Purim costumes – Page 3 – The Real Jerusalem Streets

Israel Museum Fancy Dress and Old Masks for Purim Inspiration

March 12, 2014rjstreets

Purim time.

Time for things to be upside down.

Postal workers were on strike for a day.

Some of the light rail workers were striking too.

The Knesset members were not showing up to vote – on purpose.

The foreign service workers are they still striking?

And David Cameron is to arrive in Jerusalem, Israel.

What a great time to get away from it all.

A new exhibit, opened in the Israel Museum,

Dress Codes, Revealing the Jewish Wardrobe.

Israel Museum Director James Snyder gave an introduction.

First were garments worn by Jewish women from Central Asia,

influenced by Muslim society, they certainly were not very revealing.

As Jews migrated from Mashhad, Iran to Afghanistan,

they took the chador with them.

This was what a mid-20th century Jewish woman wore in the streets of Herat.

However, Rock stars could find inspiration

in the underneath garments on display.

Clothing was influenced by environment and reflects history.

The robe design for Israeli Chief Sephardi Rabbi came from Turkey,

the red number to the left from Morocco.

Now a few favorite photos,

Men’s belts, earliest male bling?

Elegant white wedding dresses from many parts of world.

Baby Gap was not first to make children’s clothes like little adult wear.

This ornate wedding dress from Turkey was interesting.

Unlike in today’s disposable society, a wedding dress was worn for a life time.

Curator Efrat Assaf-Shapira explained how when a woman died,

the fabric could be used to make a parochet,

a special cover for ark where Torah scrolls are stored.

Along with colorful scarves,

was a special talit, prayer shawl.

If these do not give you some inspiration for Purim,

then across the hall,

check out the ancient masks.

These masks from thousands of years ago,

were found in the Judean hills.

After the very popular Herod, this is indeed a change.

You have six months to see Dress Codes,

if you miss it let me know, I have more photos for you.

Welcome Presidents to Jerusalem Winter Noise

February 19, 2014rjstreets

February,

it was so warm outside that I could not walk in the morning sun,

yet inside this afternoon I need boots, a sweater and to put on heat!

The US had Presidents Day,

but we also had our share of Presidents this week.

Flags were flying for Peru President Ollanta Humala’s visit.

The annual Conference of Presidents of Major Jewish Organizations

held its 40th Mission this week in Jerusalem, Israel.

Not just presidents attended the main dinner event.

US Ambassador to Israel Dan Shapiro was welcomed by

Malcolm Hoenlein, the executive vice chairman of the Conference.

After Shapiro spoke and left,

Hoenlein and PM Benjamin Netanyahu put their heads together.

I already blogged about that speech on Israellycool in a lite way,

but today showed we can make a difference.

I wondered what Moshe Arens was thinking as he listened.

The size of the gift from Hoenlein to the Prime Minister was a joking matter!

UPDATE:

Later in the week President Shimon Peres got the same gift.

With intense security precautions and not full ballroom,

that dinner was worlds away from what was happening right outside.

Every Monday night in February, in a different site is

a Jerusalem street festival called שאון חורף – Winter Noise.

This week all of Azza Street,

starting across from the Prime Ministers’ residence was the happening.

Along the way were several musical groups,

illuminated buildings,

and street acts, many hard to describe or photograph.

Sorry I did not get in all of the skis, but think I got all the flags.

Just please do not ask me what this was supposed to be,

and I will spare you of more

‘I have no idea what this is supposed to be’ acts.

I am sure that I have that graffiti face in other street photos.

The mikvah for women located in Yad Tamar finally reopened,

after it was shut for a very long time for repairs.

I could not help feel sorry for some young tourist using it that night!

Usually boring and quiet, the building was bright

and people were dancing in street outside.

Hundreds of people were out and many were drinking beer.

Trying to control drinking, at one main site

signs were posted for 18-year old entrance and IDs.

Who knows what these two men must have thought?

Perhaps like they had found themselves in another planet!

The next morning the street was clean.

This the only sign of Winter Noise,

though I imagine at least a few people had some dark circles

under their eyes from lack of sleep.

Watch out Ein Kerem, it is your turn next week.

Never know what you will find next on the Jerusalem streets.

I would like to mention that

photos are available for purchase.

Purim, Purim and still Purim?

February 27, 2013rjstreets

I used to think that if Purim was more than one day, it would be easier,

as spreading out the celebration would make it less intense and less tiring.

Oh, was I wrong!

Purim holiday celebrations begin early in Jerusalem, Israel,

and continue well after others have ended.

While the rest of the world went back to work,

Jerusalem was still in full holiday mode.

Many synagogues and Megillat Esther readings were colorful events.

This year zombies and witches roamed the streets at night.

There were some really great shades of hair: blue, purple,

and fluorescent green.

These Israeli soldiers were wearing green too, as they sat in front of the

Hurva Synagogue listening to their tour guide, they were the real thing.

But who here is in a Purim costume?

Sometimes it was easy to tell the costumes,

but other times it was not so easy to decide

who in Jerusalem was dressing up for Purim.

I am pretty sure this was a mask.

Often a hat was enough

to share the festive mood.

Streets actors on stilts performed in Mamilla Mall,

but they were not the only big people in costumes.

For fancy dresses of all sizes,

Purim was a colorful time,

celebrated

in many ways.

Smurfs were popular – this one was a head turner,

as was this hair cut.

Purim, a time of costumes,

hair and smiles,

food and feasting and drinking.

And as every year on Purim, I am fascinated how many

Arab families are out

sharing the same streets.

Until next year,

Happy Purim.

Still not enough?

Then you can see more photos here.