Western Wall – Page 31 – The Real Jerusalem Streets

Hanukkah – Holiday of Lights

December 14, 2012rjstreets

Hanukkah is called Chag Ha’Urim, the Holiday of Lights.

At the Kotel, the Western Wall, is one of the most famous hanukiot.

One of my favorite things in Jerusalem at this time of year

is that the usually shuttered windows at night-time

are opened to show the burning candles.

They are wide open to let the Hanukkah lights shine out to the street.

At this yeshiva, there were hundreds of lights burning,

wow, they use a lot of olive oil.

The view in the windows upstairs in the Bet Midrash,

revealed the main celebration.

We not only saw the light, but also heard the music on the street below.

May the special beauty of the Hanukkah lights from Jerusalem, Israel

spread throughout the world.

Chodesh tov and Shabbat shalom

Hanukkah sameach!

Happy Hanukkah!

Four Ways to Celebrate Passover

April 11, 2012rjstreets

Millions of people visit nature sites in Israel over Passover.

Tens of thousands attend Birchat Kohanim, the Priestly Blessing

prayer service at the Kotel, the Western Wall, each year.

In Jerusalem’s Gan Sacher, Sacher Park,

thousands of people gather for picnic outings.

I want to share with you a special event

in Jerusalem at Aleh, a very special home and school

for children with special educational needs.

The weather was perfect

for the annual Aleh Jerusalem March as it left the school grounds.

Participating were many of the dedicated staff members and their families,

(full disclosure, my daughter-in-law is a teacher at Aleh

and we are very proud of her work)

dozens of young volunteers,

along with lots of balloons and a nurse on duty.

Streets were closed to traffic as the Aleh Jerusalem March moved

toward the new Gesher HaMeitarim, the Chord or String Bridge.

After waiting for everyone to arrive on the bridge,

hundreds of balloons were released over the city of Jerusalem.

Then everyone crossed the bridge

and the celebration continued with live music and dancing.

In a country where on chol hamoed traffic is heavy and people creep along,

this crowd was really moving.

I can share a few scenes of the tremendous care,

affection,

and attention given to the students who participated,

but for reasons of privacy I cannot share their radiant smiles.

This was an event short on publicity and politicians,

only MK Aryeh Eldar said a few words.

But it was big on love and full of holiday spirit.

A very happy Passover!

If you found an Aleh balloon…I would love to hear how far they flew.

Many more photos on The Real Jerusalem Streets Facebook page .

Journeys to Jerusalem

March 21, 2012rjstreets

Spring is usually the perfect season for a trip to Israel.

However, this year 15,000 runners in the Jerusalem marathon events

ran in the cold and rain as they entered the Old City through the Jaffa Gate.

Marathon runners were not the only visitors to Jerusalem,

as tourists from all over the world have been coming in record numbers.

I met up with one tour group called The Land and Spirit Mission sponsored by

the Jewish Learning Institute, the educational arm of the Chabad movement.

Near Jaffa Gate, they were able to learn about the Tower of David

and cheer on the leaders of the 10 Kilometer race.

No matter the weather, visitors near the Kotel, Western Wall

want to pose and smile for photos.

As one of the rabbis with the tour group spoke,

some of the women climbed on chairs to see and hear.

From the United States and from around the world, 150 participants

came to experience and learn more about Judaism and Israel.

Rain, cold weather and grey skies could not dampen their spirits.

For some participants it was their first trip to Israel;

others had visited many times. Jerusalem is always changing,

every day there is something new to see and discover.

One stop on the tour of the Old City was Mamilla Mall,

once part of “no man’s land” during the years under Jordanian rule.

Now the new pedestrian shopping area has many restaurants

and is a popular destination for both tourists and locals.

It is quite a contrast to the old Arab shuk.

Going through the narrow streets of the Old City,

we found one of the most incredible views …and a bit of blue sky.

A few minutes later outside the entrance to the Hurva Synagogue,

while listening to the story of the restoration of the historic building,

it started to hail.

A perfect time to go inside to see the impressive sanctuary.

As women listened from above in the women’s section,

the Chief Rabbi of the Western Wall, Rabbi Shmuel Rabinovitch,

spoke to the group.

He began by praising the Chabad rabbis in the audience

and their organization for their important work around the world.

There is wisdom of the head, the rabbi told the group,

but the “Jewish people also have wisdom of the heart”.

In the cold rain and hail, it is heart, not the mind, that kept the runners going.

Throughout the centuries the longing for Jerusalem inspired many

to take the difficult journey to Jerusalem.

So how could a little bad weather possibly ruin a trip to Israel?

The Land and Spirit Mission was organized by Zev Jacobson

and his team at Israel Maven Tours.

Israel Maven, dedicated to providing a high-quality trip to Israel

for individuals, families, communities, and corporations,

ran a great program despite the lousy weather.

It was great fun to see some old friends and former neighbors,

even if it was hard to photograph them dressed for the weather conditons.

Hope to see you too in Jerusalem…soon.