Purim costumes – Page 4 – The Real Jerusalem Streets

Purim Favorites

March 11, 2012rjstreets

As the sun set in Jerusalem on Friday,

after days of dressing up and celebrating, Shushan Purim came to an end.

Even though Purim is over, I would like to share a few favorites.

Sometimes it is hard to tell what is a Purim joke

and what isn’t, but this sign in Mamilla Mall did get attention.

Mountains of candy are bought for and consumed on and after Purim,

Machane Yehuda Market, the shuk, is a favorite place to get the right thing.

In the Rova, The Jewish Quarter in the Old City,

this Fiddler on the Roof costume was a favorite of the afternoon crowd.

But in Mamilla Mall,

I liked the Israeli soldier carefully watching the duck.

The emergency medical crews were wonderful, responding quickly

to aid young men and women who had too much to drink.

Men were falling down and staggering alone in moving traffic;

it is truly a Purim miracle that no one was killed.

One young woman in the Old City was sitting on the street crying,

not a pretty picture with her mascara running down her face.

There was feasting and singing in the Old City,

but the sights of excessive drinking were depressing.

I wonder what went through the minds of unsuspecting tourists?

Then as I started home, I spotted this young yeshiva student making balloons

and giving them to passing children. What a simple and uplifting sight…

even more so when I realized that the young man is my nephew!

The clear skies were wonderful for photographs

and the warm weather was great for being outside.

Many who were out during the day

were surprised to find themselves sunburned when they got home.

And near the end of the day, my favorite:

even with drunken Jews on the streets of Jerusalem…

Arab families felt safe enough to shop and go for a stroll on the mall.

Security on Shushan Purim

March 23, 2011rjstreets

Dozens of missiles keep coming from Gaza into many parts of southern Israel.

Jerusalem was on a high security alert for the Purim holiday

and there were more police uniforms in sight than usual.

Near Jaffa Gate, an ad for a food festival in the Old City was hard to miss,

but as Muslim prayers ended on Friday, security was hard to find.

Not the regular security in Malcha Mall

or selling bread in the Machane Yehuda Market, the shuk.

Most of the world celebrates Purim for one night and the following day…

in Jerusalem it goes on and on.

First there are weeks of school events, then the Fast of Esther on Thursday,

and the megillah, the story of Purim, is read three days later on Sunday night.

Mishloach manot, gifts of food, are delivered on Monday.

On Shushan Purim, March 21, Mamilla Mall

fills with colorful characters large

and small.

There is face painting,

more costumes,

and photo opportunities.

The large crowds

include everyone from Spiderman to

this Aussie bloke

and a mystery man.

It is way too warm for a real snow ball fight at Kikar Safra,

Safra Square’s snow and ice event,

so there are cotton ball fights instead.

But on Shushan Purim

the place to be

is on nearby Shushan Street!

The little side street is packed

with people

enjoying

the many street performers

and entertainers.

Even this Purim post is going on and on...

and everything from the buses

to pets are in holiday mode.

It is such a colorful day.

A light rail train near Shushan had to make an emergency stop,

and security is called…

to remove a party hat from the track.

Music fills many Jerusalem streets and goes on well into the night.

What next?

What could be bigger?

Friday the city will come to a complete standstill

for the first Jerusalem full marathon;

if you cannot walk or run…better to just stay home.

More Purim photos on The Real Jerusalem Streets’ Facebook page.

Attire to Inspire for Purim in Jerusalem

February 16, 2011March 3, 2024rjstreets

As 3 potential US presidential candidates ended their visits in Jerusalem,

the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations

arrived for their annual meeting, but with increased security precautions,

there are often no public displays announcing such visitors.

However, the president of East Timor has flags lining his route.

In a week with every kind of weather,

the flags add color on a drab, cold rainy day,

President Ramos-Horta’s visits Beit Hanasi,

the official residence of President Shimon Peres.

Official visitors do not affect most people , they are much more concerned

about the price of gasoline,

and, of course, the situation in Egypt, Iran, and the rest of the Middle East.

With all the political unrest, the IDF has a new leader,

Lt-General Benny Gantz,

and his first stop as the 20th chief officer was at the Kotel, Western Wall.

Thousands of others visited the Kotel the same day,

and some of their outfits might help solve the dilemma…

what to wear on Purim?

Mordechai

and Shushan are names found all year around in Jerusalem.

This being a leap year,

there is an extra month of Adar, more time to prepare for the holiday.

From the amazingly diverse Jerusalem streets,

some ‘everyday’ attire to inspire.

There are female visitors

and male visitors in colorful clothes.

There are those dressed in all white,

or of course, in basic black.

These men on their way to Beit Hanasi, walking near

the Jerusalem Theater, prefer black and white.

Colorful hats are now on display.

Wigs are always popular.

Can’t wait to see what people will look like

when they actually dress up in Purim costumes next month!