Jerusalem street photos

Jerusalem gets back to normal after holidays

Sharon A

It’s time to get back to “normal” with a full five-day week without holidays.

To start a busy week, nothing like changing the clocks to get the week going – slowly.

Last week, the Vice-President and Secretary of State of the US paid short visits to Jerusalem, Israel.

I did not see either of them, but the US flag was up outside Beit Hanasi, the Israeli President’s Residence.

It was enough for me to remember Biden’s two trips as VP and VP Mike Pence in 2018.

This week, President Herzog presented nine Israeli Medals of Honor to a very diverse group of awardees.

The yellow chair to remember the hostages still in Gaza was placed next to the medals.

The honorees were seated in the front row with distinguished guests on the other side of President and Michal Herzog. US Ambassador Mike Huckabee was one of several Ambassadors.

The very diverse group of winners included Sheik Muwaffaq Tarif, leader of the Druze community.

Dr. Miriam Adelson, one of the female winners, spoke for the group and wore a white garment with blue Stars of David embroidery.

Miriam Abelson and Michal Herzog, one of many hugs of the evening.

Group hug of the President, Adelson, and freed hostages Matan Angrest and Segev Kalfon was another.

The two young men recently freed from Gaza received special mention and applause.

Impressive, before leaving, giving a thank you to the Medalists.

Not all the winners were Israeli or Jewish. Mathias Döpfner, a German businessman, author, art collector, and journalist, is the CEO of media group Axel Springer SE. He prides himself on being a non-Jewish Zionist, and his media was singled out for not sharing anti-Israel propaganda. He is also very tall.

The construction and destruction of Jerusalem streets for bike paths and the light rail goes on, and on.

One sign says that we will be able to get from Herzog Street to Route 16 by October 2027.

Will see if that really happens. It feels doubtful with so many streets ripped up and traffic stuck.

Meanwhile, it is fall and the weather and seasons are changing.

In the Jerusalem Botanical Gardens, the pond lilies are changing colors as they wilt away.

A new restaurant opened this week in the old popular location. The dairy one did not last long. Will see how a kosher Moroccan grill does in the site best remembered as the old Moment Cafe.

The hundreds of delegates to the World Zionist Congress are arriving from around the world for the WZC opening sessions starting on Tuesday at the International Conference Center.

Winter weather is on the way. But if you walk along the Jerusalem streets, roses are still blooming.

Take time to stop and smell the roses, or check out the Open Houses this weekend. Over 160 places of interest are open to the public during the annual festival.

As always, more is happening than what makes the sensational headlines.

Hope to see you soon on the Jerusalem streets.

A Week in Jerusalem: One City, Many Stories

Sharon A

From joyful graduations to passionate protests, high-level conferences to returning tourists, the Jerusalem streets were anything but quiet this week. Every corner pulsed with energy and sometimes a volatile rhythm. Here’s a glimpse of what is happening on the Jerusalem streets.

Remember when the Holyland was the talk of the town, towering over the Jerusalem streets?

Now it seems that towers over the Jerusalem streets are becoming the norm.

Bobcat

Too often lately, it seems these ‘cats’ are taking over the Jerusalem streets.

As more and more take over the skyline, the traffic can become a gridlock nightmare. Sunday morning was a pleasant surprise, with some streets not backed up.

Today is part of the Muslim celebration Eid al-Adha. Begun on Friday night, and there are fewer buses, taxis, and cars, and very little construction. Jerusalem sounds quieter today.

The Israel Conference on Transportation, Traffic, and Parking is at the Vert Hotel on June 16-17. It will be interesting to see what they come up with other than a lot of speeches.

 

The annual Eli Hurvitz Economic Conference, sponsored by the Israel Democratic Institute, was held again at the Orient Isrotel Hotel.

Each year, over two days, the conference presents a long list of speakers.

One presenter this year was Dr Eyal Hulata, Israel’s National Security Advisor and Head of the country’s National Security Council from 2021-2023

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The panels and speakers elaborate on the Israeli economy with words and graphs.

The head of the Bank of Israel is Professor Amir Yaron speaking at IDI conference at Orient Hotel

The head of the Bank of Israel is Professor Amir Yaron, who was a featured speaker again.

Eli Hurvitz Conference 2023 protesting Bezalel Smotrich

Two years ago, when the new Finance Minister Betzalel Smotrich tried to present his prepared speech, the room erupted in a protest. He was not on the program this year.

This year was an interesting contrast. Mansour Abbas, a current member of the Knesset, representing the United Arab List, was received with respect by the attentive audience.

Protests have become the norm on the Jerusalem streets. Most evenings, a few women stand across from Beit Hanasi, the Israeli President’s Residence, in a quiet protest.

Over 610 days, is there anyone who does not want the remaining 55 hostages home – and now?

Stickers of fallen soldiers are pasted onto elevators and along the Jerusalem streets. The loss of eight more young IDF soldiers announced killed over the weekend in Gaza brings the number close to 870.

As the days go on, signs are up in Jerusalem thanking and loving the families of reserve soldiers.

And in June, it’s time for Hebrew Book Week, June 10 – 21, 2025.

This year, with much of First Station under construction, the annual popular event has been moved to Kikar Safra, Safra Square.

On the Jerusalem streets, this week, adding to the usual traffic and closures for protests, the President of the Argentine Republice Javier Milei is to be in Jerusalem, Israel. He is to speak at a special session in the Knesset on Wednesday.

The third Pulse of Israel Conference at the Menachem Begin Center is on June 17th and also online.

As usual, much is happening on the Jerusalem streets.

Jerusalem Day and Night – See What’s New

Sharon A

Another week flew by on the Jerusalem streets.

And as usual, with highs and lows, and unexpected encounters and happenings.

Today sharing photos you probably did not see, or at least I never saw reported.

The week began with perfect spring-like weather.

The YMCA Jerusalem stone tower against the blue sky with wisps of clouds and blossoms on the trees – the beautiful Jerusalem colors that inspired The Real Jerusalem Streets and logo.

At the YMCA at night, Ramadan is celebrated. The month-long Muslim holiday ends March 30th with Eid el Fitr.

I met across the street from the YMCA at the King David Hotel with Wanda Peretz to hear about her new book “The Ceiling.”

The Jerusalem Theater was lit with special lights on Tuesday night for the Mayor’s Volunteer Awards.

I went as a long-time volunteer helping lone soldiers and supporter of The Michael Levin Base.

Pleased to see that another non-profit I did volunteer work for was also recognized. Tenufa Bakehila, helps low-income families improve their homes and lives.

I remember one woman who exclaimed, “I feel like a bride!” seeing her new “after” kitchen.

As at every program, the murdered and hostages since October 7 were remembered.

By the security entrance of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, MFA, are more of those faces and a “Bring them home” banner.

Inside, the briefing in English by the MFA spokesperson became timely as new missile attacks and fighting started again, with sirens in Jerusalem, as well as huge sections of Israel.

What I really wanted to know was – who were the government limousines lined up waiting to transport?

It has been a while since I was inside the MFA and do not remember the fish pond. It was a good spot to stop and talk with a group of US Mayors touring Israel before they went inside.

The real streets include prolonged protest sites which I usually avoid and leave for others. However, this one has been set up near the Knesset against the government from before the war.

Walking from the MFA calming fish pond it was on my way home. Everyone I know wants the war to end and all the hostages returned. The question is how to accomplish it.

The week ended with cold wet weather. But even with the grey sky, there was bright color if you look.

The finish line for the International Jerusalem Marathon, to be held on April 4, 2025, was up over this Jerusalem street. Tens of thousands are expected to run in the various races.

And the spring flowers are again popping up from the old stones.

Jerusalem, day and night, cold and hot, even under missile fire – Israel is rated the 8th happiest country.

Am Yisrael Chai – See you Next Year in Jerusalem!