tourism – Page 70 – The Real Jerusalem Streets

10 Favorites at Museum of Science

July 17, 2012rjstreets

Many think of Jerusalem, Israel, and see images

of the Old City and the Kotel and other ancient sites.

But near the Knesset and the Israel Museum is a special public place

founded with the Hebrew University and the Jerusalem Foundation,

which is a dynamic, innovative and attractive tourist destination.

There were so many things that I liked on my recent visit to

The Bloomfield Science Museum Jerusalem,

it has been hard to get down to a short list.

1. Before you even go inside the building,

the color and the energy are impressive.

2. Once in the front door, the diversity of the staff is clear.

All signs are in Hebrew, Arabic and English,

as the museum targets all the diverse populations of Jerusalem

with special educational activities.

3. With so many hands-on exhibits, it was hard to pick one photo,

4. No soft padding for little visitors, but real structures to explore.

5. Before there was a book about Israel as a start-up nation,

there were popular Hebrew children’s story books.

I love to see that from simple stories, science and culture can be linked

so that a scientific principle can be learned while having fun.

6. This week it has been especially hot in Jerusalem, perfect timing

to explore the dynamics of water on the museum grounds.

7. There is so much energy, you can feel it as you walk the halls.

8. The museum staff is available in every section to guide and explain.

9. An Innovation display show cases 50 of Israel’s top contributions

to modern technology. I love that Israelis developed

the “pill-cam“ from Israeli army missile technology.

10. I really enjoyed a chance to visit to the off-limits,

special workroom where everything in the museum is made.

There was much more that I found impressive,

like the special science encounters to encourage girls,

youngsters with special needs, and

the Arab population to appreciate science and technology.

I studied Chemistry in college and worked in bio-chemical research,

this visit reminded me of how much I enjoyed those lab experiments.

Next week there are special events planned

for the 20th anniversary of

The Bloomfield Science Museum Jerusalem.

Since this is only a small bit of what there is to see and do,

better to come and check it out for yourself

and be sure to see the new exhibition “Footprints of Light.”

An idea of Prof. Peter Hillman which started out in a small room

on the Hebrew University Givat Ram campus has grown to

a Museum has already attracted over 3,500,000 visitors.

However, one warning:

Adults beware of possible exhaustion.

Watch Out Katy Perry and Justin Bieber

July 10, 2012rjstreets

I am often asked how I decide what to write about.

Some weeks it is easy.

Last week was the funeral of former Prime Minister Yitzhak Shamir.

The public is seldom invited into the Knesset Building,

so if you missed the last post check it out.

The problem is there is too much to do in the summer.

It is the Season of Culture in Jerusalem.

The Israel Museum’s popular new exhibit,

‘Chasidim, not all black and white’, has attracted thousands of visitors.

The Jerusalem Film Festival opened with a big event at the Sultan’s Pool.

Plus there were several professional music events held

in outdoor locations around Jerusalem that attracted thousands of fans.

But if you look around the Jerusalem streets as the summer starts,

you will find colorful hand-made signs.

They welcome crowds to end-of-school year events organized by

various Youth movements.

One group in the Talpiot neighborhood, after opening speeches,

featured a girls’ act with colorful hats and ties.

Of course, there were plenty of cameras on hand to record the show.

This Snif Ezra (chapter of the Ezra movement) was celebrating its 30th year,

and there were even more cameras poised for the boys’ turn to perform.

Boys on bicycles showed some of their dare-devil moves.

Mandatory at such an extravaganza are loud music,

a burning sign,

a power-point presentation,

and Israeli flags.

Countless hours of preparation went into this and other such evenings.

The choreography, costumes and music were suitable

for this far, far, far off-Broadway production.

One has to be impressed with the enthusiasm and dedication

of the youth group leaders and their young members.

Ok, Katy Perry and Justin Bieber do not have to worry

about any competition from here yet,

but from the energy and ideas of these young people and others

like Tzofim, Israeli scouts, will come future leaders.

Light in Jerusalem 2012

June 7, 2012rjstreets

Thousands of people attended the opening of the

Jerusalem Festival of Light in the Old City last night.

It is one of my favorite events to photograph

so I arrived at Jaffa Gate early, before sunset .

There were three colored trails to follow,

I started with the “Orange Trail”

which went past The Tower of David and through

the Armenian Quarter along the Armenian Patriarch Street.

Workers were finishing up the large art piece “Faces of Jerusalem.”

A series of lights called the “Light Line” lined Misgav Ladach Street

and ended at the harp-shaped, “The Visual Piano.”

It was hard to photograph, but impressive to hear and see.

At sunset, both the lights at the Kotel, the Western Wall,

and the views of the area are a favorite even without art light displays.

In the Rova, the plaza of the Jewish Quarter,

there was a fascinating piece called “Meeting Composition.”

It changed with the motion of people under it.

From the Jewish Quarter I picked up the “Blue Trail.”

Last year I was so impressed with performers using fire torches

that I watched for a long time and took dozens of photos.

Last year they were on a small side street,

but this year they were a main attraction in Muristan Square.

Determined to see all the routes, I did not stay to watch,

but started on the “Green Trail.”

There was a light coming from the Mosque of Omar,

but the sign says “For Prayers Only”.

The “Green Trail” went through areas of the Old City

where I usually do not go, certainly not alone at night.

So when the green lights stopped here, I stopped…

until an Israeli woman passed me and said to keep going to Damascus Gate.

Really good advice!

While recently the Damascus Gate has been in the news as a site of protests,

tonight it was lit up as a giant pinball machine.

Along the walls on the way back to Jaffa Gate were “Light Benches”

and this piece which can only appreciated in video.

At the Jaffa Gate the “Cupola” was bright inside and out.

Inside there was a couple dancing to the music,

while people were looking up

and many were taking photos.

Jerusalem, the light of the world.

These are just a few of my favorites from “Light in Jerusalem.”

I have to leave you some surprises, as the event runs until June 14.

If you cannot make it to Jerusalem, Israel this year…

more photos posted on

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