A favorite classic Purim in Jerusalem, Israel, image.
The Montefiore Windmill decorated for Purim during the pandemic.
This year, the central Jerusalem, Israel celebration will be held on Sunday, March 16, 2025 –
The Jerusalem Marching Together Giant Puppet Parade event of the Purim celebrations in Jerusalem will assemble on King David Street at 10:00 AM and begin moving at 11:00 AM.
The parade will pass through King David Street and King Solomon Street, turn at Tzahal Square onto Jaffa Street, and conclude its route on King George Street in front of the old Mashbir building, like last year.
So many Israelis have already been to Dubai and Europe, and now they are booked to go to Japan.
While Israelis plan to travel during the holiday season, tourists are arriving to fill the Jerusalem streets.
New decorative lights add color to welcome all to the Jerusalem streets for the holiday season.
A quiet evening visit to the Jerusalem Botanical Gardens was a great way to start a busy week.
Seeing people dining and admiring the lily pond with its change of season never gets old.
This year’s attraction of inflatables was a great source for a fun seasonal image.
Nefesh B’Nefesh hosted a “Shuk Olim” an event for new immigrant businesses to share their wares.
Businesses were happy about the opportunity. One friend said she sold out in the first hour!
The added attraction at this second Shuk Olim was a performance by Shlomo Katz.
The mostly English-speaking crowd, also immigrants, enjoyed his music and the food on the NBN roof with the view of Jerusalem a bonus. For many the summer started at another Nefesh BeNefesh Shuk Olim.
Bright and early the next morning, back to Nefesh B’Nefesh for the 2nd Jerusalem Business Conference. Along with AACI, Lesley Kaplan (center), and crew hosted a full-day program for entrepreneurs and business owners.
Former Ambassador Michael Oren and Jerusalem Deputy Mayor Fleur Hassan-Nahoum were opening speakers for an entire day of expert advice for advancing business in Israel.
Over 200 people attended, not only from Jerusalem, but from all around Israel, and at least one friend from Australia. It was a great day to be back with live networking and the opportunity to photograph a conference again.
As always, it feels as if Jerusalem is one big building site. While people complain, and buildings go down, at least the trees are protected from construction as much as possible.
This new bike trail attracted a lot of comments on Facebook.
Also this week, before the holiday season, was a time for weddings.
This young bride had the most interesting footwear seen in a long time.
But of it all, the most exciting time was spent seeing the new National Library of Israel.
It is not finished yet and not open to the public yet. But what a tour inside! More on it next time.
I was too tired and did not get to the pro-reform rally on Thursday night to see thousands of people.
I saw the loud anti-government protest Saturday night but decided to spare you the sound.
I was on my way to see the Selihot at various locations – there were hundreds of choices.
Better to share a bit of the impressive sound of Chazan Weiss and the Choir of the Great Synagogue.
Tens of thousands more packed the Kotel, Western Wall Plaza for late-night Selihot.
Today the bee keepers made their annual appearance at Beit Hanasi, the President’s Residence for the traditional apples and honey.
This year in Jerusalem, Rosh Hashana was not like in previous years. As with most of the world, the Jewish New Year was spent alone at home or in small gatherings rather than in crowded synagogues and overflow services.
At the Kotel, the Western Wall, the usual huge crowds were missing.
Sections were divided into small prayer groups before Rosh Hashana for late-night Selihot.
Those smaller groups filled some of the plaza areas this year.
And then at night after Rosh Hashana, even those small groups were gone.
Such a sorry sight, at a time usually filled with tourists and visitors.
The Jerusalem Great Synagogue was empty for the first time in its history.
The green spaces of Jerusalem, all of its parks, were called into use.
These signs were posted wishing park visitors’ good health and a good year.
A special announcement was made that the Gazelle Park would be open during the lockdown, with everyone required to wear a mask.
Hope they turned off the water sprinklers on the holiday for Gan Sacher, Sacher Park. Extra bins for holiday trash were available.
The ads for juice near Gan Sacher had a happy holiday greeting.
Almonds were ripe on the tree and falling to the ground. Only they were so hard I could not crack the ones I brought home with a hammer.
Machane Yehuda Market, the shuk, was busy the week before the impending holiday shutdown. Shoppers were rushing to stock up with food and supplies. Supermarkets were filled to overflowing capacity.
Fresh new fruits for the second night of Rosh Hashana are especially popular this time of year.
A long time favorite, yummy pomegranate pie for the holiday.
No little bees photo ops this year, and a very much smaller reception for beekeepers was held at Beit Hanasi, the Israeli President’s Residence.
No big New Year event for foreign diplomats at Beit Hanasi as in the past.
Photo credit: Mark Neyman GPO
This year President Rivlin hosted a socially distanced private reception for diplomats who were seated apart and all wearing masks.
The Selihot in the Beit Hanasi Synagogue was an annual event during Rivlin’s tenure. This was the last chance as his 7-year term is up in July.
However, this year due to religious service size restrictions these will not be held during this three-week lockdown period.
For a lockdown, this new Jerusalem project in the Schneller Compound is the place to live, to enjoy parks and open spaces. It is a magazine perfect neighborhood.
From Jerusalem this past week, all eyes were watching the signing of treaties with UAE and Bahrain. Only later I noticed on the left side for Israelis, a man in the front rows got up to take a photo on his phone, as the US side sat politely.
The Old City Walls that night were illuminated with flags of Israel, the US, UAE, and Bahrain in honor of the historic occasion.
Already numerous interactions have taken place. The webinar on health and technology I listened to is worthy of sharing with you soon, it was so impressive what they have done in Abu Dhabi in the last few years.
Photo credit: Shifra
However, also on the Jerusalem streets near the Prime Minister’s Residence, the protests continue. Though there was a supposed lockdown, a large table was set for 120 people, with no distancing, no masks, and lots of noise for Rosh Hashana on the first night. Protests in democratic Israel are legal.
Sorry, but I find their behavior UNEXCEPTIBLE.
New security cameras are being installed in the area, and new security is reinforcing the regular police and border police who have had to deal with these loud mob scenes week after week.
But for now, hoping all have a sweet and healthy year.
President Reuven Rivlin gave New Year greetings in English this year.
Next year in Jerusalem!
Meanwhile, preparing for Sukkot holiday to start October 2, 2020,
