Shaon Horef – Page 2 – The Real Jerusalem Streets

Back on the Jerusalem Streets

February 27, 2022February 27, 2022Sharon A

My grandfather left Russia as a teenager for the US in the early 1900s.

Often I have thought about how different life would have been if he stayed in Odessa with his brother. Families were kept apart for decades by the Iron Curtain. A medical emergency and a “random” encounter involving a neighbor and a photo brought our cousins from the FSU back into our family and our lives.

Especially this week the impact has been hard to ignore.

The sun was shining after days of rain, so glad it was nice to get out again and the first thing I did was walk to Jaffa Road.

Yes, it was true. The Putin Pub had covered over its sign and only a faint ‘P’ could be seen. No, I was not the only one stopping to take photos.

But much more to share of what was happening in Jerualem this past week.

The changing Jerusalem, Israel, skyline will be a shock to those who have not been here the past two years during the pandemic closings.

Though most restrictions are to be lifted on March 1st, there are plenty of tourists walking on the Jerusalem streets now. Tour guides had extremely difficult times during the past two years. It was good to see my friend with a nice group again.

After missing last year, the Conference of Presidents was back in town.

New Conference CEO William Daroff had a lot to smile about.

In one of the sessions on the record and extremely timely, the US, China, and Russia, oh, and Iran situation were discussed. Anna Greifman stated the West does not understand Putin’s ideology and the Russian mindset. Some of those “experts” who said he was merely threatening are those pushing for concessions to Iran.

This was a conference very much still concerned with corona. Hand sanitizer and tea anyone?

Each day a negative antigen test was required to attend.

Networking in the hall while waiting for corona tests results was not so bad.

Back in Jerusalem, Erick Stakelbeck was filming in the Conference Green Room.

US Ambassador Tom Nides attended two nights in a row. On Monday night he was there briefly but sat with Bahrain and Israelis at the feelgood session featuring discussions on the Abraham Accords.

Charge d’affaires Ines Demiri of the Kosovo Embassy in Jerusalem spoke.

The Ambassador from Morocco told of how he had covered most of Israel since he arrived, there are so many Moroccans for him to meet.

The Ambassador from the United Arab Emirates also spoke in English to the dinner crowd, consisting of mainly American presidents and leaders of Jewish organizations.

The positive atmosphere and exchanging of business cards,

and of course selfies. Who would have imagined this two years ago when the CoP last was able to meet in Jerusalem.

They boasted of being the last conference before corona shut the borders and were proud to be the first back in Jerusalem, Israel.

But I did not hang around for dinner or the rest of the night program. While some night spots are still shuttered and dark, the Shaon Horef, Winter Noise street festival was back for the first of four Monday nights.

This colorful light projection was on Shushan Street, advertised as the main location of the event.

Though the evening was cool, thousands were out on the streets for entertainment. This year an app was available with information on times and performances.

Food and drinks were available in the area, not the most fashionable one, as you can see, but that is the idea, to bring people back to these streets.

I was back for a daytime photo to share and he wanted his photo taken.

The fashionably dressed tourists were back in Mamilla Mall.

It has been a long time since I have seen such a large busload of tourists headed to the Monastery of the Cross.

There are protest signs near the Supreme Court building,

and a protest tent near the Knesset,

but next to the Prime Minister’s official residence, it’s quiet enough just to stroll by.

Purim and days of celebration are back soon to Shushan Street.

Jerusalem Marathon signs are being posted for races at the end of March.

Even though the Omicron seems to be hitting many who have been careful for the past two years, the Jerusalem streets are filling with multilingual voices again.

A new Jerusalem photo op for tourists awaits near the Old City.

Hope to see you soon on or off the Jerusalem streets!

Jerusalem Winter Nights of Noise

February 20, 2019Sharon A

Jerusalem, Israel, winter nights are long and the temperatures are low.

The old narrow streets can be dark, cold, and quiet.

To bring people to the city streets on winter nights, a street festival שאון חורף – Shaon Horef, or Winter Noise was started over seven years ago.

Shaon Horef is held in a different location each Monday night in February.

The free cultural festival features varied and often “out of the box” entertainment.

On February 11, Ben Shetach and Shlomzion Streets were featured.

Each week maps and information of the approximately twenty locations are available in Hebrew, English and Arabic.

Music and bands perform in multiple locations. An opera singer was singing in this shop.

Art was on sale at a market set up along Ben Shetach Street.

Actors in costume arrived for street performances.

At least I assumed they were entertainers, and she was not really the Iranian Ambassador from LA.

There were heaters to warm your hands, however, everyone was not outside in the cold.

This group who preregistered enjoyed a baking demonstration with special breads.

I went early to get photos before the crowds came to party until the sound curfew at 11:00 pm.

February 18, Shaon Horef moved to a new location, the Old City at Jaffa Gate.

The light projection on the Tower of David wall is called, ” The Tree of Life.”

It was inspired by Armenian ceramics, and the animation was by Yavin Ben Reshef.

Inside Jaffa Gate musical performances attracted visitors of all ages.

“Sounds from the Box” a street singer and a magical music box that plays French chansons was outside Jacob’s Pizza, near the Latin Patriarchate.

Inside the Tower of David, several venues were readied for multiple musical performances to last all night long. For this Shaon Horef, an after-party was to start at 11:00 pm!

Of the unusual off the main street events were those in this museum in the Christian Quarter.

A workshop in”slang in sign language” in Hebrew and Arabic was all set up and ready to go.

With eighteen locations on the program, there was no time to stop and sit. I went to see what was happening on the streets.

This street performer outside the Tower of David was getting ready and trying to stay warm.

This week everyone could be an artist and were invited to paint.

These festivals provide an opportunity to see Jerusalem streets from different angles and perspectives. Do you recognize the entrance to the Tower of David in this photo?

Not everyone wanted their photo taken! Not really. These actors were actually inviting people get in their act and sit at their table which was set up by Jaffa Gate.

Shaon Horef was inside the walls of the Old City near Jaffa Gate.

I think the area outside is lovely to photograph any night.

I am ending with a couple of short videos, as music is an important aspect of Shaon Horef.

From week #2 at Shlomziyon HaMalka and Ben Shetach Streets.

From week #3 at Jaffa Gate, the light projection with Armenian theme.

For the last Monday in February, Shaon Horef moves to Talpiot and HaUman Street.

Fifteen locations are on the map. Winter Noise, with an art market, loud music and entertainment, is for all those brave enough to venture out on the cold Jerusalem streets.

I won a Facebook contest and got this Shaon Horef bag.

I do not remember the last time I entered a contest and won anything.

I am one of thirty people who won this prize, so look for us out there on the Jerusalem streets.

Out of this World: Israeli Space Week and More in Jerusalem

January 30, 2019Sharon A

It is Israeli Space Week.

Conferences for researchers and 100 educational events for over 100,000 children were planned throughout the country.

The Jerusalem Bloomfield Science Museum had free entrance times with special exhibits.

Those who have seen the Ramon Crater will nod their heads at this announcement: The Israeli Space Agency and the Austrian Space Forum signed an agreement to simulate a manned Mars expedition in the Mars-like Ramon Crater in the heart of the Negev Desert in Israel.

If anything looks like the surface of Mars, it is the Ramon Crater.

Columbia was NASA’s first space shuttle, the first reusable crewed spacecraft in history. It carried out 28 missions and flew 160 astronauts. On February 1, 2003, after a 16-day mission in space, the shuttle broke up upon reentry to the earth’s atmosphere with seven astronauts on board, including Col. Ilan Ramon, Israel’s first astronaut. (No relationship to crater)

Israeli Space Week was an initiative of Rona Ramon and led by the Israeli Space Agency and the Ministry of Science.

For Israeli Space Week, the families of the ill-fated US astronauts came to Israel and met with President and Mrs. Rivlin at Beit Hanasi, the Israeli President’s residence.

The families presented the president with a copy of this NASA photograph taken at the training compound in 2002, several months before the disaster. The image shows the astronauts’ space suits hanging next to each other with American flags on their sleeves, and the Israeli flag on the sleeve of Ilan Ramon.

The latest news is that Israeli and German companies announced a joint moon venture.

Back on the ground, for thousands of years focus has been on Jerusalem.

Since 2013, the sculpture “Centre of the World” by David Breuer-Weil has been in Teddy Park.

Look closely and you will see the Tower of David in reflection – and me upside down.

Jerusalem of old and new, is seen on Jaffa Road with crowds of shoppers and the light rail train.

Jerusalem streets are filling with modern buildings.

While Tel Aviv gets most of attention, there is a growing tech center also in Jerusalem.

In the rapidly growing Azriella College of Engineering, a JLMBioCity meeting was held this week.

Jerusalem Deputy Mayor Fleur Hassan-Hahoum had this to say (apologies for this screen shot).

Advice was shared along with presentations of 6 of the 13 life saving companies highlighted.

The interested audience heard of new treatments in mental health, monitoring kidney function,

and of treating cotton to make fabrics that not only reduce infection, but reduce wrinkles.

Some of the Jerusalem technology really sounds out of this world.

More photos from JLMBioCity evening HERE

Get ready, signs are up for שאון חורף Shaon Horef, Winter Noise, the cultural street festival in a different location each Monday night in February. Jaffa Gate is planned for the 18th.

One never knows what in the world will be found at these annual winter “cultural” performances.

Tu Bishvat is over. The almond trees have bloomed.

And what in the world?

Purim costumes were out at this Jerusalem shopping site near the main bus station. Early bird shoppers will find the best selection of Israeli policemen and IDF soldiers for boys and fancy dresses for girls.

Hamentashen. Ready. Set. Go.

No blast off here yet. Not ready to get ready for Purim.

In Jerusalem, Shushan Purim is to be celebrated on Friday, March 22.

There is still very much to do and happening on the Jerusalem streets.