Unfortunately BB wasn’t there to greet us and most of the members were out preparing for elections which are coming up in March.

I never thought I’d experience my first “snow-day” in Jerusalem.  Apparently when it snows in Jerusalem, the whole city shuts down with no taxi service, bus service, and light rail service, so you’re pretty much stuck until the storm ends. I don’t mind cause I’m loving this snow! Hopefully there will be more snow tomorrow!

What more can I say, I went in and floated :p

Well, technically I saw only two out of four of the actual lighting ceremonies but I did manage to see all four of them with all eight candles lit.  Chanukiah at Rothbert

Chanukiah at Western Wall

Chanukiah at Mamilla Mall

Chanukiah at Jaffa Gate

Fancy doughnuts sold at Roladin in Mamilla Mall

Dancing near Jaffa Gate

My original plan was to find a large Chanukiah on Mahenea Yahuda near the Shuk however for some reason I could not find one there so I entered a nearby hostel to ask if there was one nearby and was told to go to the one on Jaffa St.  I was somewhat disappointed since I had already seen the one on Jaffa St until I remembered a website showing pictures of Chanukiahs displayed in the Orthodox area.  Doing a quick Google lead me to a street which was clearly Orthodox and just as I entered the neighborhood, it began to get dark and I began to see families lighting up their outside Chanukiahs. It’s definitely not as grandiose as you might find driving through a neighborhood with Christmas lights, however the glimmering of the Chanukiahs gave the neighborhood a very historic feeling that might bring one back to a time that predates the lightbulb.  

The Chanukiah on Jaffa St is probably the tallest one in Jerusalem, and it’s so tall that the person lighting it has to be hoisted up with a crane just to light it.

On the 5th night of Chanukah I went to Mamilla Mall which is located near Jaffa Gate next to the Old City.  I’d have to say this was my favorite chanukiah lighting so far since there was a live band, lots of people singing and dancing, and I was finally able to go to Roladin which is a bakery that serves many different doughnuts during Chanukah.  

Irish Cream doughnuts, there were so good!

Since everything shuts down on Shabbat I wasn’t able to go anywhere special so I saw the chanukiah lit right before Kabalat Shabbat and then lit it again with my roommates.

On the 3rd night of Chanukah I went to The First Station, which is a small shopping and restaurant plaza located near the German Colony. Probably the first time I saw a train circling around a chanukiah.

Night 2 of Chanukah was spent at the Kotel (Western Wall) and actually my first time visiting the Kotel since arriving in Jerusalem.  Following Google Maps, I entered through Damascus Gate taking me directly through the Muslim Quarter which normally wouldn’t have been a problem except for the fact that I was wearing my kippah.  I had no problem going through although I felt as though some people were looking at me.  #ILoveAdventure.

Anyway, I knew once I was in the Jewish Quarter by the Israel flags hanging on the buildings and seeing more kippah wearing people, and a sign that said Western Wall, straight ahead.  While approaching the Kotel a Chabadnik approached me and asked if I was Jewish.  I said yes.  Then he asked if I had put on Tefillin today.  I said no.  It’s possible that the last time I put Tefillin on was my last time in Israel, or maybe even long before that, I can’t remember.

The Chanukiah lighting ceremony was fantastic and included singing and of course dancing.

Upon my return I attempted to take another route to the light rail station but yet again I found myself walking through the Muslim Quarter and no sooner had I entered someone kindly told me that I shouldn’t be wearing my kippah while walking though so I quickly took it off and eventually made it to the light rail station.   
Getting to the Jewish Quarter through Damascus Gate via Muslim Quarter

Western Wall

Prayers left in the Western Wall

Armed IDF soldier

This picture pretty much sums up Jerusalem: Orthodox Jews, Cats, and IDF Soldiers, everywhere

A Chabadnik helped me put on tefillin before entering the Kotel.

Men praying on the left, women praying on the right

Western Wall and Temple Mount

More chanukiahs

Exiting through Damascus Gate