Universal Language

I think this one speaks for itself....

Have you ever wondered why lighting candles is a religious ritual? Why fire and religious ceremonies have always gone together..?

In Judaism the Sabbath is welcomed in when a woman lights candles, and it is ushered out the following evening also by kindling fire. For the duration of the Sabbath, observant Jews refrain from lighting fire - which in today's electronic age also incorporates using electricity, combustion engines etc.

We've already started our week here in Israel, but to the rest of you starting on Monday - well, have a good week.

Skull Capping

Okay, so these are traditional Jewish head coverings. In hebrew they are known as kippah (s) or kippot (pl) כיפה/כיפות.

As you can see - the West has had a lasting impact. The act of covering one's head is not a matter of Jewish Law הלכה but rather a custom.

In many ways the type of head covering one wears is a religious-political statement - because the different types are often associated with different streams of Judaism. Incidentally all the coverings in this picture are of the same type/stream. I'll try get a snap of head coverings from different streams at a later date.

Jerusalem is just bursting with spring flowers at the moment. Aren't these delightful...?

Holy Smoke

This door is situated just below the roof of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre - the smell of incense and candle smoke is all around.

The Church is considered by many to be the most significant Christian site in the city, maybe even in the entire Holy Land...

Its all about relationships

At this juncture, I'd like to come clean and thank you all for your comments, and apologize for not having reciprocated just yet. Baby steps, that's what I tell myself.

Since the city of Jerusalem is home to so many, and holy to even more, I'd like to make this blog an interactive dialogue between myself and you. If there are any sites that you would like me to capture for you, just let me know in your comments and I will do my best.


This is mosaic is one of the first things you see as you enter the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem's Christian Quarter. In Hebrew it is known as כנסיית הקבר or the Church of the Grave. My question to you is... can you identify the character(s) in the photo?

Off to work I go...

This little gent joined his parents on an afternoon picknick in the Jerusalem hills.

Admittedly there is nothing more relaxing than having two days of rest in the middle of the week.

But, after every day of rest comes that Sunday night feeling when we know we have to go back to work.

59 years

Today Israel turns 59 years old!

Most people celebrating go out into nature and have a barbeque /braai/cook-out.

Others, not celebrating, burn other stuff....

Happy Birthday Israel

I must confess that graffiti is one of the art forms that fascinates me to no end. When it is tangled up with the deep mystical traditions practiced by some of Jerusalem's inhabitants, the synthesis is astounding.

This word, literally AZ (pronounced uzz, as in buzz, fuzz, enchiladas etc.) apparently has a religious meaning to it. Unfortunately I'm yet to decipher it.

Any ideas...?

Dooms day-dreamer.

This character is a regular feature in down-town j-town. He has a rather interesting take on the fate of humanity if we don't change our ways.

This was taken at the Train Theatre, an insie winsie tiny little theatre just around the corner from my place. It is sits today near where the old rail road used to wind its way right into Jersualem city center.

Man's only friend...?

The Jerusalem city center has a number of green parky areas which keep a fresh breeze blowing all year round. Trendies go and exercise their weary bones, and others go there to rest them.

As is the norm in Israel, tomorrow is the weekend. Looking forward to gathering y'all some interesting snaps around the city, before the week begins afresh on Sunday.... cheriyo.

Behold... the Dome of the Rock.

This impressive architectural phenomenon is almost 1400 years old, and contrary to the opinion of centuries of European travelers, it is not a mosque, but rather a shrine... It covers the rock which Muslims believe to be the point from which the Prophet Muhammad ascended into heaven.

Covered in pure gold, the Dome is a true spectacle.

The Judean Hills

Okay, first up thanks to all of you for your help in getting me more acquainted with the preliminary baby steps....

In this photo you can see how green the hills of Jerusalem are at the moment - the little yellow flowers are actually mustard which grows wild at this time of year. In the distance Abu Gosh is a growing and extremely friendly village to locals, travelers and freshly baptized bloggers such as myself.

15 minutes from the city center

Welcome to my first posting on this all new, Jerusalem daily photo blog!

This photo was taken on a hiking trail just a few minutes from the city center. It is known as Nahal Katlav. In Israel all the hiking trails carry a special trail marker of three lines - two white and a colour in the middle. When you look at the hiking map, you can identify the very same trail marking and work out where you are going. Looking forward to reporting back to you tomorrow when my muscles recover.