Beit Hanasi

In Jerusalem, after the holidays is conference time

Sharon A

It’s that time of year Israelis have been talking about for weeks, some even for months.

It’s “achrei hachagim” – after the holidays.

The holiday meal planning takes a break until Hanukkah.

The nights in Jerusalem are cooler.

The autumn sunsets are colorful wonders of nature.

On the Jerusalem streets, the Sukkot palm branches are out to be collected.

This year, adding to the busy conference and event season, the Israeli elections are scheduled for October 27.

October 4

A full house attended the Israel365 News Conference – Knesset Elections Town Hall at the Menachem Begin Heritage Center.

Rabbi Pesach Wolicki, Editorial Director and Senior Political Analyst for Israel 365 News, moderated the event.

Two panels of English-speaking candidates for the 26th Knesset represented their parties.

Each of the ten spoke passionately for their varied positions.

Were they able to influence the audience to change their minds and vote for them?

I think many voters are still having a hard time deciding. I know I am. More photos HERE

One thing for certain: don’t take walking or driving on Jerusalem streets for granted.

Changes seem to happen overnight. Get to a corner you know, and where to go?

October 7

Ceremonies started on Monday, with major events held north and south.

Sharing memories RJS –100 Days from Jerusalem to the South and North.

October 8

On Thursday, a special event at Beit Hanasi, the Israeli President’s Residence, honored flydubai’s flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv heroes.

President Issac Herzog honored six Israeli heroes who saved the flight from catastrophe.

The honorees and their wives, seated in the front row, rose as the President and his wife Michal entered.

One of dozens of hugs at that feel-good event was the President with Asaf Rajuan.

Justice Elyakim Rubinstein, chairman of the award advisory board, said “mazel tov.”

Matan Hasan provided the musical entertainment.

Or Bardilov was the sixth awardee who helped to stop the Omani co-pilot from crashing the plane into Ben Gurion Airport.

The dentist Dr. Shota Musayev has become well known for helping the injured captain stop bleeding.

The couple Tali Manes and Zvika Manes received the award together.

Their daughter, who was in the right place at the right time, received special attention.

And of course, Yaniv Hayoun, the plumber from Ness Ziona, became a celebrity overnight for his actions in the cockpit.

I don’t remember so much media, so many photographers present for recent events.

Not everyone with a camera phone was a pro. This over six-foot-tall guy was often in my way.

Camera. Selfies. Smiles and hugs galore. More photos HERE


President Isaac Herzog mentioned Indian Captain Smit Machchhar, expressing the deep gratitude of the State of Israel for his exceptional courage and determination in steering the flydubai aircraft to safety and averting catastrophe for the 174 passengers.

When Smit is well enough to come to Jerusalem, he is also to receive the Presidential Civilian Hero Award.

Three years since October 7, where are we today?

That was the theme of the Michael Levin Base Gala, which was held that night at the Jerusalem Theater.

Former IDF spokesperson Jonathan Cornicus was a featured speaker.

The first panel was with Tila Falic Levi, Yaakov Katz, and Joseph Cohen.

The second panel, led by Michael Dickson, was with Diane Neal, Fleur Hassan Nahoum, Adir Schwartz, and Nitza Darshani-Leitner.

Richard Corman was awarded the Outstanding Achievement Award.

There were more speakers, special mentions, and awards.

But I want to highlight Panama’s Ambassador Ezra Cohen and his wife. They attend so many events, always with a smile and a positive message.

I told him I had seen him in the livestream from the Davidson Center in the Old City the night before.

The Eagles Wings and Ambassador Program, with over 1,200 Christian leaders, community leaders, and influencers from over 115 countries, participated in the Friends of Zion Ambassador Summit. Their buses were on the Jerusalem streets and toured north and south.

Oh, these Jerusalem streets. Can you imagine King George Street being closed?

The old and new coming together in Jerusalem: the old #1 police station and new light rail on Jaffa Street.

I took time to walk to Beit Hanasi.

I stopped and admired these flowers on the way.

With multiple conferences all week, it was impossible to be everywhere. Here was only a brief taste of what was happening.

This coming week, there are more conferences and events at the same time.

It’s after the chagim!

Things are happening on the Jerusalem streets.

Jerusalem streets fill with people and music before Yom Kippur

Sharon A

The Jerusalem streets have been crowded each night, with tens of thousands heading to the Kotel, the Western Wall, for selihot. These middle-of-the-night prayers before Yom Kippur have become a “thing.”

People, especially young people from all over, secular and religious, at the Kotel and flowing into the surrounding area after 1 a.m. have become the new norm.

Buses, light rail trains, and Jerusalem streets were packed with people on Thursday night.

One special event was held in the old Shaare Zedek Hospital building on Jaffa Street.

Organizations supporting lone soldiers and B’not Sherut national service volunteers came together under the leadership of ImpactIL®, founded by Lesley Kaplan, partnering with The Michael Levin Base. Booths, business owners, and mentors offered support and guidance for soldiers at this event, especially the lone soldiers and lone B’not Sherut participants, either after service or as their service neared its end.

Yeshiva University was one of many educational options to explore.

Inside, mentors were available for young people to meet and connect.

Inside and outside, people at stations were available to help.

Most of the 150 soldiers were not in uniform, and only a few had weapons.

It was an opportunity for those who finished their service to become financially smarter.

Soft music was played throughout the evening event.

It was wonderful to see so many worthwhile organizations working together.

Another less publicized event was held at Beit Hanasi, the Israeli President’s Residence.

President Herzog hosted a selihot music program organized by Rabbi Benny Lau’s 929 bible study organization.

This year the theme was “Gates”; opening the gates was on the program and on these magnets.

For this musical-based event, photos did not suffice, so please enjoy these short videos:

A beautiful rendition of “Who By Fire ” by the Yagel Haroush Ensemble.

More music from the Yagel Haroush Ensemble for Selihot 5787.

Yagel Haroush Ensemble posed with President Isaac and Michal Herzog after the performance.

The young people invited each year are treated to a unique experience initiated by President Reuven Rivlin.

One memory from when President Rivlin got involved with Selihot is still a favorite.

Not sure how to spell it in English, but David D’Or’s version was a highlight at musical selihot events this year, so I’m sharing one from almost a decade ago.

May you hear the music yourself: “Next year in Jerusalem!”

Even before Yom Kippur, signs were up for the Sukkot Jerusalem Parade on September 28, 2026, with family events planned for Gan Sacher, Sacher Park.

Always something happening on the Real Jerusalem Streets.

This time of year, it’s hard to keep up and impossible to be everywhere.

Shana tova, gmar hatima tova

Did you hear about these new Jerusalem welcomes?

Sharon A

The August heat wave on the Jerusalem streets is still going.

Daytime temperatures are soaring beyond comfortable.

Jerusalem nights are more pleasant.

By the thousands, people come out to enjoy the summer festivals and events.

On Monday morning, Beit Hanasi, the Israeli President’s Residence, rolled out the red carpet to welcome six new Ambassadors to Israel.

Nkechi Linda Ufochukwu of Nigeria presented her credentials to President Herzog, with her entourage lined up in traditional white outfits.

Her welcoming toast was with apple juice, not the traditional wine.

Each new ambassador writes a message in the official guest book.

“It’s an honour and privilege to be here and I look forward to strengthen the ties between the two Nations,” she wrote.

Honestly, I went to see Alexander Graf Lambsdorff of Germany, who had already done an impressive job introducing himself on social media.

Besides the traditional handshake, he was presented with a white hat with Israeli and German flags on the front.

On the way out of the private meeting, he was introduced to Walter Bingham. At 102 1/2, Walter is amazing and sharp with his comments.

This ambassador signed his name to the German comment in the guest book.

A surprise during the presidential welcome for Chilean Ambassador Gabriel Alejandro Zaliasnik Schilkurt was that as he presented his credentials, Zaliasnik spoke in Hebrew, not in English as most others have done.

During the meeting and handshake photo op, Zaliasnik introduced his wife, Elisheva.

I do not remember a previous ambassador carefully copying his message from a text.

The new ambassador from Chile is extremely careful to mention he represents all Chileans.

There was opposition from some Chileans to his appointment because of his leadership of the Jewish community.

And to conclude the ceremonies of the six new ambassadors was Honduran Ambassador José Luis Núñez Bennet.

His message in the guest book was only a signature. But his presence in Jerusalem is significant.

It is the first time both countries have had ambassadors in Israel since the Hamas massacre on Oct. 7, 2023.

And now with the new government in Colombia, things are looking up for Israel and South American relations.

Beka Dvali of Georgia and Saman Kumar Chandrasiri of Sri Lanka were the other two ambassadors who presented credentials before I arrived.

Only for Chilean Ambassador Gabriel Alejandro Zaliasnik Schilkurt, I followed up to get a comment at the King David Hotel. He even graciously posed with the rabbi from Chile who was at the reception that included my favorite South American Ambassadors.

Welcome to Jerusalem to these newcomers and wishing them great success.

A very different welcome was held at Har Herzl on Wednesday afternoon.

The official ceremony for the Herzl family reunion.

Security was at the highest level to enter.

The Israeli flags draped over the two caskets brought in, just like an IDF memorial service.

The remains of Shimon Leib and Rivka Herzl were exhumed from the Jewish cemetery in Zemun, Serbia, and were transferred to Israel

After 77 years, Theodor Herzl’s grandparents were welcomed to Jerusalem by the Israeli President and Prime Minister.

A parochet covered the caskets by the Herzl family graves.

President Herzog said, “In his will, Theodor Herzl wrote that he wished for his remains and those of his immediate family to be brought for burial in the Jewish state once it was established. Today, we complete the fulfillment of that wish…”

To the Ambassador of Serbia to Israel, the Prime Minister began his remarks, “I kindly request that you convey our greetings and gratitude to the President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić…”

The World Zionist Organization has worked on the reburial for many years.

Grandfather Shimon Leib Herzl served as the ba’al tekia, shofar blower, and gabbai at the synagogue in Zemun of Rabbi Judah Alkalai, one of the forerunners of political Zionism.

Shimon Leib and Rivka were given as close to a royal welcome as Israel provides.

Their influence on grandson Theodor can only be surmised.

But now the Herzl family is reunited on Har Herzl.

Tikvah – hope. Sometimes it takes decades to make a dream a reality.

More ceremony photos HERE

Meanwhile, the new exhibit on Shabbtai Zvi at the Islamic Museum sounds fascinating.

In the August heat, one option to cool off is the indoor water park near Malha.

Come check out what else is happening on the Jerusalem streets!

Would love to welcome you – this year in Jerusalem.