So this little interesting character was discovered near the Israeli Knesset, in what is known as the Wohl Rose Garden. If I didn't know better, I'd say it looks as if she is on the moon.

Do you think the owner of this bicycle thought it was a "smart move" to leave it unattended near the most adventurous and enthusiastic creeper in the city? I am always astounded by dramatic irony....

About a week after the Day of Atonement came the festival of booths. Jerusalem became alive with little makeshift shelters or סוכות succot in Hebrew. My beautiful wife and I went on an anthropological excursion looking at all the different types and colours. We witnessed some Jerusalemites fulfilling their religious obligation to sit, eat and sleep inside the succah over night. I didn't have the courage necessary to photograph anyone asleep though.

This is the Kaparot Ceremony during which a chicken is held above the gentleman's head while he makes a prayer. Followers of this tradition believe that it help them receive a fortuitous seal in the Book of Life for the coming year.

When I first started thinking about reviving the photo blog for my city, I decided to take a walk and see what there was to see in the neighborhood. One of the events that I stumbled upon on that "faithful" day was the Kaparot ceremony. This is a tradition that is practiced before the Day of Atonement by some orthodox Jews, but in my opinion needs a little revision. The ceremony involves the use of a live chicken - which is held up overhead, and the person making the blessing reads the verses photographed in this picture. Tomorrow I will show you what that looks like.

This photo was taken on an adventure I took to a particularly religious neighborhood of Jerusalem. In the foreground you can see a father and his two children making their way home before the start of the holiday. In the background you can see (to the right of the stairway) the beginning of a wooden structure or booth - סוכה Succah in Hebrew. Jews build these Succot (pl.) during the Festival of Booths which concluded this evening after sun down. I'll give you a little more detail on why and when booths are built during this time of year over the next few days.