Category Archives: Religion

When Hanukkah Meets Christmas

Posted on December 27, 2022 by Shimona from the Palace

One day last week, half way through Hanukkah and at the height of the count-down to Christmas, I joined a Yad Ben Zvi tour in the Old City of Jerusalem to explore the celebration of those two festivals. Although Jewish … Continue reading →

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Posted in Religion, Tourism, Travel, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 20 Comments

An Afternoon in Ein Karem

Posted on December 13, 2022 by Shimona from the Palace

Like London, there are neighbourhoods in Jerusalem which still preserve their pastoral atmosphere – villages and moshavim which have been incorporated into the municipal boundaries but which have, so far, managed – often after protracted legal struggles, some of which … Continue reading →

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Posted in History, Religion, Tourism, Travel, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | 10 Comments

The Corona Chronicles – Don’t They Know It’s the End of the World?

Posted on August 20, 2021 by Shimona from the Palace

Earlier this week, I was cloistered in my study all afternoon, writing my cat blog. When I finished, I suddenly noticed how dark it was – far darker than it should have been for that time of day. I got … Continue reading →

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Posted in Daily Life, Health, Music, News, Religion, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | 4 Comments

The Corona Chronicles – Business As Usual

Posted on May 11, 2021 by Shimona from the Palace

Yesterday was Jerusalem Day, the 54th anniversary of the liberation of the eternal Jewish capital from the illegal Jordanian occupation, and of the city’s return to Jewish sovereignty for the first time in two thousand years. It should have been … Continue reading →

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Posted in Daily Life, News, Politics, Religion, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | 7 Comments

The Corona Chronicles – Behind Us At Last?

Posted on May 7, 2021 by Shimona from the Palace

It’s been a while since I last posted. Since then, we have had a General Election (with no clear-cut outcome), celebrated Pessach (Passover), Independence Day and Lag b’Omer, witnessed a national tragedy at the Lag b’Omer celebrations on Mount Meron, … Continue reading →

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Posted in Books, Cuisine, Daily Life, Literature, News, Politics, Religion, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

The Corona Chronicles – Long Day’s Journey Into Night

Posted on September 24, 2020 by Shimona from the Palace

Those of you who follow this blog know how much I enjoy touring the country and taking  part in archaeological field-trips and nature rambles organized by Yad Yitzchak Ben Zvi, many of which I have described over the past few … Continue reading →

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Posted in Archaeology, Daily Life, News, Politics, Religion, Tourism, Travel, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

The Corona Chronicles – A Night Like No Other

Posted on April 10, 2020 by Shimona from the Palace

As is the case throughout much of the world these past few weeks, Israel is in virtual lockdown due to the continuing COVID-19 Crisis. In order to ensure that people didn’t go spending the Passover Seder with their extended families, … Continue reading →

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Posted in Daily Life, Modern Living, Religion, Technology, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

April Journal – Part 2 (a.k.a. April in May)

Posted on May 6, 2019 by Shimona from the Palace

I promised my readers a second post, describing the other events of April – or, at least, the first half of April but, as so often happens, after starting to write, I took a break for a couple of days, … Continue reading →

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Forgiveness and Remembrance

Posted on September 18, 2018 by Shimona from the Palace

In a few hours, Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, will begin. For the past few years, I have attended Kol Nidrei services on the eve of Yom Kippur, not at the synagogue where I usually pray, but at the … Continue reading →

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Posted in Philosophy, Religion, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

At the Turning of the Year

Posted on September 20, 2017 by Shimona from the Palace

The day before yesterday, I got back from a week long trip to London, about which I have every intention of writing “after the holidays” 😉 but for now, since Rosh Hashanah will be upon us in less than two hours, … Continue reading →

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Posted in Religion, Uncategorized | Tagged , | 9 Comments