A few from Jerusalem

This is far from a tremendous addition to my Jerusalem portfolio first started in this post. There are several overlapping reasons for the paucity of my photographic output on this recent visit. I will not bore you with them. A few reasonably good shots are in here somewhere.

The doors in the Old City can probably fill up a camera’s memory card all by themselves for someone inclined to focus on them. Here are just a couple of examples.



Behind that old door lies the lovely courtyard of the Greek Orthodox church of St John the Baptist. It is not freely open to visitors, we got a bit lucky.






Another exquisite door is the entrance to the Four Sephardic Synagogues.


The place is a fairly unique amalgamation of four temples into essentially a single building, constructed between the 16th and 18th centuries to serve distinct congregations, all in circumvention of the Ottoman limitations on Jewish assembly and worship at the time. Here are the two larger assembly halls.


While there, we got a brief introduction to the work of a scribe, whose primary task is to produce a new copy of Torah, all in precise calligraphy. He also makes a variety of gift inscriptions.

Clocks themed after the twelve tribes of Israel are always eye-catching.

Here is something that is much harder to catch.

Yes, it’s a rifle. Sticking out of the balcony aimed at the street. One would hope that it is there for memorial reasons rather than practical ones.

Stepping outside the Old City, a couple of decorated streets in what is known as the “Downtown Triangle” in central Jerusalem.


A couple of spices and sweets vendor spreads at the Mahane Yehuda market.


Western Wall archaeological site at what is known as Robinson’s Arch.


And the Western Wall plaza, which cannot be omitted from any pictorial overview of Jerusalem.


A close-up of the Dome of the Rock and the nearby El-Ghawanima Tower.

A different angle featuring the Dome of the Rock, taken from the roof of the Old City market.

I only became aware that it is possible to get up there on this trip. It is nothing short of an elevated street level. Here is a different perspective from more or less the same spot, this time featuring the tower of the Lutheran Church of the Redeemer.

And a blue-hour view of the Jaffa Gate.

I am still ways off from doing this city justice with my photographic efforts.