Oh, what a year it has been in Jerusalem, Israel!
Oh, what a week it has been!
Where to start?
It’s been a year since Jerusalem’s Old City walls were lit with flags of Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates in honor of the Abraham Accords.
This week the first Israeli baby was born in UAE, Mia’s father is the Israeli General Consul in Dubai. Because of coronavirus normalization has not gone as fast as many would have liked.
Still waiting to show new Twitter friends the real Jerusalem streets when they are finally able to travel here.
Too many lights over the Jerusalem, Israel streets to see the meteor show, but we did have a clear view of the new moon, over the entrance to the city filled with construction cranes. Building and moving are major themes this week in and around Jerusalem.
New decorations keep popping up over the city center.
People have returned in large numbers to the outdoor spaces.
During the heat of the day, I try to stay off the streets. Jaffa Gate was not filled with the usual tourists, but a slow, steady stream of visitors.
Large gatherings are in danger of being canceled with the new COVID19 regulations and rising numbers of people sick with coronavirus.
However, small musical groups played along Ben Yehuda mall, with children and cats as part of the audience. When it gets so hot, the cats are smart enough to avoid the Jerusalem streets until late in the day.
At Zion Square, the renovated plaza with benches and shade, people appreciated having a place to sit under the newly colorfully decorated large trees.
The tours for Israelis who are not leaving for summer vacation, as usual, are popular and seen in many locations.
This tour group was in the area behind the King David Hotel.
Competing with a performance of Shakespeare in the Park. Theater in the Rough is back! Last year these annual outdoor events were not held.
This week the segway tours and dog walkers passed by on one side.
While from Bloomfield Park, one could also see the Tower of David where people flew by on a wire.
This year it’s Henry IV in Motion performed until the end of August.
This is the only Shakespeare group in the world acting with the wall of the Old City as background. An annual favorite on mine, more HERE
From Hansen House, the towering structure called Ester is still an impressive sight at night.
Lights lead into the former leper hospital from the main gate to the renovated new cultural venue.
I had not noticed these gravestones in the back garden before this week.
I assume that the lights and stands were set ready for one of the scenes of a theatrical performance taking place at Hansen House. With theaters closed so much of the past year, acting companies moved venues and outside.
The new Agam-designed mezuzah on Heichel Shlomo said to be the largest in the world, is easily seen from outside, but not so easy to photograph.
Not all construction work seems to have progressed this past year, it appears that the Knesset Museum still has a long way to go.
In the past year, Beit Avi Chai moved most of its programs online.
New corona warnings and rising numbers were announced this past week. While signs with Miriam Perez urging people to come to Jerusalem and enjoy the festivals and happenings are all around. Not elected Israeli President, she is donating money from her new modeling ad campaign to good causes.
Meanwhile, if the people who are walking on the Jerusalem streets look up from their phones, they will see that there are flowers blooming all along the streets.
There are these new lights near the Prime Minister’s residence to light up the night at the entrance to Balfour Street.
The month of August is half over, and it’s summer holiday time.
However, the big question is whether all schools will open on time.
No one really knows what will be next, but if you want to see the latest Corona regulations updated from Prime Minister’s office I posted HERE
New Rosh Hashanah art posters are up along the streets.
Hard to believe the year 5781 is almost over. Oh, what a year it was!
It’s the count-down time to the holidays. Selihot services and various selihot tours have been announced, too many to mention. No idea where we will be praying this year.
But for the first time in over a year, we had family for Shabbat dinner. Plus I was ready with some of it in time for a photo, chicken was still in the oven.
Oh, what a week it was!
What will happen next on the Jerusalem streets?
