Emek Refaim Street in the German Colony (near Baka) took on new life at night, as performance artists lined the streets this past week.
I think everyone knows this ragtime band.
Modern dance.
Music.
Probably the youngest performers on the street.
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SL
Sponsored by The Second International Jewish Bloggers Convention
Went to the Mamilla outdoor shopping arcade today. It's much better than when it first opened. More stores have opened, the indoor mall is starting to shape up. A lot of people are walking around.
The Steimetzky's has a great childrens section.
The only thing missing is a meat restaurant!
SL
Sponsored by The Second International Jewish Bloggers Convention
The Jerusalem Day parade was yesterday, but today is actually Jerusalem Day - the celebrations are moved a day earlier so that the Parade doesn't happen on Friday (right before the Sabbath).
The Parade began on King George Street and ended at the Kotel by way of Agron Street.
All these pictures are from Agron Street.
I don't know how many people marched, but the parade took nearly 2 hours for everyone to walk on by. The entire road was packed from top to bottom (and on King George, Mamilla, all the way to the Kotel).
Many of the marchers in the parade held up signs supporting a united Jerusalem (and against a 2-State solution) as they passed the American Consulate on Agron Street.
The section the light rail being built near Kikar Safra on Yafo Street.
SL
Sponsored by Warm the Needy
The Jerusalem municipality plans to replace all the Jerusalem street signs named after famous people with new signs featuring the person's picture and their story, especially what they are well-known for.
The idea for the new signs was recently proposed to Mayor Nir Barkat by Zion Turjeman, director-general of the Ariel company, a subsidiary of the Jerusalem Municipality. The mayor loved the idea and appointed artist Yotam Kuperberg and entrepreneur Maya Fogel to be in charge of preparing the new street signs.
What an interesting idea. We can't wait to show them to you.
Now, perhaps he can next require that all buildings post their building numbers.
SL
Sponsored by The House in Ein Karem
Sponsored by The House in Ein Karem
One of the most familiar sites connected to Jerusalem is the Tower of David Museum, which among other things used to be a fortress.
I haven't been there in a while, and I was happy to see that they uncovered yet another secret tunnel.
You can really get lost in this place with all the different passageways.
Another new edition to the museum is this recently discovered model of Jerusalem made in the late 1800s!
SL
Sponsored by Warm the Needy
At the beginning of King George Street, next to the Great Synagogue and opposite the Sheraton Hotel is the Heichal Shlomo building. Heichal Shlomo is the former seat of the Chief Rabbinate.
The building serves a few different purposes these days, but the most interesting occurs once a month on Tuesday nights when they film Tuesday Night Live in Jerusalem.
It’s been years since I was in the old theater on the top floor of the building, but there it is, and packed to the gills.
Last night it was a political evening with the Religious-Zionist leaders running for Knesset: Yaakov “Katzaleh” Katz (Ichud Leumi), Moshe Feiglin (Likud/ManhgutYehgudit), and Prof. Daniel Hershowitz (Bayit Yehudi/Mafdal).
I won’t discuss politics, but all the speakers spoke well and the evening was extremely entertaining.
The token NIS 20 entrance fee means this is a great way to inexpensively have a very fun evening in Jerusalem.
SL
Sponsored by Warm the Needy
While many people have heard about the controversial Tolerance Museum, most people have not heard about the new Tolerance Park and Monument (no connection to the Museum).
Located immediately past the UN Headquarters just after the Tayelet in Talpiyot, this is nicely laid out little park and a stunning monument at its center.
And of course a great view of the Old City of Jerusalem.
SL
What a strange race for mayor of Jerusalem that was.
It primarily pitted the Ultra-Orthodox Meir Porush against the Secular Nir Barkat.
As neither candidate had enough votes from within their natural constituency to win, both heavily courted the swing National-Religious vote who did not field any candidate of their own at all.
Barkat won with 52% of the vote to Porush's 43% (Gaydamak got 3.6%).
Barkat, who made his money in some well known hi-tech ventures and was running for the second time around, has some large and grandiose visions for Jerusalem. In fact he was the candidate who most explicitly laid out his plans for this city.
In his victory speech Barkat said, “Tonight Jerusalem, Israel and the Jewish People have won.” Barkat went on to thank his associates, supporters and families.
Barkat thanked all for the “privilege to be Mayor of Jerusalem.” He called Jerusalem Israel’s eternal capital. He said that the victory belongs to all of Jerusalem’s citizens, those with knit yarmulkes, those with see-through yarmulkes, and those with black yarmulkes. “I will be mayor for all of Jerusalem’s citizens, Jews and Arabs alike,” Barkat said.
Good Luck Mr. Mayor.
SL
Now, even from the Streets of Jerusalem it will be easy for Americans abroad to vote in the US elections thanks to VotefromIsrael.org.
Tel Aviv
Residents near Tel Aviv can submit your US absentee ballot and vote:
When: Sunday, October 26.
6:00 p.m. till midnight
Location: The Dancing Camel
HaTaasiya #12, Tel Aviv - Corner of HaMasger near the Central Bus Station
Jerusalem
Residents near Jerusalem can submit your US absentee ballot and vote:
When: Tuesday, October 28.
5:00 p.m. till 10:00 p.m.
Location: The OU Center
22 Keren HaYesod, Jerusalem
If you have questions, just contact VotefromIsrael.org at: 052.569.7236
SL
As always, the Liberty Bell park was packed with thousands of people celebrating the end of the Sukkot and Simchat Torah at the annual "Hakafot Shniot" bash with the sponsors, Mr. and Mrs. Gluck.
President Shimon Peres spoke to the audience as did both Chief Rabbis.
SL
I think its unfortunate that some of the political candidates for mayor like to say that Jerusalem is a cultural wasteland. Ever since Lupolianski became mayor I’ve found that there are far more interesting cultural events happening in Jerusalem.
And I for one appreciate that the various summer festivals (particularly the music intensive ones) were moved away from the 9 days (preceding Tisha B’Av – a period of national mourning) in understanding that a significant portion of the city’s citizens are not able to participate in those kind of events during that time.
One of the great ideas that was introduced is the Sukkot Street Theater and Fair.
Every Sukkot the residents of Jerusalem are treated to a major street fair festival in the Liberty Bell Park. There is an acrobatic circus, magicians, clowns, mimes, booths, food, music, and more.
It’s a lot of fun, and a great opportunity for this alternative art form to be presented to an interested and appreciative audience.
SL
In Israel, many common services are done at the Post Office. There is a Post Office Bank. You can pay your taxes and utility bills. You can even send mail.
The only problem are the lines. You can wait for a while just to pick up a single phone card or stamp, especially if it's around the time of the month when everyone's paying bills and taxes.
I was just in the Post Office in the Achim Yisrael Mall in Talpiyot. I needed to get a battery for my EasyPark, and to fill up my balance (EasyPark is a personal digital parking meter, that allows you to pay to park anywhere in the country).
I looked in dismay at the long line, until I noticed the vending machine in the corner!
Stamps, batteries, phone cards, all the small individual items you need but hate to stand on line for.
Now that's progress.
