Sharon A – Page 7 – The Real Jerusalem Streets

Who’s here in July on the hot Jerusalem streets?

July 27, 2025July 27, 2025Sharon A

It’s too hot today to be out on the Jerusalem streets during this heat wave.

There are fewer tourists on the Jerusalem streets this summer,

not due to the sun blazing down, but to the rain of ballistic missiles last month.

In July 2013, the Maccabiah opening was held in Teddy Stadium.

What a night it was!

Before July 2017, the Jerusalem streets were ready for the 20th Maccabiah.

Long-planned and Covid-postponed, the 21st Maccabiah opening event was held at Teddy Stadium in the Malha neighborhood of Jerusalem, Israel, in July 2022.

For the 2022 opening event, 30,000 people attended. What a light show and fireworks display.

What proud smiles as the Maccabiah teams marched in. In all the chaos, finding a familiar face – priceless.

Officially, Maccabiah 2022 had 74 delegations with 10,274 participants, and thousands of supporters.

In addition to the Israeli President and Prime Minister making an appearance, US President Joe Biden was there in 2022, waving his USA Maccabiah hat to the crowd and TV audience.

But this year, Maccabiah had to postpone its July international mega sports events in Israel until 2026.

The Jerusalem streets are quiet this July, as many tourists and groups have changed their plans due to canceled flights and fear. What is in the headlines is too often not really what’s happening here.

However, last week, the theme was “Better together – Stronger than ever,” 180 educators, principals, and Jewish community leaders from 22 countries arrived in Israel to participate in Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael – Jewish National Fund’s (KKL-JNF) annual educational seminar.

“The presence of these educators in Israel at such a time is a powerful declaration of commitment and moral courage,” said Sar-Shalom Jerbi, head of KKL-JNF’s Education and Community Division.

There was music and food served on the patio of the Menachem Begin Heritage Center for the closing.

Ifat Ovadia-Luski, Chair of the KKL-JNF Board of Directors, posed and smiled, surrounded by participants.

“Better Together, Stronger” than ever as the World Education Conference concluded with the walls of the Old City across the way in the distance on the pleasant Monday evening.

For some attendees, the seminar marked their first visit to Israel; for others, it had been many years since they last visited. It was certainly important for them to hear from residents from the north and south who are still displaced. to better understand what was really happening in Israel.

Zohar Vloski, Global Executive Director of Zionist Education at Jewish National Fund-USA, has led these missions for over a decade. He noted that the U.S. delegation was composed of senior educators, principals, cantors, and Jewish communal leaders, now with a greater understanding and appreciation, to bring back messages of strength and unity to their respective communities.

The Maccabiah Jerusalem night run was in 2022, and the night run was also canceled this summer.

The young Maccabiah athletes and their supporters from around the world were not able to come,

but everyone is looking forward to “Next year in Jerusalem.”

Israelis and Druze coming together in good times and bad

July 20, 2025July 20, 2025Sharon A

Summer and the Jerusalem streets are hot during the day.

On weekdays, the Municipality tempts tourists with price cuts and deals. Residents try their best to get away from the city. Now, with the skies opening, Cyprus and Azerbaijan are two popular destinations this summer. However, because of recent news, the Druze and their relationship to Israel have become important to share.

It was quite a beautiful sight. Druze women from the north came by the hundreds in October 2010. Wearing their white head coverings to participate in the Komen Race for the Cure. Walking from Gan Sacher, Sacher Park, toward the Old City walls under white umbrellas to rest in the shade. That was the day I started a Facebook page because I had so many photos.

Israel President, Head of Labor Court, Supreme Court and Minister of Justice pose with Druze female judge

This photo is from last year on July 20th, the Israeli President, the Head of the Labor Court, the Supreme Court, and the Minister of Justice posed with Israel’s first Druze female judge.

Israel President, Head of Labor Court, Supreme Court and Minister of Justice pose with Druze female judge speaks

She spoke as family and friends with phone cameras recorded the historic message.

Today, President Isaac Herzog announced the second group of 15 recipients of the new annual “Presidential Medal for Civil Valor.” Included was Milhem Asaad, a Druze citizen from Maccasra-Samie, a Maccabi Tel Aviv fan who flew to a game in Amsterdam. When the pogrom began on the streets of Amsterdam at a Maccabi Tel Aviv game, he took advantage of the fact that he spoke Arabic to mislead the rioters, thus saving many fans and warning other fans of the danger.

Yom Haatzmaut Druze leaders at Har Herzl

On Yom Haatzmaut, Israel Independence Day, these Druze leaders were honored guests at the televised Har Herzl ceremony with front row seats.

Jerusalem Marathon Druze families with OneFamily group

At the Jerusalem Marathon, Druze women participated with the OneFamily Together Organization.

Israelis and Druze come together in good times and mourning. The Israeli and Druze flags were flying together on July 19, 2017.

Men mourning Kamil Shnaan in Horfeish who was murdered by terrorist near Temple Mount

At the time, we traveled far north to pay a condolence call to the two Druze families whose sons were the policemen killed in Jerusalem near Lions Gate on July 14.

Druze female mourners dressed in black with white scarves

The women sat together outside, across the street.

A bereaved mother with a photo of their son supported by his sisters.

Mourners of Kamil Shnaan policeman who was shot by terrorists

Mourning another Druze policeman who fell in the line of duty.

Another stop for this bereaved father – the women asked that their photos not be taken.

Picture of Haiel Sitawe from women's mourning room, one of several located behind where they sat

However, they had this photo of Haiel Sitawe smiling down above where the women sat.

More of that day was posted from Maalot to Hamamish – Jews and Druze bound together in mourning

It was last July when a rocket hit a football pitch in Majdal Shams, killing 12 Druze children.

I remember my first time at the Knesset sitting across from a Druze Member of Knesset in the dairy lunch room. He spoke of the long and sometimes difficult tradition of Druze support of Israel.

Israel is coming to the aid of Druze being attacked and murdered nearby in Syria while the world watches.

Here were only a few examples of Israel and Druze coming together in good times and bad.

A Jerusalem journey from 44 Jabotinsky Street

July 13, 2025July 13, 2025Sharon A

This summer ebbs away in a time blur of heat and war, with a broken foot and hopping on one leg.

However, I remember where I was standing almost 20 years ago. Workers took down a sign in Hebrew, which read ‘Hebrew University – 44 Jabotinsky Street’ and stomped on it.

I stood watching in shock.

That was the day I started carrying a camera in my pocket instead of my backpack.

If I could not redeem that historic sign, I was going to share photos of what was happening in Jerusalem.

Since 2018, I have been documenting one piece of history as it has developed.

With recent social media sharing about Israel’s negative treatment of religions, the time finally seemed right to share the truth.

St. Antonia Convent Catholic monastery, as it was in April 2024, with nuns outside, was built in 1936.

This was the back gate where the Hebrew University sign was removed, and much later, the cross and name were added on top of the gated fence.

Jerusalem church property where HU library was located

In 2018, the old little building in the back was one location of the Hebrew University library from 1948, when the Mount Scopus campus was forced to close.

Jerusalem sign for building British used for tribunal was HU library and now back to nuns.

The British had used the building as their Supreme Military Tribunal headquarters during the time of the British Mandate. Trials of Haganah, Irgun, and Lehi fighters were held here.

After the British army withdrew, it became a base for the fight to save Jerusalem.

The British took over the buildings they wanted. Israel gave Church properties back.

The little shack out back is still there.

As the main building has been redone,

the small building has been decaying over time.

Collegio Antonio, above the fence, no sign of Hebrew University remains.

This is the view from the front, which is across the street from Beit Hanasi, the Israeli President’s Residence.

The landscaping and mosaics can be seen and appreciated inside the front locked gate.

Not just properties, but also people. In 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic, while Reuven Rivlin was still president, Church leaders were hosted each year at Beit Hanasi.

Formal photo of religious leaders at Beit Hanasi

The Israel Independence Day celebrations include all the religious leaders.

President Isaac Herzog met on Monday at Beit Hanasi with a delegation of Imams and Muslim community leaders from France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Italy, and the United Kingdom.

Photo Credit: Amos Ben Gershom / GPO

The Muslim leaders’ visit included Yad Vashem, and they were welcomed in Israel.

This past Friday, tens of thousands of Muslims prayed on the Temple Mount.

So remember, not everything you see and hear on social media or the news is factual.

Not only is it how you crop the photo, but now it’s also how you clip the video.

Next year in Jerusalem, come see what’s happening for yourself.