Beit Hanasi

Seven New Ambassadors to Israel before Holocaust Remembrance Day

Sharon A

What a strange week this was!

Passover ended.

However, it seems like a long time ago with so much happening on the Jerusalem streets.

With Passover over, the flags are flying for the annual, emotional days of Yom Hazikaron, Memorial Day, and Yom Ha’atzmaut, Independence Day.

Flags are for sale in stores, at street corners, and popping out of car windows – as usual.

This week, 7 new Ambassadors to Israel presented their credentials at Beit Hanasi, the Israeli President’s residence, where these ceremonies are held. Such a large number at once was unusual.

I arrived as the new Ambassador from India was leaving.

The Ambassador from the Philippines wore a handmade, elegant dress, standing on the red carpet as her anthem was played and the flag from the Philippines was raised in her honor.

The Ambassador for the Dominican Republic was next to present his credentials.

I should go and check old photos, but I think President Herzog was standing on a new carpet.

Then the Ambassadors went into the official diplomatic room to exchange short remarks. Canada’s new Ambassador’s exchange was more casual, and Michal Herzog joined in.

The official handshake photo is an important step in the process, as with the Ambassador from Angola.

Keeping the red carpet clean is another important step.

The last Ambassador of the day was from the US, Michael Huckabee, with his wife Jane in the blue dress.

Look closely at her necklace, it’s a Star of David.

President Herzog’s staff lines up along the red carpet to greet each of the new Ambassadors as they arrive in the main hall. President Rivlin had his staff stand behind him. For the US ceremony, guests were on both sides of the room.

If you look closely at the back of Miriam Adelson’s dress, you will see the Hebrew writing down the back, “If I forget thee, Jerusalem .”

Of course, the media comes out more for the US Ambassadors.

The two men gave media statements after a short private meeting in the diplomatic room.

Of all the past ceremonies I attended, I do not remember an Israeli President hugging the new Ambassador after his credentials were put in his hand.

Ambassador Huckabee signs the official guest book as all the others had done.

However, Mrs. Huckabee’s small handbag got my attention while her husband wrote in the book–an Israeli flag is on one side and a US flag on the other.

And the yellow chair, not forgetting the hostages at Beit Hanasi.

If you counted and noticed there were six. The seventh was from Belarus, who was first in the morning before I arrived. At the King David Hotel, after the ceremonies, he was given a chance to speak.

That was how the week began on a high.

The house was clean. Things are back in order. And I got a ride to the King David in one of the official limos behind the four motorcycles leading the motorcade. Amazing how fast the trip was when you do not have to stop for red lights. So fast, I did not think to take a photo.

For Yom HaShoah, Holocaust Remembrance Day, I went to the home of Rena Quint for Zikaron BaSalon.

Her story of survival during the Holocaust is documented in “A Daughter of Many Mothers” with the help of Barbara Sofer. Each survivor’s story is shocking and unique. Rena has told her hundreds of times at home and at Yad Vashem. She even had a U.S. president bend down to her. Read the book or find a video.

Sadly, no more Dry Bones, Yaakov Kirshen passed away. I so admired his wit and wisdom.

Sadly, the signs with fallen soldiers line too many Jerusalem streets. The number since October 7 rose to 849. Together we will win. But is there unity?

New signs are up: “Until we win.”

Notice the yellow ribbon on the special poster made for Steve Linde’s 65th birthday party. Steve was an editor at Jerusalem Post and Jerusalem Report, and is now Feature Editor at JNS.

Too many ceremonies and events for Yom HaZikaron to mention. It’s hard to decide where to go.

Then the next day, starting Wednesday night, is Yom Haatzmaut! Again too many, it’s hard to decide!

The Yoms, the roller coaster emotional time of year.

Am Yisrael Chai!

Jerusalem a City of Continuing Constant Contrasts

Sharon A

Another week in Jerusalem, Israel, filled with euphoric highs and painful lows.

Plus a few constants thrown in to keep us on track as we move forward.

Sign for Jerusalem Washington Street.

During the third week of February, the week of US President’s Day, it’s time to share a Jerusalem street sign for George Washington Street near the other US President – Abraham Lincoln Street.

Tu Bishvat was this past week, in the US it was celebrated by receiving a buksor (carob) pod. In Jerusalem, hundreds of pods littered the ground under the carob trees.

Tu Bishvat and the almond blossoms were bursting out on trees along Jerusalem streets.

It was good to get to the Botanical Gardens and the Japanese Pagoda in time to see the cherry blossoms.

A favorite sign of spring is the wildflowers popping up in nature spots.

Even better to see them in the new growth in the area below the Israel Museum destroyed by fire.

Overcast windy days are good for getting photos of the flags at the Knesset. However, there were no big celebrations for the Tu Bishvat this year. The Knesset’s first session was on Tu Bishvat and a major celebration on the 50th year at this site was nine years ago.

This year an empty chair sits in the Knesset corridor waiting for the hostages to come home.

The anguished screams of relatives who come each day are too painful to share.

In contrast, the silence next to the Knesset is the Bird Observatory still empty during the day.

By the Memorial Candle in Gan Sacher, the wreaths for the end of January commemoration of the siege of Leningrad were wilting. The world is very different than it was 5 years ago when it was dedicated.

Though Tu Bishvat is thought to be a sign of spring, much of the Jerusalem weather was wet and cold.

However, this young man seemed to enjoy the pool of water at one construction site.

So many areas are under construction for the light rail, that it is hard to walk on the Jerusalem streets.

Most seats were reserved Thursday evening at Beit Hanasi, the Israeli President’s Residence.

Supreme Court Judges and the over-filled audience in the room rose as the President entered.

President Isaac Herzog signed the document appointing the new head of the Supreme Court Yitzhak Amit, as Amit looked on from the podium to the right side of the official table.

The previous heads of the Supreme Court posed for a photo after the speeches.

All judges are sworn in at Beit Hanasi, including Shariah Law Qadis.

The audience, filled with the judiciary, was warm and receptive, and the largest in my memory.

However, outside, the protesters were loud enough to be heard during the speeches. Not everyone was pleased with the Supreme Court selection, and the Prime Minister and Justice Minister did not attend.

Have you seen the Iron Swords War Memorial in Commemoration of Jerusalem and those fallen?

It’s a new monument near the Knesset across from the National Library and has their names engraved inside.

Next to the momument to the fallen is a new children’s park.

After Shabbat, people were walking and running to prepare for the Jerusalem Marathon on 4/4/25.

Most protests speeches and gatherings with singing are in Tel Aviv all these months. A night event for the return of hostages is planned for Kikar Safra, Safra Square, on Thursday night February 20, 2025.

Jerusalem is planning to celebrate Women’s Month in Jerusalem with a list of open houses.

The days and nights with highs and lows continue.

Life continues in Jerusalem, Israel.

Hope to see you soon on The Real Jerusalem Streets.

The President of Paraguay Received Warm Welcome In Jerusalem

Sharon A

The Real Jerusalem Streets has published over 1,200 posts.

Along the way, RJS received over 1.2 million spam comments.

And a couple of viral posts – so many loved those Arab girls.

Each week the goal of RJS photo essays is to show what is happening in Jerusalem, Israel–

what legacy media does not share – there is much more happening than conflict and protests.

This week was a week to honor the Republic of Paraguay and its President Santiago Peña.

Knesset flags in blue and white were joined with blue and white with red – for the Republic of Paraguay.

Yards of red carpets were out and the Declaration of Independence moved to a new location

to officially welcome the President of the Republic of Paraguay Santiago Peña.

Anthems were played before the review of the honor guard.

The Paraguayan delegation entered the Knesset building led by Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana.

After cutting a ceremonial blue ribbon, Peña cut off a small piece of the blue ribbon to save.

The President signed the official guest book as Ohana stood and dignitaries sat to watch.

Audience members taking photos and videos with their cell phones has become common practice.

Even an army officer took his shot as the two leaders spoke briefly in the Chagall Hall.

Peña’s wife was escorted to a private reception after the official photos and led past the October 7 display. The hostages and war are not forgotten even at the most festive of events in Jerusalem.

The official motorcade waited outside to rush them away to the next event on a short, tight schedule.

The Kotel, Western Wall, Yad Vashem, and the official ceremony in Har Hotzvim where the Jerusalem Embassy of Paraguay is located lasted two days.

The umbrellas have been replaced with new lights over Yoel Salomon Street awaiting winter holiday visitors in Jerusalem near the Friends of Zion Museum, across from the Museum of Tolerance.

On Thursday night the Paraguayan delegation was hosted at the Friends of Zion Museum,

and the President was presented with the Friends of Zion Award.

The new Chief Sefardi Rabbi Dovid Yosef arrived wearing his new official Rishon Lezion attire.

The room was crowded and all stood as the Presidential couple entered,

Fleur Hassan Nahoum was the moderator, she spoke in English from the podium, but in Spanish to many of the guests.

Even at this event, the memory of those murdered was not forgotten.

Mayor Moshe Lion presented a gift and Rav Yosef blessed the President.

They left before the toast and the meal was served.

The meat came from Paraguay and the wine served was a special label “PARAGUAY,” bottled by Psagot Winery.

A hamsa for good luck was presented by Israeli Minister of Culture Miki Zohar.

However, the Friends of Zion Award was the main event of the evening which was co-sponsored by the Zionist Organization Kol Israel.

Knesset Speaker Ohana was all smiles during the singing of Hatikva at the end of the evening. He had gone to Paraguay to open an Israeli consulate and must have been relieved to see the results of his efforts. See who was there in more photos HERE.

So the Paraguay events were fun, but not real streets unless you saw the motorcades go by.

On International Humanitarian Day December 10th, a special session was held at Beit Hanasi, the Israeli President’s Residence, concerning the health and welfare of the 100 hostages still held in Gaza.

Freed hostage Noa Argamani spoke after the health experts presented data.

Several freed hostages attended and comforted each other.

But families, some wearing the faces and names of their loved ones on their shirts, are still waiting after 435 unimaginable days, more photos HERE

But then, new signs are up for fun next week, with the Doll Festival and More at the Train Theater.

The first night of Hanukkah is December 25th and I started planning and baking.

Stores have dreidels and Hanukiot on display – it’s time to prepare for Hanukkah. The holiday where they tried to kill us and failed – so we eat sufganiyot and latkes and spin the dreidel to see our fate.

As President Peña said ending his remarks to the media at the Knesset – “This year in Jerusalem!”

Book a photo walk to see the sights and lights for yourself.