Flag parade

A full week celebrating Jerusalem 59

Sharon A

Yom Yerushalayim, Jerusalem Day, was May 14, 2026, until Friday evening, May 15.

Jerusalem Day is the Israeli national holiday commemorating the reunification of Jerusalem following the Six-Day War in 1967. 

This year, with a full week of celebrations, it was hard to keep up.

A large banner was posted – ‘Jerusalem 59 – Happy Holiday’ near the walls of the Old City, by Jaffa Gate.

Flags were blowing in the breeze, lining the street by the Tower of David.

For the second year, the Tower of David hosted a Jerusalem Quiz for middle school students.

During an interlude from the questions about Jerusalem, the Montefiores stopped by.

One of the questions was where the Tower of David is cited in sources. Did you know?

The organizers want to make this an annual international event.

I thought I knew a lot about Jerusalem, but these young people knew a lot more.

Interestingly, the winner does not live in Jerusalem; she attends a secular girls’ school in Jerusalem.

To say her teacher was proud would be an understatement.

Also, in the lead-up to Jerusalem Day, an event was held at the Jerusalem International Conference Center led by President Isaac Herzog. “Time to Talk” to build hope for the future was the theme.

Actress Gal Gadot was one of the featured participants.

However, there were many impressive presenters from a wide variety of fields, including sports. Moran Samuel, the Israeli Paralympic basketball player and world champion rower, was one sporting hero.

More photos HERE

For Yom Yerushalayim 59, the Old City Walls were lit with a happy holiday greeting with flags.

The Knesset was covered with blue and white lights as the Israeli flags flew above.

The official celebrations in Yerushalayim begin in the morning, with the Prime Minister and President speaking at the State Memorial Ceremony for Ethiopian Jews who perished on their journey to Israel.

At nightfall, the President and Prime Minister spoke at the state ceremony marking 59 years since the liberation and unification of Jerusalem at Ammunition Hill.

However, the major event was on Thursday during the day.

Tens of thousands of people came from the north and south to celebrate.

Every inch of King George Street fills with crowds, singing and dancing before walking to the Kotel, the Western Wall.

Gan Haatzmaut, Independence Park, was filled with young families in the afternoon.

The crowd at Damascus Gate was large and mostly male teens.

Schools had buses bring their teachers and students.

The media were positioned on both sides of the plaza at Damascus Gate.

Senior police were let through to observe.

Current Israeli ministers marched with their flags and supporters.

Political hopefuls also had their party flags and supporters.

Security was on the lookout throughout the route.

The beautiful horses were also patrolling.

Thouands came and went from Damascus Gate without incident.

Outside the walls of the Old City, in what was No Man’s Land from 1948-1967, it was easy to find the direction for afternoon prayers.

Musicians were performing loudly at Tzahal Square.

As usual, the crowds of tens of thousands of people do not make headlines.

This woman was slowly walking toward Damascus Gate, late in the afternoon.

The crowd did not let up; people kept coming.

So this year, I did not take the route through the Old City.

It gets difficult to walk the narrow Via Dolorosa to the Kotel, Western Wall, because of the number of people.

My big complaint was the mess left behind on Agron Street.

Many synagogues throughout Jerusalem had musical evening services.

Ohel Nechama Synagogue had the Leviim Choir on Thursday night for Yom Yerushalayim.

Come and see Jerusalem Day for yourself.

Experience. Music. Prayer. Dancing. Singing.

I stayed away for the first few years after making aliyah. What a mistake.

I started The Real Jerusalem Streets because what I was seeing was not what the media shared.

Share what is really happening.

I have a hundred more photos I could show you, but for now – More photos HERE

The annual International Writers’ Festival at Mishkanot Shaanamim is scheduled for May 25-28.

Wall mural of ten commandments in Jerusalem Cinema City

Shavuot begins Thursday night, so onto the next days of celebrations.

Chag Sameach!

Jerusalem Day 2025: Photos mainstream media did not share

Sharon A

Why did The Real Jerusalem Streets start 15 years ago?

Because what I saw walking on the Jerusalem streets seldom matched what the media shared.

Now, there are close to 15,000 photos published on The Real Jerusalem Streets’ old photo essays.

At first, I avoided the annual Flag Parade/March on Yom Yerushalayim, Jerusalem Day, because of negative stories in the media. Then, year after year, I walked the parade route.

Yes, there was a crowded scene outside Damascus Gate.

There is also a known spot inside Damascus Gate where international media stand ready for a troublemaker’s winning photo and headline story.

Further along the Via Dolorosa route, closer to the exit to the Western Wall Plaza, it narrows to a crush.

So, what was the Yom Yerushalayim march really like this year?

This incredible view started my day on Monday of Yom Yerushalayim 2025. You see the tower of the YMCA, and in the distance is the King David Hotel. Jerusalem, beyond that in the distance, including the Old City, was occupied by Jordan from 1948-1967.

Going into that No Man’s Land on the other side of the hotel meant Jordanian sniper bullets.

Israeli Ethiopian memorial in cemetery on Mount Herzl

Yom Yerushalayim has also been hallmarked as a memorial day to the thousands of Ethiopians who died making the arduous trek from Sudan on their way to Zion. The memorial is in Har Herzl military cemetery, where an official ceremony is held in the morning.

Also, this year, in the morning, the Prime Minister and Jerusalem Mayor announced a plan to restore the Mamilla Pool, though the sign has been up for months.

Mamilla Pool with water after heavy spring rain

It does look a bit better after heavy spring rain, as published here in March 2022.

I wondered if the thousands of people on their way to the Kotel knew they had walked by it.

On Yom Yerushalayim, flags line many of the Jerusalem streets.

The walls of the Old City were illuminated with flags for the 58th year of the reunification of Jerusalem.

A giant flag was unfurled as the sky turned dark on Sunday night at the Kotel, Western Wall Plaza.

Smaller flags of Jerusalem and Israel were waved by the crowd of people of all ages.

Thousands filled the Kotel to pray with the special musical service live-streamed on YouTube.

Special visitor US National Security Secretary Kristine Noem made the Western Wall the first stop on her brief trip to Jerusalem. She was accompanied by security and US Ambassador Mike Huckabee. Janet Huckabee, wearing the bright jacket in a sea of black and white, hugged Noem on their way out.

This Jerusalem cat was out and on guard on Sunday night as people filled the Rova, Jewish Quarter.

After multiple morning prayer services, the main event on Yom Yerushalayim begins in the afternoon.

Blue and white is the preferred attire, and this woman agreed to show off her holiday dress.

Politicians appeared briefly on the Jerusalem streets along the parade route.

Not everyone wore blue and white, and for sure, not everyone was a teenage rowdy male.

While security was on high alert, this police officer shared his motorcycle with young admirers.

Thousands and thousands came out on the Jerusalem streets despite the high temperature this year.

With white shirts and T-shirts of all kinds, they marched through in groups from the starting point.

While an occasional politician made his way slowly through the crowd by car.

One smoke bomb, I did not understand, but another opportunity for groups to stop and sing together.

Media reports did not share the young families that participated.

This year, security had marching groups more regulated to reduce crowding.

You could find a bit of everything if you looked for it. Chabad with flags. Third Temple flags, and more.

How many photos did you see of the girls and young women on King George Street?

With flags, singing, and marching in such a crowd of thousands, I had to stop and wait to pass by.

One officer found a new way to make his way through the crowd.

This was the main live music stand this year on King George Street across from the Great Synagogue.

I made my way across the street to the stage to show the size of the crowd.

Despite the weather and high temperatures, people came in large numbers.

The thousands of girls gathered near Bezalel Street seemed to go on and on as they came by.

The thousands of marchers ended at the Kotel as Yom Yerushalayim at nightfall..

However, those peacefully praying, no matter how many more, are not considered newsworthy.

Signs line the Jerusalem streets, not only those celebrating Yom Yerushalayim, but also Jerusalem saying thank you to the reservists’ families during this difficult time of prolonged war.

Even with war, the skyline is changing. Jerusalem building goes up and up, as the roads back up with closures for light rail construction.

This year Yom Yerushalayim.

“Next year in Jerusalem” was in the ancient prayers in Ethiopia and is said until now.

Hope you can see the real Jerusalem streets yourself, soon.

Cheesecakes have been prepared for the holiday of Shavuot.

No downtime on the real Jerusalem streets.

Chag samech – happy holiday to all.

See Yom Yerushalayim this Week in Jerusalem

Sharon A

In Jerusalem, Israel, the Israeli flags were flying,

blue and white flags along Jerusalem streets,

on rooftops,

and large ones from buildings and light poles prior to Jerusalem Day.

Yom Yerushalayim, the Jerusalem Day 56 signs were posted. Events lasted longer than just a day, with celebrations galore, including live music at Kifar Safra on Wednesday night for hundreds, open to the public at no charge.

Israeli Ethiopian memorial in cemetery on Mount Herzl

 The day of Yom Yerushalayim officially beings with a state ceremony for the 4,000 Ethiopian Jews who perished on their way to Israel, at Mt. Herzl Military Cemetery near the monument built in 2007.

Jerusalem Israel military cemetery on Mount Herzl one grave of soldier who died 19 years old

Also during the day, the President and Prime Minister attend a memorial for the victims of the Six-Day War and the War of Attrition at Mount Herzl.

Museums were open and free of charge in honor of Jerusalem Day.

But the main event happens on the Jerusalem streets, with bus loads of people arriving from around the country. This group of students from Petach Tikva started dancing and singing as soon as they got off the bus.

Not just young males participate, but people of all ages and from around the world arrived this year and marched with flags, in spite of dire threats.

The people at the Kings Hotel had a good vantage point to watch the main crowd on King George Street singing and dancing.

Others were down in the crowd recording the thousands participating.

The occasional speakers did not get a quiet audience from the crowd.

This year girls broke thru the security lines to get closer to the main event.

It was not possible to get the crowd in one image, but the wind was great this year for photographing flags.

On King George Street by the Great Synagogue flag waving, singing,

excitement and enthusiasm filled the street all afternoon.

But I had come to again walk the Flag Parade/March/Dance, like this school group from Tzefat, as we started out on Agron Street.

A big Jerusalem flag was hung near Kikar Safra, as we passed Tzhal Square where the light rail trains were not running.

Many Jerusalem streets were closed to traffic, as was the entrance at New Gate, with security posted, checking pedestrians also.

So many Jewish young men, Chabad was out with a tefillin-stand on the way to Damascus Gate to enter the Old City.

The scene at Damascus Gate was more crowded than I remembered.

Many times I have walked with the crowd thru the Old City to the Kotel, the Western Wall, where prayers, music, and dancing are held at sunset.

Security watched from above, and along the route as well.

International photographers were watching and waiting at the usual vantage points inside Damascus Gate.

As hard as I tried, while I found many different t-shirts, I could not find any of the offensive viral images of the walk.

Security had blocked narrow alleyways in the Old City,

along the Via Delarosa route, as we moved slowly along.

Thanks to a much taller policeman offering to take a photo with my camera, the March/Parade crowded in the Old City moved at a schlepper’s pace.

I lost count of the young men who stopped to say thank you to the police, some even stopping to shake their hands.

We passed a memorial plaque at the spot where a Jew was killed on Purim in 1991.

Relief, the light at the end of the tunnel!

Where we emerged to the packed Kotel, Western Wall Plaza where thousands had already arrived and was filled with the sounds of music.

Traditionally, the Mayor and his wife greeted the public at the Tower of David all afternoon but left for the next official ceremony at Givat Tachmoshet, Ammunition Hill, the site of the most important battle for Jerusalem in 1967.

It was getting dark. Jaffa Gate was blocked. People were not allowed to enter, so large was the crowd on Yom Yerushalayim, Jerusalem Day.

My summary with the sounds of music during the day is under 6 minutes.

So sad that so many people were celebrating in a positive way, and the few negative images got viral coverage.

However, there’s more of what you did not see –

New trees were planted along the Jerusalem streets this week, and too many flowers to count – the Mayor is running for re-election in the fall.

Signs are up for Jerusalem Education Week,

Festival Musrara Mix 23,

and the Jerusalem Arts Festival.

Not only the many varied Jerusalem Festivals are back, but so too are international conferences. A favorite topic this week at the Inbal Hotel was the International Sleep Disorders Academy Congress.

Earlier in the week, the David Citadel Hotel hosted a Declaration Day event.

The walls of the Old City were illuminated for Yom Yerushalayim 56.

The new fountain in France Square had blue and white lights at night.

The new lighting on the old Heichal Shlomo and Great Synagogue was bright as King George Street quieted down, and the music and dancing, and celebrations for Jerusalem Day moved to other locations.

Enough for one day for two big old bears!

May be an image of prairie gentian, Vanda orchid and text

Now is the new month of Sivan and time to prepare for Shavuot, when again thousands more people are to fill the Jerusalem streets.

Come see what’s really happening for yourself.

Next year or this year in Jerusalem!