With the holidays over and tourists returning home, one might think Jerusalem streets would be quieter this past week.
Sitting in bumper-to-bumper traffic, you would know that was incorrect.
![](http://rjstreets.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/BeSheva-Bibi-024-2-1024x675.jpg)
The week started off slowly enough to appreciate the Jerusalem autumn colors while walking to the VERT Hotel for a conference.
![](http://rjstreets.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Sam-Speigel-166-2-1024x707.jpg)
But oh the new impressive views at the end of the week!
![](http://rjstreets.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/BeSheva-Bibi-123-2-1024x658.jpg)
The olive trees are full of ripe olives, ready for picking.
![](http://rjstreets.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/BeSheva-Bibi-130-2-1024x678.jpg)
The flowers by the garden established in memory of Sarah Herzog were in full bloom, bursting with color in the midday sun before the rain started.
![](http://rjstreets.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Mindy-001-2-1024x671.jpg)
The 23rd Oud Festival is one of the many events happening in November.
![](http://rjstreets.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/BeSheva-Bibi-018-2-1024x556.jpg)
The Jerusalem nature strips and traffic circles were cleared and now new flowers are being planted along the Jerusalem streets.
![](http://rjstreets.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/BeSheva-Bibi-020-2-1024x926.jpg)
Small areas were busy with gardeners working to beat the rain.
![](http://rjstreets.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Mindy-005-1024x768.jpg)
One shmita sign was still up.
![](http://rjstreets.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/BeSheva-Bibi-022-2-1024x885.jpg)
But drivers nearby watched the new planting, which started as soon as the holidays ended.
![](http://rjstreets.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Walk-Emek-Azza-041-2-1024x739.jpg)
New flowers line the Bloomfield Garden near the Montefiore Windmill.
![](http://rjstreets.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Walk-Emek-Azza-043-2-1024x667.jpg)
And work on King David Street appears to be completed – at least for now.
![](http://rjstreets.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/BeSheva-Bibi-110-2-1024x762.jpg)
A bigger landscaping project is now happening at the new National Library.
![](http://rjstreets.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/BeSheva-Bibi-111-2-1024x724.jpg)
With the construction fences removed, the campus is now being developed.
![Israel National Library cranes with Knesset in background](http://rjstreets.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Museums-park-003-library.jpg)
Remember when this was cleared and just a huge hole in the ground 3 years ago?
![Jerusalem Israel construction new National Library](http://rjstreets.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/058-national-library-b-1024x595.jpg)
Located across from the Knesset, extensive work has gone on for years.
![](http://rjstreets.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/BeSheva-Bibi-117-2-1024x732.jpg)
There is still more to do, but an end appears in sight.
![](http://rjstreets.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Walk-Emek-Azza-046-2-1024x622.jpg)
The renovation work has finally started at the Prime Minister’s Residence which was unused for the past year. With a November 1st election day, maybe soon it will have an Israeli Prime Minister living there again.
![](http://rjstreets.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/BeSheva-Bibi-098-2-1024x531.jpg)
The Wohl Rose Garden has big signs lining the road to say that it’s closed.
![](http://rjstreets.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/BeSheva-Bibi-101-2-1024x704.jpg)
The estimated completion is set for December 2023, so that means no nature photo walks there for quite some time.
![Construction site in Jerusalem Israel](http://rjstreets.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/CoP-Close-Carr-008-b-betzalel-1024x630.jpg)
However, who remembers the construction fence near the Gerald Behar Center? It was exciting to see the workers finally above ground in 2019.
![](http://rjstreets.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Sam-Speigel-039-1024x576.jpg)
On Thursday, the Sam Spiegel School of Film and Television opened its new building in the cultural complex, a project started under Mayor Nir Barkat.
![](http://rjstreets.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Sam-Speigel-095-2-1024x647.jpg)
I got Mayor Moshe Lion to smile at the morning dedication.
![](http://rjstreets.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Capture-ribbon-2-1024x459.png)
The mandatory ribbon cutting was a big red one, along with the red carpet.
![](http://rjstreets.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Sam-Speigel-132-2-1024x773.jpg)
The Jerusalem Mayor attached the mezuzah to the door.
![](http://rjstreets.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Sam-Speigel-146-3-1024x768.jpg)
One student smiled when handed a notepad with his photo on the cover – perfect for his grandmother he said.
![](http://rjstreets.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Sam-Speigel-151-1024x768.jpg)
There were dozens of other photos of students on these notepads too.
![](http://rjstreets.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Sam-Speigel-157-2-1024x767.jpg)
The film equipment, library work areas, theaters, everything excelled over the old Talpiot location of the past 3 1/2 years.
![](http://rjstreets.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Sam-Speigel-185-2-1024x677.jpg)
But as we went up the stairs in the seven-story building, the views became more exciting. Imagine having the city of Jerusalem as the backdrop in student lounges–the real thing, not a photograph.
![](http://rjstreets.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Sam-Speigel-176-2-1024x700.jpg)
With each new view as we went up, it was hard not to snap more photos!
![](http://rjstreets.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Sam-Speigel-186-2-1024x657.jpg)
And finally, we were on the roof of the new Sam Spiegel School.
![](http://rjstreets.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Sam-Speigel-192-2-1-1024x486.jpg)
From the roof, you see the VERT Hotel and the Chord Bridge in the distance, but look at all those new buildings that have gone up!
![](http://rjstreets.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Mikva-the-Musical-002-1024x678.jpg)
And as this busy week came to an end, I was at the Shalva Building.
![](http://rjstreets.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Mikva-the-Musical-003-3-1024x640.jpg)
There the stairs offer an important message – “You don’t have to see the whole staircase, just take the FIRST STEP.”
Hard remembering the steps, and the years involved, as we see a few of Jerusalem’s major projects coming to completion. As Israel approaches 75, Jerusalem combines the old with the new.
![](http://rjstreets.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Mindy-032-2-1024x687.jpg)
Getting out and appreciating the sunset was a good way to start a busy week. The tour at Sam Spiegel was a great way to end on a high.
Looking forward to seeing you soon on the busy Jerusalem streets.