Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashanah, Raise Your Glass

In Jerusalem, Israel, it seems everyone is

is getting into the holiday mood,

as Rosh Hashanah,

the Jewish New Year, approaches.

Finally on Sunday, it felt cooler, as

Beit Hanasi symbol

  I was at Beit Hanasi, the Israeli President’s Residence

and noticed this new arrangement in the front garden.

Major renovations have been underway for months,

Beit Hanasi renovations

both outside and inside the building.

But the mess of construction has not interrupted

Beit Hanasi getting cleaned by power-wash

holiday preparations or official receptions.

Flowers with pomegrante

The flower arrangements included a fake pomegranate,

as the First Lady and the wife of Chief of Staff of the IDF

hosted 30 lone soldiers.

It was a rather modest event,

Walter Bingham ai Beit Hasnasi

with the highlights of the day being Walter’s outfit

Box for phones

and this box for soldiers’ cell phones to be deposited during the program.

New Year reception at Beit Hanasi for lone soldiers

The program was held in the formal meeting room,

Fist Lady Nechama Rivlin with lone solders at Beit Hanasi

with a group photo at its conclusion.

Then on Monday, it was back to Beit Hanasi again

Beit Hanasi new emblem

 where glass pieces had completed this design.

Ambassadors at Beit Hanasi

At the President’s reception for foreign Ambassadors

business cards were exchanged and

newly arrived diplomats from around the world met.

Beit Hanasi food

There was no comparison to the simple food served the day before.

It was disappointing that the US Ambassador was back in the US,

Ambassadors at Beit Hanasi

but Egyptian Ambassador Hazem Khairat

and Jordanian Ambassador Walid Obeidat

were seated in the front row

and greeted me later with “Shanah tovah.”

Rosh Hashana table at Beit Hanasi

The holiday treats were impressive

Tzipi Hotovely taking a photo of the food at Beit Hanasi

enough for Deputy Foreign Minister Tzipi Hotovely

to take a photo of them on her cell phone.

Rosh Hashana at Beit Hanasi reception for Ambassadors

Israelis do take “raising a glass’ seriously,

from lone soldiers to diplomats,

businesses and organizations,

reception after reception,

l’Chaim,

to celebrate Jewish New Year.

I finally got used to year 5777,

5778 Shana tova on Jerusalem Israel bus

and now it’s changing to 5778

Shanah tovah

Good New Year to all.

13 thoughts on “Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashanah, Raise Your Glass

  • September 19, 2017 at 10:27 am
    Permalink

    Shalom Sharon, Although I don’t reply through the year, I do enjoy your very professional photos and comments.
    May HaShem bless you with continued good health and strength that you should continue your interesting work.
    And K’tiva V’Chatima Tova, Shana Tovah to you, the Rabbi and your entire family.

    Reply
    • September 19, 2017 at 11:21 am
      Permalink

      Thank you, Shana tova to you and your family

      Reply
    • September 19, 2017 at 4:08 pm
      Permalink

      Thank you. Shana tova

      Reply
  • September 19, 2017 at 12:12 pm
    Permalink

    Shanah Tovah Tiketavu, Sharon, to you, your family and friends…may the year ahead be filled with many blessings. Your weekly photos and commentary bless my life here on Salt Spring Island in BC.

    Reply
    • September 19, 2017 at 1:52 pm
      Permalink

      Dear Sharon and family, wishing you all a chesiva vichasima tova . Thank you for the beautiful view of Israel you share with us all. We so much appreciate the time you put into this. Be well, Marcia

      Reply
      • September 19, 2017 at 4:10 pm
        Permalink

        Thank you shana tova

        Reply
    • September 19, 2017 at 4:09 pm
      Permalink

      Thank you for constant support throughout the year. Shana tova

      Reply
  • September 19, 2017 at 2:35 pm
    Permalink

    Thank you so much for continuing to keep me and all your faithful readers connected to everything going on in our holy city. May we all merit to be re-united there in the year ahead. Warmest wishes to you and yours and all Am Yisrael for a Shana Tova u’Metuka.

    Reply
    • September 19, 2017 at 4:11 pm
      Permalink

      Thank you for good wishes and kind words. Shana tova

      Reply
  • Pingback: Das jüdische Neujahr, Rosch HaSchana – erhebt die Gläser | abseits vom mainstream - heplev

  • Pingback: Nechama Rivlin – Remembered – The Real Jerusalem Streets

  • Pingback: In Jerusalem From Rosh Hashana to Yom Kippur – The Real Jerusalem Streets

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.