstreets

The 82nd Annual General Assembly of Jewish Federations of North America,

the GA, met in Jerusalem, Israel, over three days this week.

The first night Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was main speaker

at the Jerusalem International Convention Center – ICC.

I spent two days inside the ICC, following a program called

“The Global Jewish Shuk: A Marketplace of Dialogue and Debate,”

so it was great that the farewell ceremony was held outside.

These chairs and a small stage were set up for GA delegates

and many others in Kikar Safra, Safra Square.

Minister Naftali Bennett was the featured government speaker,

and he showed off his best English for the Anglo crowd.

Michael Siegal thanked Ronny Douek and

Susie and Michael Gelman for chairing the convention.

And then,

with Mayor Nir Barkat and Natan Sharansky at his side,

he led the crowd out of the government plaza

to the sounds of a real brass band.

With small US, Israeli and GA flags,

they walked along the Walls of the Old City,

past Jaffa Gate,

and up the narrow stone steps,

with more music and more flag waving along the route.

These children waiting to cross the street in the Old City parking lot

got an eyeful as colorful entertainers joined the GA participants.

The route took them to the new area at Robinson’s Arch.

My challenge is to share with you what it looks like now.

This metal platform is constructed up against the wall,

the same huge wall as the Kotel, the Western Wall.

These massive ancient stones have not been moved.

From this platform one can reach up to place a note in the wall

from an area where men and women are not separated and can pray together.

This is the new area, the large platform on the upper left,

that Naftali Bennett talked about at the farewell ceremony,

part of a temporay plan while Natan Sharansky

is trying to work out as a compromise

for Women of the Wall to have Rosh Chodesh singing

and other egalitarian prayer services.

A plaza open to the public was important for this group,

and the GA ended their conference here, as the sun was setting.

I passed thousands more tourists from around the world,

coming down the stairs to the Kotel, to the Western Wall,

to experience the ancient and holy place.

I started to walk home,

after two days of going to exhibit booths,

listening to speakers, meeting new people, running into friends,

and talking and talking, talking too much,

and taking way too many photos.

One woman told me as we were walking, and yes, more talking,

that once she got to Israel, she has not been afraid even once.

I am so glad she also got to know the real Jerusalem streets.

Jerusalem’s Montefiore Windmill Returns

August 31, 2012rjstreets

Today, after more than 150 years, the afternoon wind was again

turning the blades of the Montefiore Windmill in Jerusalem.

The Windmill, initiated by Sir Moses Montefiore to aid

the “Suffering Jews in the Holy Land” was completed in 1857

and operated for around twenty years.

Montefiore’s goal was to help the poor of the Jewish community

grind their grain for bread and support themselves.

It was the first project built outside the Walls of the Old City

in the Mishkenot Sha’ananim-Yemin Moshe Jewish neighborhood.

The Old City Walls in the distance are easy to see from the plaza,

where a few name cards from the reserved seats were the only sign today of

the Montefiore Windmill rededication and ribbon cutting ceremony

that took place in the evening of August 28, 2012.

A restored Montefiore carriage is now on display behind protective glass

after it was vandalized and burned in 1986.

During the reception the door was open and I was able to go inside.

After months of construction and delays

Jerusalem Foundation president Mark Sofer had plenty to smile about.

The Windmill is not exactly the same as the original though,

as it has an electric motor and security systems.

Maybe it was the crepes,

the ice cream,

or the wine and fruit at the reception,

but everyone seemed to be smiling on Tuesday.

When Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks,

there is extra security all around

and extra cameras.

A short video showed the barren area in the 19th century.

What a contrast to the Jerusalem of today.

Christians for Israel from the Netherlands worked hard on this project.

There were Christian representatives from Holland,

as well as the Dutch Chief Rabbi, Rabbi Binyomin Jacobs present.

Jerusalem, Israel Mayor Nir Barkat, like the Prime Minister,

spoke about his childhood experiences playing in the area.

The blades of the windmill started to turn again,

but they are not just there to look at

as an important National Heritage Site,

the plan is to grind grain and sell the bread made from it to the public.

Of course, there were speeches,

it would really be too long to list all the officials present,

however, for a short video click here.

The Prime Minister spoke of the symbol of ruach,

which can be translated as wind or spirit:

there was wind and a beautiful spirit as the Windmill returned.

For more photos see The Real Jerusalem Streets Facebook Page.