Israel 2016 - Jerusalem day 1, part 3

For the four days I was in Jerusalem I found it difficult to do a lot of walking about. I had plans to visit a number of neighborhoods for a day (or part of a day) of shooting,  but the heat was too intense.  And the plaza at the Kotel offered little respite from the blazing sun.

At the Mamilla Mall near the Jaffa Gate:

In the arab shouk:

 Putting on tefillin at the Chabad table near the Kotel:

Israel 2016 - Jerusalem Day 1, part 2

Israel, as the ancient homeland for Jews, has holy sites throughout the land. Jerusalem was established as the capital of the Jewish nation by King David, and his son, Solomon, built the first Temple on Mount Moriah to house the Tabernacle built by the Israelites in the Sinai Desert after the Exodus from Egypt. Centuries later the Temple site was expanded and a retaining wall was built on the western side of the complex. That wall, the Western Wall - or Kotel, is now the holiest site in the holiest city (the Capital) of Jerusalem in Israel, the ancient and modern homeland of the Jews.

Visiting the Old City, and the Kotel in particular, my first day in Jerusalem was first on my list of things to do. The Torah is read regularly three times a week - on Monday, Thursday, and Saturday. My first day in Jerusalem was a Monday, so when I arrived at the Kotel there were a number of bar mitzvah ceremonies happening. Thursday is the really big day for bar mitzvah ceremonies, so I planned to go back for that. But being there on Monday gave me the chance to do a practice run. 

The area of the Jewish Quarter surrounding the Hurva Synagogue is filled with beggars seeking alms:

The Lubavitch Chabad stand is a regular visiting place for soldiers and others to put on tefillin and a tallit.

Jews from all backgrounds come to the Kotel to perform their bar mitzvah ritual:

There's a bit of controversy these days about women being allowed into the main prayer plaza in front of the Kotel. Traditionally there is a mechitzah (separating wall) that provides a separate prayer space for women. They line up to watch their sons perform the ritual.

Israel 2016 - Jerusalem, day 1

I returned home after traveling to Israel for fourteen days. Four days in Jerusalem, nine days in Arad. The heat was intense, even by Israeli standards. Just my luck to travel to the Middle East during a heat wave - 95-100°F for twelve hours a day made being out in the streets a challenge.

The first day in Jerusalem I went directly to the Old City. Jaffa Gate is one of the most used entrances that provides access to all four quarters - Christian, Arab, Armenian and Jewish. From there I walked through the Arab shuk to the Jewish quarter and the Western Wall.

The open courtyard just inside the Jaffa Gate:

At the Kotel (Western Wall):

Israel Day Parade 2016

A rainy day today in the New York area, but the skies cleared for a while this afternoon. The crowds were small, but spirit was high.

And of course the Neuterei Karta whackos were there.

Lower East Side Festival

This past Sunday the Kehila Kenosha Janina Greek synagogue on Broome Street sponsored a Greek Jewish street fair with lots of food, music, and most importantly people. The fair was only one block long so people were packed in tight. That made photographing them much more fun, there was no place to run, and it was a wide angle festival. The entire neighborhood of the Lower East Side is in transition from what was a tenement district for a good part of the 20th century to a gentrified neighborhood. It's still a mix of old style clothing stores, restaurants, bars, and art galleries.

On The Street, May 19th

Went in to Manhattan today for a walk around on 59th street and 34th street.

Lookin' At You

Huge Billboard on Fifth Avenue.