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Due to Covid-19, Israel is facing her second lockdown in 2020.  I know I am not the only one missing my beloved Jerusalem at this very special time of year. 

 

“Three times in the year you are to observe a Festival to Me.

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These are the Appointed Times of YHVH, which you shall proclaim as Set Apart Convocations…”

As I begin to write, it is September 19, 2020, Yom Teruah or Feast of Trumpets.  It is the first of God’s (3) Fall feasts, followed closely by Yom Kippur and Sukkot.

The shofar, or ram’s horn, is blown on Yom Teruah, (Feast of Trumpets), Yom Kippur, and a number of other holy days.

https://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Hebrew_Roots/Holy_Days/Trumpets/The_Blowing_of_the_Shofar

I met the lovely Jolene and her friends on Yom Kippur last year in Jerusalem, while we were all there to celebrate.

The streets are completely deserted, as Yom Kippur is traditionally a day of fasting, prayer, and atonement.

The following are my photos from 2018 and 2019. Who knew this would be the new normal in 2020? 

From Sacher Park, my destination is the Chords Bridge, a vantage point from which I can take photos.  

My 2-mile trek will take me past many intersections that would normally be teeming with humanity. 

The staccato blinking of amber street lights lends a post-apocalyptic air.

A lone rabbi crosses an eight-lane road, probably on his way to a service, or convocation.

Jerusalem’s entire fleet of city buses are parked in orderly rows until Yom Kippur ends at sundown.

In the distance, the Chords Bridge, also called the Bridge of Strings, looms into sight.  It reminds me of a giant harp.

Part of the light rail system, it enables pedestrians to cross from Kiryat Moshe to the Jerusalem Central Bus Station. 

In every direction, the streets are deserted except for foot traffic or the occasional police car or emergency vehicle.

From my perch at the top of the bridge, I am rewarded with stunning views of the Jerusalem Forest to the west.

As the afternoon wears on, foot traffic increases as people head out to their synagogues for service.

A large sukka has been erected outside this apartment building in preparation for Sukkot next week.

SUKKOT or Feast of Tabernacles

Sukkot is all about celebrating the harvest and rejoicing.  The sukka is a reminder of God’s provision for the Israelites in the wilderness.

Palm branches primarily comprise the roof, and they were everywhere to be found along Shiloh Street.

I began my search for sukkas in the morning.  Sukkot began at sundown, so there was lots of activity about town.

So intent on their work, I was barely noticed when I walked into this sukka to snap a few pics.

The lemon-shaped fruit on the table are etrog.  It’s part of the Sukkot ceremony, along with the lulav. 

The lulav is a frond comprised of willow, myrtle and palm.  With the etrog, it fulfills God’s command in Leviticus 23:40.

And ye shall take you on the first day the boughs of goodly trees, branches of palm trees, and the boughs of thick trees, and willows of the brook; and ye shall rejoice before the Lord your God seven days.

Wielding lulavs, it appeared to me that half of Jerusalem were on their way to a jousting contest…

As I got closer to the Old City, the sukkas got larger.  

Due to the narrow space, I frequently had to look up to find them.

Hotels and restaurants were not exempt from sukka-mania.

In Rehavia, (the ‘burbs), we have the drive-thru sukka.

This guy gets the prize for the largest etrog.  It was huge!

Shabbat following Sukkot in 2018.  I had only been here for 10 days but I was in love!

Men and women are segregated at the Western Wall.

Trailing Leah and Jane as we leave the Jewish Quarter.

I had the honor of attending a beautiful Sukkot dinner for 7 people in this impossibly tiny sukka in 2019.

This sukka was located on the rooftop of the flat where I lived for a month last year.  It had seen better days.

And the prize for the most beautiful sukka goes to Christ Church in the Old City.

https://www.cmj-israel.org/christchurch

Can you tell I’m homesick for my happy place?  I will probably not visit again until we are all there with Yeshua (Jesus Christ) in the 1000 year Millenial reign. 

Maranatha.  Even so, come, Lord Jesus.

https://www.wycliffe.org/feast/7-feasts-that-point-to-christ