Jerusalem Scenes

We are skipping winter, the flowers already blooming!

Jerusalem style!

Jerusalem early in the morning reminds me of Bereshit,  Genesis The Creation of the world.

Just had to take this picture!

Flowers in November!

Here you see the muzzah affixed to the gate of the Recruiting station of the Israeli Army.  It is Holy work to protect the citizens of Israel!

When we changed to Winter Time here in Israel, most people are still asleep when the sun rises. But they miss out on the sky the color turquoise.  This shade of blue is the inspiration for the Tzizit techelet. But if you wait and get up later you miss it. I captured the techelet for you this morning! 

Well it turns out that the weather man was right afteralll.  It is cold and gloomy but as nobody believed it no one has an umbrella or jackets. . . Enjoy it anyway! Rachael Alice.  . . Roving photographer

The weather report calls today for Rain and storm, but this morning it is a balmy 26 degrees,not a cloud in sight. We have just changed to Winter Time here in Israel, and traditionally we start to say the blessing for rain. Well I did bring a jacket but forgot the umbrella.  We will see later on if we will actually have rain. So enjoy the nice weather while it lasts! Rachael Alice

I was coming back from the market with lots of groceries for Simchat Torah, I had to put down the heavy packages and take a picture. . . ONLY IN ISRAEL will you see the willow branches being beaten on the street! What a country! Long Live Israel! Rachael Alice Orbach - English Teacher, Hebrew Teacher, Music Teacher h ttp://rachaelorbach.weebly.com/

Well today is starting out nicecand cool but the weather forecast calls for 32 degrees Celsius.  I am not going to take a sweater today. My advice is to go out in the morning and enjoy the coolness and then I will work on-line in the afternoon with a fan blowing in my face!

Afternoon city street in Jerusalem

Jerusalem street peaceful May it stay this way

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Walking in Jerusalem I found this tree.  Remember the song "Tie A Yellow Ribbon Round the Old Oak Tree?" Well this USA white one. Rachael Alice Orbach cellphone photographer

Is this a real herd of sheep? Well not really, But they sure are cute! Rachael Alice Orbach Roving cellphone photographer

Meow I want to out please?  The answer is No no no!

A quiet street, kids have gone to school. You hear the birds singing. Time to get ready for Shabbat Rachael Orbach roving photographer

Yad Sarge is the organization to go to when you need some sort of medical equipment for a short period of time.  You might need to pay a small fee but it is worth it. Rachael Orbach Bringing to you real photos of Jerusalem

The old train tracks are turned into a bike path and a kids playground.  Good use of space. No traffic and a safe place to play Rachael Alice  photographer on wheels

Right at sunrise we sometimes can catch the clouds in the valley!  Watch out today, it will go up to 35 degrees Celcius.  Drink plenty of water, if you are outside, put sunscreen! Roving Cellphone photographer, Rachael Alice 

This is one of the reasons that I love living in Jerusalem.  You are doing normal everday things, and then you turn a corner and suddenly you see a wonderful view. This is on a clear day and you can see the Old City Walls and the Temple Mount.  The mix of the Old and the New is very exciting! Rachael Alice Orbach - Cellphone photographer 

I saw this yesterday as I was coming home and it is the first time that I got the phone cmera  to capture the rays of light streaming down from the clouds.  On the left you can see the top of the Jerusalem Harp Bridge the tops of the the trees and the street lamps.  

 This is in the middle of the parade, you can see thousands upon thousands of people showing that they appreciate the untold miracles.  Long live Israel with Jerusalem as its capital! Wrapped up in the Flag!  Showing her love for Israel 

I just woke up too early and this is my view from my window.  Now you get to see it too! The sun is about to rise and the streetlights are still on.  Right now it is 15 degrees Celsius and it will go up to 25.  A nice spring day. Enjoy your Friday! Rachael Alice Orbach - cellphone photographer  

If you are biking in Jerusalem, then make sure that you pass by the Swiss Monestary next to Gan Sacher.  There is a very good bike path that runs right beside it.    This monestary is the reason that Katamon got its name!  It sits in the middle of a nature reserve, and eventhough it is near to very big main streets. once you are on the bike path it is very quiet and you can hear the birds singing.  I didn't go inside the monestary, but it was a pleasant ride. Rachael Alice Orbach

There was a fire yesterday in Jerusalem, eventhough you probably didn't hear about it on the news.  Sometimes since we live near the Lifta Valley, we call in the fires we see during the summer.  This one is too far away and we hoped that someone closer by was able to call it in to the Fire Department. Stay safe and follow fire precautions! This is a fire that we saw outside the Old City, Veiw from the Zurin Valley. Rachael Alice Orbach - Roving Cellphone photographer 

The trees are blooming, the weather is cool and fresh, Enjoy the spring in Jerusalem.  Rachael Alice - Roving Photographer 

   This was the view to the East that we had as we moved into the building.  If you look very carefully, you will see on the right hand side of the picture Migdal Ha'ir, which is at the top of Ben Yehuda Street.  This is looking a bit to the North, and sometimes you can see Hebrew University on a clear day. This is what the Lifta Valley looked like as they were building Route 9. Now, the Eastern view is gone, and Lifta Valley is filled with cars. . . . Rachael Alice Orbach - roving photographer

Some people were very creative this year with the snow in Jerusalem, here is a very good Snow Wolf that my children found on the way to find Challot on Friday.  They actually succeeded, Nechama Bakery near Har Nof was actually open and had bread!  They spent 50NIS and got two challot, and rolls. This picture was taken after the snowfall was over, right before Shabbat, you can see the snow on the hillside as well as the clouds overhead.  Since then it has been raining on and off, so by tomorrow the snow will be gone. It was fun while it lasted.  Rachael Alice - Cellphone photographer 

This morning we woke up to the snow covered hills.  Even the cat had to see it, but she doesn't like to go out!  Its too cold and wet.  Of course the schools are closed, and so are the bakeries!  No Challot for this Shabbat.  If you want to play in the snow, go out quickly because it is going to start melting soon! Have fun and Make a SnowMan! Rachael Alice 

I couldn't resist to take this picture, This is from a high-rise in Central Jerusalem I liked the view and the "mirror" effect!   It is still cold at night, not quite spring in Jerusalem yet. Rachael Alice Orbach - roving cellphone photographer! 

This is the dream of many people, To be able to look out on Jerusalem from their window! If the City Planners have their way, however, this view will disappear and become high rise office buildings. . . What do you prefer? Rachael Alice Orbach - Roving Photographer 

Snow on a Jerusalem Street Olav - from the Movie Frozen says hello to you. Friday was the best snow of the week, and we even were able to make a small snowman.  Here he is guarding the porch!  A week to remember.  We were waiting for the Mother of all Storms to hit, and all we got was a dribble of snow.  It took all Friday afternoon to stick, so we enjoyed the best we could.  At least it made up for the lack of vacation that didn't happen on Chanukah! Keep Warm and Dry! Rachael Alice Orbach - roving cellphone photographer!

If you have been following the news, then you know that Jerusalem might be blessed with snow this coming weekend.  Last year we were woefully unprepared, both personally and the city as well. How to get yourself ready?   These are my personal recommendations that I am starting to do to get ready.  If they help you, then I will be very happy. Well, first, make sure that your roof and outside porches don't have any blockages with leaves and dirt blocking up the drains. Secondly, check that the places that leaked before, have been fixed, but if you haven't been able to do that, like me, then do a cleaning  session under the leak and put a bucket under where you think the water will come in. Thirdly, Make sure that you have enough food in the house.  If there will be a big snowstorm, you know that the local stores will not be able to open.  I will stock up on bread, buying three this week, and put the other two in the fridge.  Look at your pantry...