The hustle and bustle of Jerusalem suddenly quiets as the sun sets and the Sabbath approaches in the ancient city of Jerusalem. You’ll hear a siren as the sun is setting as the signal that the Sabbath is beginning. For the next 25 hours, offices and stores will be closed, city buses stay parked, people attend services in synagogues and enjoy family meals, and tourists may wonder what to do. [Read more…] about Spending the Sabbath in Jerusalem
Jerusalem
Spending the Sabbath in Jerusalem
The hustle and bustle of Jerusalem suddenly quiets as the sun sets and the Sabbath approaches in the ancient city of Jerusalem. You’ll hear a siren as the sun is setting as the signal that the Sabbath is beginning. For the next 25 hours, offices and stores will be closed, city buses stay parked, people attend services in synagogues and enjoy family meals, and tourists may wonder what to do.
Spend Shabbat in Jerusalem
Experience Jerusalem on Shabbat
Streets quiet on Shabbat
Jerusalem's majesty on Shabbat
Pray at the Kotel on Shabbat
Dine with Israeli family on Shabbat
Attend a synagogue on Shabbat
Hear the Torah on Shabbat
Relax in a garden on Shabbat
Visit the zoo on Shabbat
The Israel Museum on Shabbat
The peace of Jerusalem on Shabbat
Wander down to the Western Wall – also known in Hebrew as the Kotel – and experience the prayers of the Friday night Sabbath service. Certain activities go against the grain of Jewish tradition, so this is one time you won’t bring your camera or write a note to stuff into the crevices in the wall. Despite the day of rest, you can still find plenty to enjoy in Jerusalem. [Read more…] about Spending the Sabbath in Jerusalem
Football in Israel?
Did you know Israelis play football? You’re probably thinking that this is a trick question. After all, we know that Israelis play soccer, and countries that play soccer call that ‘football.’ However, in point of fact, Israel has a new football field in Jerusalem – as in American football field.
Donated by National Football League’s (NFL) Patriot team owner Robert Kraft, a new sports complex was opened in June, 2017 in the Emek Ha’arazim neighbourhood in northwestern Jerusalem, Israel. Eighteen former NFL stars accompanied Mr. Kraft for the inauguration ceremony, including Joe Montana, Jerome Bettis, Andre Reed, Roger Staubach, Jim Brown, Eric Dickerson, and “Mean” Joe Greene. Mr. Kraft’s famous New England Patriots have played in a record nine Super Bowls and won five! The team. Led by head coach Bill Belichick and quarterback Tom Brady, won in overtime in 2017.
At the ceremony, Mr. Kraft told the audience, “This is an emotional moment for me. My life is about only doing things I’m connected to. To share this with great players who are here, and see how special this country is, is an honor and a privilege.” He told the story of how, at his Bar Mitzvah, he received tefillin – prayer phylacteries – and one day hoped he could use them to pray at the Kotel, also known as the Western Wall.
“I was at the King David with my wife in 1963 and I remember being so disappointed to be so close to the Old City and not being able to go to the Kotel because of Jordanian soldiers on the walls,” Kraft stated.
“I can’t describe the excitement I felt and the recognition I felt for God that we were allowed to go back to our holiest place,” he said in a reference to the Six-Day War, when Jerusalem was reunified under Israeli control and Jews were once again allowed to access their holy sites. “Now 50 years later, I’m here to stand before you and I’m able to help Jerusalem do this.”
And because this is Israel, in addition to the US regulation football and soccer field, the new sports complex contains two soccer fields. You know. For Israeli ‘football.’
Robert Kraft Brings Football to Jerusalem
Jerusalem: Then and Now
Behind every Jerusalem stone lays a sliver of history that you should not miss.
A collection of photographs documenting moments in the life of the Eternal City during the past century.
Preparations on Jaffa Street to welcome the president of Gabon, Léon M’ba, on a visit in 1962
