Watch as the Pendulum Swings February Begins in Jerusalem

Life in Jerusalem, Israel is like a pendulum swinging between chaos and calm.

This week was another one of extremes of emotions with the return of a few hostages from Gaza.

However, there are still another 79 humans held captive in Gaza, with no one certain how many are alive.

On one quiet day, I took a walk and saw recent landscaping had revealed one Jerusalem lion’s new colors.

With a down day but good weather going to the Jerusalem Botanical Gardens is my first choice.

You can look down at the muddy pond in the winter without the lilies.

However, every photographer knows there are different angles on all occasions.

Beautiful purple irises were popping out in full bloom for a sign of spring.

A long-time favorite is seeing white roses blooming in the winter in Jerusalem, Israel, in the midday sun.

Walking the Jerusalem streets is a challenge with the construction in so many locations.

Besides the light rail track work, new bike lanes will help cyclists.

However, how will emergency vehicles manage the reduced traffic lanes during rush hours?

Beware where you walk, no worry about too many bikes now, but also take time to look up.

It’s citrus season and trees along the Jerusalem streets are full of fruit against the blue sky.

If you need more color go by the Jerusalem Theater where new art fills the lobby and walls every month.

Colorful language too this week, Tuvia Tenenbom was at the Bible Lands Museum Jerusalem with his movie, “God Speaks Yiddish.”

The same night, the Jerusalem Theater had a full house for the music of Elvis Presley.

KUMA is still on display in the Bible Lands Museum’s temporary gallery.

The area was full earlier with visitors hearing the story of the young artist who fell in the Iron Swords War.

Yellow ribbons were outside. Yellow ribbons for the hostages in Jerusalem are almost everywhere.

New to Jerusalem – The new government of Argentina is opening its official residence in Jerusalem.

While there are thousands upon thousands of professional signs I could share, sometimes the simplest ones stand out “Together thanks – this is the light of this Nation.”

In honor of Groundhog’s Day, after finally transferring to digital and uploading to YouTube, here’s a video of our prime minister, when he was the UN ambassador in 1988.

What’s different after all this time?

Just like Bill Murray, Déjà vu, or another repeat as the pendulum swings?

Along the Jerusalem streets, trying to have a nice day, while reminders of fallen soldiers and hostages are everywhere can be an emotional ride any day.

Oh What a Week in the Warm Jerusalem January

What did you hear happened on the Jerusalem streets this week?

Always something happening on the Real Jerusalem Streets that you might have missed.

It’s the end of Tevet. Tu Beshvat is over two weeks from now. But along the Jerusalem streets, the almond trees are blooming. It has been one warm and dry winter.

The dry weather has been bad for farmers but is good for road construction.

To and from Jerusalem, one must move mountains to make room for new roads.

In Gan Sacher, Sacher Park, a group of new young IDF soldiers were sitting in the midday sun.

I was walking home from the Gevura Tent or Tent of Heroes.

Families of fallen soldiers want their children not to have fallen in vain and be forgotten.

Many families came to Israel for the US Jewish school Yeshiva Week. Talks in English were scheduled from Sunday to Thursday night by widows and parents of fallen soldiers. I would have liked to have time to attend them all. But got to the first one on Zechariah Haber Hy”d – a young father of three who was extremely accomplished in Jewish and academic studies.

And on Thursday evening, Roey Weiser Hy”d was remembered by his parents. Roey was one of the first known causalities on October 7. He was killed defending Erez Crossing Base with too little ammunition against the hordes attacking from Gaza.

January 20, 2025, was Martin Luther King Junior Day in the US. Each year we acknowledge the Jerusalem street named for MLK. However, this year the US inauguration received much more attention.

The Friends of Zion hosted a mega-event to congratulate Donald Trump, with huge signs outside.

People lined up and crowded in before the announced opening time.

American-style food was served, including giant hotdogs and burgers, ending with donuts and waffles.

A few South American Ambassadors were seated in the front row.

In the main hall, the huge screen was ready for a live broadcast, after Emily Schrader interviewed Sharren Haskel, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Trump was sworn in as the 47th US President. We saw the ceremony and his talk but missed all the music.

There was a panel discussion and then the live music started with the Solomon Brothers doing US songs.

The crowds had filled every spot inside, the red hats and pins were long gone but the lights stayed on.

On the Jerusalem streets this week the hostage situation overshadowed most events.

However, one could only smile with the birthday boy Walter Bingham celebrating his 101 birthday. When you get to 101, one starts over with a ‘one’ balloon and friends and food.

I am not sure ‘until 120’ is appropriate – Walter is still working as a journalist.

This week in the sunshine and warm weather Gan Sacher was popular with young children.

Next week for the older young at heart, the Shaon Horef, Winter Noise Festival, is back on the Jerusalem streets on February Monday nights starting on Shushan Street.

Flights are to start and more tourists were around this week.

Are you coming soon to Jerusalem?

The time is good to book a Jerusalem Photo Walk.

New year, new beginnings in Jerusalem


Before sharing what is happening on the Jerusalem streets, one must first acknowledge the shocking and dramatic photos from California of the raging fires and destruction of entire neighborhoods.

Tens of thousands of Israelis have been evacuated from their homes for over a year. In northern Israel, destruction by Hezbollah rockets is starting to be cleared and regrowth is expected.

Hopefully, all will find some respite as their worlds were turned upside down and homes destroyed.

In Jerusalem, the streets are lined with construction projects as buildings continue to rise.

Construction cranes also surround a future sports field.

The newly opened, long-anticipated tunnels to Gush Etzion make driving to and from Jerusalem, a pleasure. Unless it’s rush hour then you need patience. It will be a while before the roads are finished with those extra lanes necessary because of all the traffic.

But this week I traveled to the other side of Jerusalem, and up into the hills at Neve Ilan for a conference.

Momentum Fellowship was holding its first conference for women in Israel and Hebrew.

Lori Palatnik started Momentum fifteen years ago to bring Jewish mothers to experience Israel. It has grown internationally to involve tens of thousands of women. Now Momentum has come to Israel.

The views were spectacular as the sun was setting,

and after sunset, from the deck area outside the hotel.

On a clear day, you can see not quite forever, but almost to the sea.

However, most of the time we were inside meeting, networking, and listening to impressive speakers.

Rabbanit Adina Bar-Shalom, the daughter of former Chief Rabbi Rishon LeZion Ovadya Yosef z”l, has led impressive initiatives in Haredi education. This diverse group of Israeli women listened as she spoke about the Haredi draft issue. Many did not agree with her but were respectful, they did not interrupt her.

Shelley Shem Tov, mother of hostage Omer Shem Tov, was not originally on the program. She has actively spoken out for her son’s release for well over a year.

You could hear a pin drop when she was speaking. Then as she tried to leave the hall, all the women in the room rose singing in one large circle, surrounding her, united and showing her support.

The hostages’ faces were on display for the three days of the conference, ending on Thursday afternoon.

Friday was the 10th of Tevet, which the Chief Rabbinate of Israel chose as a “General Kaddish Day” for the relatives of victims of the Holocaust and others, whose yahrzeit, the anniversary of their death, is unknown.

Interesting timing, one of the women brought these memorial candles from her organization to memorialize victims of the Nazis – so the world would know their names.

Oh it was an Israeli event, so the lyrics of the songs were displayed on the wall – Israeli style.

Thanks to Adi and Nathalie for this unique opportunity to participate in this inspirational conference.

While online connections are great, there is nothing like in-person meetings.

Now I need to keep up with all the fantastic ladies I met.

Stay tuned for what’s next!

Am Yisrael Chai!