tourism – Page 31 – The Real Jerusalem Streets

New Arab Girl Photos

January 17, 2018Sharon A

Times are a changin’.

Women in Saudi Arabia are allowed to attend sport events.

In a few months, women in Saudi Arabia will be allowed to drive a car.

Photos of the new Saudi auto dealership for women only

show women covered in black from head-to-toe.

In Iran, Wednesdays have become protest days for women,

removing their white head coverings in protest to Islamic rulers.

And in Israel?

In Jerusalem, Israel, head coverings are important.

Without a red hijab,

how could we know this young woman in Aroma was an Arab girl?

World Champion gold-medal winner Anna Muzychuk

became news when she refused to wear an abaya

for the World Championship chess tournament held in Saudi Arabia.

Around the same time,

an interesting tourist group of women arrived

at the Western Wall Plaza.

Escorted by two men,

a group of young women in traditional Muslim dress

mingled with locals and other tourists.

I was on my way home, but I

stayed to watch the reaction to the women at the Kotel,

the Western Wall, on that sunny afternoon.

There was none.

As they went close to the Kotel and stood there

no one seemed to pay attention – but me!

They took the normal tourist photos.

As the women wandered through the crowd,

even their male escorts gave them space.

One woman waited outside the toilets for her friends.

Did anyone take notice?

From my vantage point above,

I noticed her taking the time to offer a prayer.

Her shoulder bag was from Milli Gorus,

which started in Turkey in 1969,

and is the most influential Islamist organization in Germany.

However, I am not sure where they live.

Arab tourism has increased,

and Muslim groups from Turkey and England are not unusual.

Next time I see a group of young Muslim women

I plan to ask them where they live and how their trip is.

Will these women go back home and tell the truth?

In their traditional dress,

no one bothered them as they walked freely.

Israeli Arab girls and women in malls

or older women alone on side streets

know they have nothing to fear.

As a friend noted about 15 Real Photos of Arab Girls,

“Because somehow the “nude” got attached,

it will remain viral.

It will outlive the mythical cockroaches in a nuclear war.”

Last year that post had almost 15,000 views,

my hope is some of those voyeurs

from every country in the world,

will see the truth about what is really happening

on these Jerusalem, Israel streets,

these real photos of Arab girls.

Jerusalem, Israel, Rain or Shine is Home

January 3, 2018Sharon A

The year 2018 got off to a wet start.

Prayers for rain in Jerusalem, Israel,

were answered.

Rain poured down, the streets flooded,

and the cold and wet winter arrived.

Wet sidewalks outside Ramada Hotel as man walks away without coat.

It was a good to be in and not outside.

Oh and the fog!

Fog covering Jerusalem buildings.

When fog sets in it can be so thick

Sunset, lights go on and fog clears Jerusalem Israel rainy day

you cannot see large buildings nearby.

I know we need rain desperately,

but I prefer to be out when the sun is shining.

Mincha minyin in Mamilla Mall street

I like to see those impromptu prayer services,

anytime of the afternoon, anywhere,

in parks and here in Mamilla Mall.

People walking in Jerusalem Israel Mamilla Mall past Arab women sitting in cafe

I like to watch people walking in Mamilla Mall,

Jerusalem Israel two nuns walking along street near Kikar Safra

or on any Jerusalem, Israel street.

One can see a bit of every fashion,

Man smoking on Ben Yehuda wearing red Santa helper hat

though I am not sure what fashion statement

this man sitting and smoking on Ben Yehuda

was making by wearing a red Santa helper hat.

Street graffiti in Jerusalem Israel near city center

I like to find new street graffiti.

Jerusalem WeWork building construction

And I like to see work progressing

on the future home of Jerusalem WeWork.

Entrance to major Jerusalem construction at city entrance

We will have to wait to see how much we like

the massive construction project near the entrance to Jerusalem.

You can see here how far it is going down

before the buildings start to go up and up.

This week across the highway, the Ramada Hotel hosted the

WZO’s International Conference for Rabbis and Communal leaders.

There were dozens of speakers

and representatives from 40 countries.

With unrest all around the Middle East

Rabbis and community leaders at Ramada Hotel for WZO conference in Jerusalem Israel

it is easy to overlook the wonder that

this conference was held in Hebrew.

So many are learning Torah in Hebrew in Israel today.

The population is approaching 9 million.

Walk on along Jerusalem streets you will hear

English, French, Russian and Spanish along with Hebrew.

With corruption and strikes and strife,

incredible things have developed in 70 years.

With all those negative headlines around the world,

Israel is growing.

This past week I saw this traditional blessing for a home,

Traditional blessing for new home in Hebrew and English

“May this home be a place of happiness and health,

of contentment, generosity, and hope. A home of

creativity and kindness. May those who visit and

those who live here know only blessing and peace.”

It was hanging near the front door on a new home

for female lone soldiers in Jerusalem.

7,000 young people, from around the world,

are in Israel, serving in the defense forces,

30% of them young women.

Female lone soldiers in special residence in Jerusalem group hug "Mom" counselor in charge

After the opening day dedication program,

six of the young soldiers surrounded

and hugged their “Mom.”

Rachel, the counselor is on duty 24/7 to help and advise

these young women without parents around to support them.

Head of the Lone Soldier Center in memory of Michael Levin,

Josh Flaster looks on with pride.

Sign of Home, love, memories, friends and laughter

Jerusalem, Israel, rain or shine is home.

15 Jerusalem Street Scenes at Year End

December 27, 2017Sharon A

In Jerusalem, Israel,

every year after the holiday season,

I wait for things to quiet down.

However, it never seems to happen.

This year after the Trump Jerusalem announcement,

the mainstream media reports spewed forth about imminent unrest.

But the streets have remained “normal,”

as a huge US flag hangs on the Municipal building

together with flag of Jerusalem and the 50-year anniversary banner.

Before the recent drenching rains,

the weather was warm, almost like summer.

Friday morning, on a photo walk to Yemin Moshe,

there were so many photographers out

it was hard to get an empty street view.

Though weather had been dry for weeks,

the private gardens were beautiful,

with citrus fruit drooping from full trees.

Birds were perched above the synagogue door,

and on the bare branches in Teddy Park.

Fall colors are not easy to find in Israel,

but during a stroll through these Yemin Moshe lanes

you can find a bit of most anything.

But not all is a stroll through the park around here.

Much touted before it opened,

the cafe in Gan Haatzmaut, Independence Park,

is now an empty shell.

This new access ramp for the bank was just completed.

Now, after weeks of work,

one can enter without going up steps.

But so much for optimism about progress,

yesterday it was ripped out.

I have no idea why,

or how long will it take to rebuild.

At Municipal Hall there are large posters of photos

displaying future building projects in Jerusalem.

Any bets when they will be completed?

Walking yesterday I saw

a man sitting and reading,

against the walls of the Old City.

While along Jaffa Road,

people were sitting outside in cafes.

For winter, it was not such a bad day,

even though I was wearing a winter coat and boots.

This bloke in shorts said he was from Australia.

Well, it is summer there.

No time to fiddle away,

this was part of an art piece at Mamilla Mall.

There last week, but gone yesterday.

This large piano is still outside in Zion Square,

for the use of young and old.

It is still December,

but large signs are already up, this one in Tzahal Square,

near the Old City of Jerusalem, Israel.

The Jerusalem Marathon is set for March 9, 2018,

and tens of thousands from near and far,

young and not so young, are getting ready

to again enjoy and race through the Jerusalem streets.