7 New Views in Jerusalem

What’s considered new in Jerusalem, Israel, is a constant surprise.

Every week something new seems to grab headlines and attention.

Suspension bridge over Hinnom Valley

The suspension bridge over the Hinnom Valley (shared here in May) was officially opened and caused a bit of social media discussion.

What a view from the bridge!

But is it a bridge over the valley to nowhere on Mount Zion?

A photo taken during the development of the new bridge (twice mentioned here) appears that more development of the area might be called for.

Who remembers this photo and view from October 2021?

And this photograph was taken in December 2019 BC – Before Corona.

Well, here is the same spot near the end of Jaffa Road this past week!

Oh, how the view has changed!

All around Jerusalem, one day there is a store. The next day it’s gone.

The white sign over the door of the old Shaare Zedek is for Social Space.

The same sign as over the President Hotel entrance. Making use of old Jerusalem landmark buildings as the new ones pop up around them.

On Jaffa Road outside of the building workers were busy removing red Xs, from the new stones made so they look old.

Did you notice the new buildings built across the street?

The Jerusalem Gateway Project is at street level and visible from Jaffa Road.

Note on the left how the old cemetery remains as the towers rise above,

and well above the Jerusalem streets to change the view.

At first, this view of the Machane Yehuda Market on a summer weekday appeared the same as before strolling in off of Jaffa Road.

But now covered with a new roof, it was more pleasant than outside in the sun and filled with people, tour groups and shoppers, and summer camps.

People filled some of the passageways lined with new shops.

Fascinating to see cucumbers and corn packaged in plastic.

Even some of the baked goods were wrapped in plastic and not open as in the past. Good news for some, and outrageous for others.

The Jerusalem Botanical Gardens has a new attraction for summer 2023.

Colorful inflated “monsters” are meant to provide families with an outing to view the new kid-friendly monster balloons around the gardens.

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But I am waiting to view the details of the Japanese pagoda opening.

You can see it from the street, near the entrance of the Botanical Gardens next to the cherry trees and the Japanese flag.

The flag of Zambia was on view near Beit Hanasi, the President’s Residence, to welcome Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema to Jerusalem on an official state visit. The African leader had a busy schedule planned.

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I assume HH missed the popup flea market in the community park nearby.

This past week was Tu B’Av.

The time after the sad day of Tisha B’Av is filled with weddings.

But at all Jewish weddings, a glass is broken to remember the Jerusalem of Tisha B’Av and the destruction and promise of rebuilding as a new couple begins building their home.

As we left the wedding, I stopped to admire the view of the full moon.

Sturgeon moon over Yemin Moshe in Jerusalem Israel

Who remembers the same Sturgeon Moon over Yemin Moshe last year?

So it’s summer in Jerusalem, and signs are up for the Thursday night concerts back again in Safra Square with live musical entertainment.

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Saw this sign too late, but there are more Feel events on August 9 and 16.

And signs for even more events, to end off the summer before school starts, the Jerusalem Israel Festival, the International Puppet Festival at the Train Theater, The Tower of David Circus, and much more.

Solomon's Quarries for a piano performance

Remember the amazing views in Zedekiah Cave?

It’s to have reopened with a special video of King Solomon’s Quarries.

Enough views of above and below the Jerusalem streets for now.

Time to go and see what else is happening on the real Jerusalem streets, and to share next time what the mainstream media does not view as news.

Past, Present, and Future Come Together on the Jerusalem Streets!

Summer days in Jerusalem, Israel: when the sun bears down so strong it is too hot to wander around on the Jerusalem streets to see what’s happening.

But the nights usually cool off enough to get out.

A stroll to the Botanical Gardens with the sights and sounds of the lily pond is refreshing after being inside for too long.

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Was it the full moon, the upsetting, inverted news coverage from Jenin, or the fast day to start of the Three Weeks before Tisha B’Av, that made finding positive stories to share harder than usual?

However, getting out before dark is always a good idea, as some things were happening you should know about.

Jerusalem Machane Yehudah Market after renovation

Machane Yehuda Market, the Shuk, celebrated 100 years with big events on Sunday night, street actors, activities, and musical performances.

The actual year the Market opened was 1922, but the events were held off due to the limited travel last year after the pandemic.

Shutters with graffiti in shuk, Jerusalem Machane Yehuda Market

The days of market stalls shuttered at night have been replaced with new eating spots, bars, music, and people partying late into the night.

On Monday at the Inbal Hotel, Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Lion opened an International Markets Conference, interviewed by Talia Friedman.

The Mayor spoke of his efforts to keep the outdoor market open during the Covid closures and its importance for Jerusalem.

Rami Levi, wearing a plain white tee shirt, stood to give the Mayor a hug after he spoke. Rami Levi started his business as a small shop in Machane Yehuda Market and participated in the conference connected to the 100-year celebrations.

Signing an international agreement was part of the program. Markets are working on ways to make themselves relevant in a changing world.

Friedman, elected chair of the Mahaneh Yehuda Merchants’ Association at the end of 2020, has the difficult job of balancing between the old-style vegetable seller and the new nightlife scene.

As with most everything else these days, there is a difference of opinion.

But there is one constant, the Liberty Bell in Liberty Bell Park still has its crack. The replica was organized when Teddy Kollek was Mayor of Jerusalem for the US Bicentennial in 1976.

Near the Liberty Bell is the Yonatan Netanyahu Garden, created in memory of Yonatan Netanyahu who fell in the Entebbe Mission on July 4th, 1976.

Also nearby, next to the Montefiore Windmill, is a small plaza, a popular tourist spot, which hosts musical performances, and even engagements.

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On the right, I included in one photo, the memorial to soldiers who fell liberating Jerusalem. There is an annual official ceremony in their memory.

In the center, a tourist group on segways arrived wearing yellow safety helmets for the guide to share the view and history of the site.

And on the left, a wedding ceremony was being prepared with a musical rehearsal.

The past, present, and future coming together on the Jerusalem streets!

I missed the wedding ceremony but stopped later for a few minutes to watch as a tour bus emptied out, and the people went to watch the dancing and to take photos and videos of the celebration.

I was on my way to the B’nai B’rith World Center-Jerusalem Awards for Journalism Recognizing Excellence in Diaspora Reportage for 2023.

My favorite photo of the night was of new Jerusalem Post Editor Avi Mayer with the world’s oldest working journalist, Walter Bingham, who is 99 years young. He should be nominated for lifetime achievement next year.

During the question and answer period with Alan Schneider, Director of the B’nai B’rith World Center, I noticed Mayer’s unusually muted socks for the occasion. On previous panels, his socks drew the audience’s attention.

While I am not a fan of the hot summer days in Jerusalem, they are good for wildflowers that line the Jerusalem streets.

It was too hot outside to walk, but in Jerusalem Cinema City, any day is good for a scoop or two of ice cream.

Rosh Hashana 5781

This year in Jerusalem, Rosh Hashana was not like in previous years. As with most of the world, the Jewish New Year was spent alone at home or in small gatherings rather than in crowded synagogues and overflow services. 

At the Kotel, the Western Wall, the usual huge crowds were missing.

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Sections were divided into small prayer groups before Rosh Hashana for late-night Selihot.

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Those smaller groups filled some of the plaza areas this year.

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And then at night after Rosh Hashana, even those small groups were gone.

Such a sorry sight, at a time usually filled with tourists and visitors. 

The Jerusalem Great Synagogue was empty for the first time in its history.

The green spaces of Jerusalem, all of its parks, were called into use.

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These signs were posted wishing park visitors’ good health and a good year.

Jerusalem Gazelle Valley opening day

A special announcement was made that the Gazelle Park would be open during the lockdown, with everyone required to wear a mask.

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Hope they turned off the water sprinklers on the holiday for Gan Sacher, Sacher Park. Extra bins for holiday trash were available. 

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The ads for juice near Gan Sacher had a happy holiday greeting.

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Almonds were ripe on the tree and falling to the ground. Only they were so hard I could not crack the ones I brought home with a hammer.

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Machane Yehuda Market, the shuk, was busy the week before the impending holiday shutdown. Shoppers were rushing to stock up with food and supplies. Supermarkets were filled to overflowing capacity. 

Display of unusual fruits for Rosh Hashana in shuk, Mahane Yehuda market

Fresh new fruits for the second night of Rosh Hashana are especially popular this time of year.

pomegrante seeds

A long time favorite, yummy pomegranate pie for the holiday. 

Family of beekeeper at Beit Hanasi before the New Year.

No little bees photo ops this year, and a very much smaller reception for beekeepers was held at Beit Hanasi, the Israeli President’s Residence. 

Tzipi Hotovely taking a photo of the food at Beit Hanasi

No big New Year event for foreign diplomats at Beit Hanasi as in the past.

Photo credit: Mark Neyman GPO

This year President Rivlin hosted a socially distanced private reception for diplomats who were seated apart and all wearing masks.

The Selihot in the Beit Hanasi Synagogue was an annual event during Rivlin’s tenure. This was the last chance as his 7-year term is up in July.

However, this year due to religious service size restrictions these will not be held during this three-week lockdown period.

For a lockdown, this new Jerusalem project in the Schneller Compound is the place to live, to enjoy parks and open spaces. It is a magazine perfect neighborhood.

From Jerusalem this past week, all eyes were watching the signing of treaties with UAE and Bahrain. Only later I noticed on the left side for Israelis, a man in the front rows got up to take a photo on his phone, as the US side sat politely.

The Old City Walls that night were illuminated with flags of Israel, the US, UAE, and Bahrain in honor of the historic occasion.

Already numerous interactions have taken place. The webinar on health and technology I listened to is worthy of sharing with you soon, it was so impressive what they have done in Abu Dhabi in the last few years.

Photo credit: Shifra

However, also on the Jerusalem streets near the Prime Minister’s Residence, the protests continue. Though there was a supposed lockdown, a large table was set for 120 people, with no distancing, no masks, and lots of noise for Rosh Hashana on the first night. Protests in democratic Israel are legal.

Sorry, but I find their behavior UNEXCEPTIBLE.

New security cameras are being installed in the area, and new security is reinforcing the regular police and border police who have had to deal with these loud mob scenes week after week.

Sweet New Year poster for Rosh Hashanah

But for now, hoping all have a sweet and healthy year.

President Reuven Rivlin gave New Year greetings in English this year.

Next year in Jerusalem!

Meanwhile, preparing for Sukkot holiday to start October 2, 2020,

We spotted the first sukka of the season!