Jerusalem Street Comes Alive With Street Performers

We're spending a month in Jerusalem and wanted to share some of the atmosphere with you. 

Today was a rainy day, but it didn't stop us from getting on a bus and going to the Ben Yehuda Street outdoor shopping mall and walking on Jaffa Road, where the intersection has always attracted a wide range of street musicians.

Today was no exception, and strollers in the on again-off again rain were treated to a violinist and Chassidic dancer expressing themselves musically.
 
We've been here for a week and observe that nothing much has changed. Despite the negative portrayals in the mass media, life goes on here as before. Restaurants are busy, both inside and outside, and nightlife includes theatrical productions, concerts by symphony orchestras, and dance festivals. Today, we joined a large group of movie-goers at the premiere of Star Wars: The Force Awakens.

Just yesterday, the UN's Human Development index ranked Israel in 18th place for its list of the best countries in the world to live, putting it ahead of Japan, Italy, France and Austria. Norway came first, as it has done in 13 out of the last 15 years, and the US took 8th place.
 
May the force be with you, and Shabbat shalom from Jerusalem!

(A SPECIAL NOTE FOR NEW EMAIL SUBSCRIBERS:  THE VIDEO MAY NOT BE VIEWABLE DIRECTLY FROM THE EMAIL THAT YOU GET EACH DAY ON SOME COMPUTERS AND TABLETS.  YOU MUST CLICK ON THE TITLE AT THE TOP OF THE EMAIL TO REACH THE JEWISH HUMOR CENTRAL WEBSITE, FROM WHICH YOU CLICK ON THE PLAY BUTTON IN THE VIDEO IMAGE TO START THE VIDEO.)