Jerusalem

Tisha B’Av in Jerusalem 5785

Sharon A

Tisha B’Av.

Tisha B’Av in Jerusalem, Israel, is like nowhere else in the world.

At night, as the sky grows dark, the Jerusalem streets near the Old City swell with people walking towards the Kotel, Western Wall. Tens of thousands went last night, but I wasn’t able to walk this year as usual.

Model of Jewish Temple on Aish roof top with view to Dome of the Rock in the distance

A model of the Temple was lit one night from the Aish World Center rooftop. The Golden Dome of the Rock, which was built over the site of its destruction, can be seen at the top of this image.

For those who have not been to Jerusalem and toured the areas being rediscovered, here is a 2-minute video to give you an idea of what it was before the Roman destruction.

Stones fallen from Temple Mount at base of Old City Western wall

These stones were left where they fell so many centuries ago along the base of the Western Wall.

View of Absalom's Tomb from above at night

I missed walking around the walls last night and the views on the eastern side of the Old City Walls.

Mercy Gate on the eastern wall of Jerusalem Old City walls

Last year, I got a photo of Mercy Gate as we walked by on the way to Lion’s Gate and back to the Kotel.



Ten years ago, on the night of Tisha B’Av, as every year, tens of thousands came and sang slow songs.

The Western Wall Heritage Foundation shared photos from last night of the annual scene.

Bible Lands Museum Jerusalem video from a favorite exhibit on Babylon.

And there on the rivers of Babylon told their story,

for generation after generation.

Many Jews returned to Zion with the prophets Ezra and Nehemiah,

But many wealthy families remained.

Now 2500 years later,

Many have returned to Jerusalem, Israel, and others have not.

This has been an especially hard Tisha B’Av on a personal and national level.

The situation in Gaza, with 50 hostages, and world support growing for the terrorists, is hard to see.

Next year in Jerusalem!

Who’s here in July on the hot Jerusalem streets?

Sharon A

It’s too hot today to be out on the Jerusalem streets during this heat wave.

There are fewer tourists on the Jerusalem streets this summer,

not due to the sun blazing down, but to the rain of ballistic missiles last month.

photo raising Israeli flag

In July 2013, the Maccabiah opening was held in Teddy Stadium.

What a night it was!

Before July 2017, the Jerusalem streets were ready for the 20th Maccabiah.

Long-planned and Covid-postponed, the 21st Maccabiah opening event was held at Teddy Stadium in the Malha neighborhood of Jerusalem, Israel, in July 2022.

For the 2022 opening event, 30,000 people attended. What a light show and fireworks display.

What proud smiles as the Maccabiah teams marched in. In all the chaos, finding a familiar face – priceless.

Officially, Maccabiah 2022 had 74 delegations with 10,274 participants, and thousands of supporters.

Joe Biden and Yair Lapid

In addition to the Israeli President and Prime Minister making an appearance, US President Joe Biden was there in 2022, waving his USA Maccabiah hat to the crowd and TV audience.

But this year, Maccabiah had to postpone its July international mega sports events in Israel until 2026.

The Jerusalem streets are quiet this July, as many tourists and groups have changed their plans due to canceled flights and fear. What is in the headlines is too often not really what’s happening here.

However, last week, the theme was “Better together – Stronger than ever,” 180 educators, principals, and Jewish community leaders from 22 countries arrived in Israel to participate in Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael – Jewish National Fund’s (KKL-JNF) annual educational seminar.

“The presence of these educators in Israel at such a time is a powerful declaration of commitment and moral courage,” said Sar-Shalom Jerbi, head of KKL-JNF’s Education and Community Division. 

There was music and food served on the patio of the Menachem Begin Heritage Center for the closing.

Ifat Ovadia-Luski, Chair of the KKL-JNF Board of Directors, posed and smiled, surrounded by participants.

“Better Together, Stronger” than ever as the World Education Conference concluded with the walls of the Old City across the way in the distance on the pleasant Monday evening.

For some attendees, the seminar marked their first visit to Israel; for others, it had been many years since they last visited. It was certainly important for them to hear from residents from the north and south who are still displaced. to better understand what was really happening in Israel.

Zohar Vloski, Global Executive Director of Zionist Education at Jewish National Fund-USA, has led these missions for over a decade. He noted that the U.S. delegation was composed of senior educators, principals, cantors, and Jewish communal leaders, now with a greater understanding and appreciation, to bring back messages of strength and unity to their respective communities.

The Maccabiah Jerusalem night run was in 2022, and the night run was also canceled this summer.

The young Maccabiah athletes and their supporters from around the world were not able to come,

but everyone is looking forward to “Next year in Jerusalem.”

A Jerusalem journey from 44 Jabotinsky Street

Sharon A

This summer ebbs away in a time blur of heat and war, with a broken foot and hopping on one leg.

However, I remember where I was standing almost 20 years ago. Workers took down a sign in Hebrew, which read ‘Hebrew University – 44 Jabotinsky Street’ and stomped on it.

I stood watching in shock.

That was the day I started carrying a camera in my pocket instead of my backpack.

If I could not redeem that historic sign, I was going to share photos of what was happening in Jerusalem.

Since 2018, I have been documenting one piece of history as it has developed.

With recent social media sharing about Israel’s negative treatment of religions, the time finally seemed right to share the truth.

St. Antonia Convent Catholic monastery, as it was in April 2024, with nuns outside, was built in 1936.

Jerusalem church property

This was the back gate where the Hebrew University sign was removed, and much later, the cross and name were added on top of the gated fence.

Jerusalem church property where HU library was located

In 2018, the old little building in the back was one location of the Hebrew University library from 1948, when the Mount Scopus campus was forced to close.

Jerusalem sign for building British used for tribunal was HU library and now back to nuns.

The British had used the building as their Supreme Military Tribunal headquarters during the time of the British Mandate. Trials of Haganah, Irgun, and Lehi fighters were held here.

After the British army withdrew, it became a base for the fight to save Jerusalem.

Church property in Jerusalem Israel

The British took over the buildings they wanted. Israel gave Church properties back.

The little shack out back is still there.

As the main building has been redone,

the small building has been decaying over time.

Collegio Antonio, above the fence, no sign of Hebrew University remains.

This is the view from the front, which is across the street from Beit Hanasi, the Israeli President’s Residence.

The landscaping and mosaics can be seen and appreciated inside the front locked gate.

Not just properties, but also people. In 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic, while Reuven Rivlin was still president, Church leaders were hosted each year at Beit Hanasi.

Formal photo of religious leaders at Beit Hanasi

The Israel Independence Day celebrations include all the religious leaders.

President Isaac Herzog met on Monday at Beit Hanasi with a delegation of Imams and Muslim community leaders from France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Italy, and the United Kingdom.

Photo Credit: Amos Ben Gershom / GPO

The Muslim leaders’ visit included Yad Vashem, and they were welcomed in Israel.

This past Friday, tens of thousands of Muslims prayed on the Temple Mount.

So remember, not everything you see and hear on social media or the news is factual.

Not only is it how you crop the photo, but now it’s also how you clip the video.

Next year in Jerusalem, come see what’s happening for yourself.