Jerusalem events

People are indeed out again on the Jerusalem streets.

Tourist groups are back in Israel.

Some are calling it “revenge travel” – after not being able to move freely for so long during the pandemic, millions of people are now on the move – or trying to if their flights are not canceled. International airport photos show delayed passengers and piles of luggage.

In Jerusalem, in the Machane Yehudah Market, the tourists have returned. Excited to have a photo walk scheduled there for tomorrow with visitors from Australia!

The Jerusalem Design Week “FOR NOW” held at the Hansen House appeared to be a huge success.

The old grounds were filled with activities and people on opening night.

Crowds lingered at night, after eating and touring, and drinking beer.

Some could find a few less crowded spots on the restored grounds.

But it was so crowded I did not even try to get inside to see.

I did go back inside though, as the inner area was set for the final night production “For Now – Time, duration, objects, and material memory.”

The building was full of visitors, so I took just a quick glimpse into one of the many rooms filled with interesting and creative designs.

There was even a pop-up store as one of the exhibits, and so much more.

“Israel’s present persists in constant motion, and the idea of “long-term” is all but non-existent,” a quote from the “FOR NOW” program book, which was in English, Arabic, and Hebrew.

And this week’s events certainly supported that comment.

Only last week in the Jerusalem Orient Hotel at the economic conference,

Yair Lapid was the Foreign Minister of Israel.

And then, in one of the fastest and most peaceful changes of power, Yair Lapid was Prime Minister of Israel and walked in the Beit Hanasi gardens with President Isaac Herzog.

Bennett was still Prime Minister of Israel at the start of the Cyber Week International Conference held in Tel Aviv. He was interviewed by Michal Braverman Blumenstyk, CTO of Microsoft. At the conference, he implied he might go back to the high-tech world and leave politics.

At this conference, the Israel concept of ‘Cyber Dome’ was announced. As physical security has increased with the Iron Dome, international cooperation and the use of governments sharing information were promoted as the way of the future to prevent cyber attacks.

In Jerusalem’s Menachem Begin Heritage Center, however, the International Press Freedom Conference was also held this week.

Here the journalists discussed the difficulties of covering events during war times. The spying on journalists by the governments as in Hungary was highlighted by an interview with Szabolcs Panyi who was one of the journalists targeted and spied on in the Pegasus Affair.

Dan Meridor, Chairman of the Advisory Board of the Jerusalem Press Club has Menachem Begin looking over his shoulder here in the lobby area.

Executive Editor of US Associated Press Julie Pace was a featured speaker in the afternoon and had her photos taken after her presentation.

Conferences were not the only events happening in and around Jerusalem.

The Israel Sports Championships were last week, and now the International Europe Under18 Championships are being held in Givat Ram.

Next week the major international Jewish sporting event, the ‘Maccabiah Games,’ comes to Jerusalem with thousands of athletes and teams.

New buildings still seemed to pop up along the Jerusalem streets.

While older ones are celebrating longevity, the Ohel Rivka Synagogue held a 90th-year celebration last week.

The big news for the new month seemed to be ice cream. But note, not so sweet B&J in English will be removed and only Hebrew and Arabic for us, as those “social issues” are still an issue for B&J.

Cyber, economy, sports, and politics are not your things, how about music?

The Jerusalem Jazz Festival is back from July 5-7 with the Art of Jazz.

Paul Anka (yes – he is 80 years young), with a new generation knowing him from the American comedy-drama television series ‘Gilmore Girls’ from 20 years ago, is to perform live on the Jerusalem Sultan’s Pool huge stage on July 19.

Hoping Paul Anka and other Canadians had a good Canada Day on July 1st.

And in the US, July 4th, with or without fireworks, hope it’s a good one.

And here’s to hoping your flights to Israel do not get canceled so we will see you soon on the Jerusalem streets, no “revenge” necessary, there’s plenty to do for everyone.