What a week this was in Jerusalem, Israel!
The Jerusalem streets are usually full of tourists this time of year as Rosh Hashana, the New Year, and the High Holiday season begins at the end of Elul into the Hebrew month of Tishrei.
People are arriving. But, only ElAl is flying and they are booked solid.
Cannot tell what will happen next.
But check out what happened on Jerusalem streets this week.
The view from the Tayelet shows Old Jerusalem, Mount Zion, and Mount Scopus in the distance.
But the view of the growth of Jerusalem is also evident, as the population of Israel grows to 10,000,000.
Where else do people arrive to visit and live as housing prices go up – during prolonged wars?
Since the outbreak of the war, around 853,000 tourists have entered mainly from (in descending order): the United States, France, the UK, Russia, and the Philippines.
The olive trees are full as the season changes and Jerusalem nights are cooler.
With war raging around, daily life and building in Jerusalem, there are new roads and tunnels.
Renovation on the old Knesset site for the new Knesset Museum is finally visible.
New outdoor lighting illuminates the Great Synagogue and Heichal Shlomo next door.
‘Uniting for the future’ was the theme of the Keren Kayemet – Jewish National Fund solidarity mission which opened on Sunday night at the Jerusalem International Conference Center.
Its themes are working for the future in education, rebuilding, and honoring heroes and heroines of the Iron Swords War which is ongoing.
I arrived early as did Dani Dayan, the chairman of Yad Vashem, one of many institutions affected by war.
Three hundred people came from around the world on this solidarity mission dedicated to rebuilding.
Involved in the program were victims of terror and loss. The siblings of fallen soldier Cpt. (res.) Shaul Greenglick, who was an aspiring singer, sang in the program.
It was a powerful program that hopefully inspired major givers to give even more.
Ending with a child from a southern community saying ‘Thank You’ for helping us re-light our hope’.
As October 7 approaches, multiple organizations, programs, and videos are appearing to tell the story.
Michael Dickson of Stand With Us spoke at the opening of the Faces of October 7 on Tuesday night.
Portraits by talented artist Benzi Brofman are on display in Jerusalem until the end of October.
Each life-like face is a person kidnapped or killed since October 7, 2023.
The entire Siman-Tov family was brutally murdered on October 7 by Hamas terrorists in their home.
The photos are exhibited with the family’s cooperation. IDF soldier Reef Harush’s parents were there, his father was one of the speakers. For Reef’s mother, it was too painful for her to look at the portrait by Brofman. Look into the bright eyes, in the photo in his IDF uniform in the center, and see her world lost.
With each image is the personal story of the person. What is overwhelming to me – this photo of Loris z”l was drawn in one hour during the afternoon before the opening by the talented Brofman.
Too much loss. Too many new graves this past year,
especially in the military cemeteries throughout Israel.
However – more is happening on the Jerusalem streets that is not sad.
The Jerusalem Design Week “The Ark” ended on Thursday night at Hansen House.
With lectures and talks along with the out-of-sight designs.
After Shabbat the Jerusalem streets were almost as busy as ever.
As Rosh Hashana approaches in only a few days, there are fairs galore to support Israeli businesses.
It’s been a rough year for not only business but personal loss and longing on many levels.
Rachel Sharansky Danziger spoke at a book launch for “Az Nashir – We Will Sing Again: Women’s Prayers for Our Time of Need,” an anthology of prayers written by Jewish women in Israel addressing the unique experiences of living in Israel today in a post-October 7th world.
Before Rosh Hashana in Jerusalem, the streets are filled with sounds of Selihot, and late-night prayers. At Yemin Moshe you can see the Old City Walls illuminated in the distance. One of many possible sights for popular Selihot tours each year.
The Solomon Brothers returned to do a musical Selihot with people standing all around.
At the Jerusalem Great Synagogue, Cantor Tzvi Weiss was singing in a very different style.
The men’s section was full this year to hear him accompanied by the choir directed by Elli Jaffe.
Thousands were at the Kotel, Western Wall, filling the plaza, as many past nights.
While thousands more at the Jerusalem International Conference Center to hear Yitzhak Meir again and at hundreds of other Selihot services as every year.
Colored holiday lights have appeared this week over the Jerusalem streets before Rosh Hashana.
I thought it would be nice to end with some of the sounds of the Solomon Brothers’ Selihot,
and share a few minutes of the Great Synagogue choir and chazan.
Shana Tov Jerusalem 5785
May all be inscribed for a good year.
