Jerusalem After Yom Kippur Getting Ready for Sukkot

Over the years “Yom Kippur is coming” has been an annual post for The Real Jerusalem Streets.

How was this year different?

I didn’t even remember to do a piece on the holiday approaching.

The umbrellas still stretch over Yoel Solomon Street, but fewer tourists walk under them.

This year the Yizkor, or remembrance of October 7 victims and hostages filled the Jerusalem streets.

Even on the poster for the various Selihot, there was one placed in the center.

On October 7, 2024, I walked into Jerusalem by the tent near the Prime Minister’s residence.

It was quiet on Day 367, but at night the area was filled with people.

Needing a bit of nature I found the new map of Geology of the Jerusalem Mountains.

You could see the large Israeli flag over the Knesset at half-mast from that vantage point.

In the outdoor garden at the National Library of Israel, the letters were impressive under the clouds.

Inside people were working as if it was a regular Monday.

But my goal was to see this video projection near the upper entrance of the new library.

To remember the murdered and fallen soldiers from October 7, too many faces.

At the lower entrance, those faces on posters on chairs with favorite books waiting for hostages to return. If you have not been – tours in English will run during Sukkot on Sunday-Tuesday (October 20-22).

  • Tour duration: approximately an hour and a half.
  • The group tour is suitable for ages 16 and up.
  • Price: NIS 50 per person over 5 years of age. Discounts are available for seniors, soldiers, reservists, and displaced families (identification required).
  • For more information about group tours in English and to buy tickets: https://www.nli.org.il/en/visit/tours/sukkot-tours

The restaurant will be open. A sukkah has been erected in the library garden for visitors.

For Sukkot “Poof Sipur” (“Bean Bag Stories”) for children ages 5 to 11 and accompanying adults is back.

Walking home on the path under the Israel Museum was a bit of hope for renewal – green growth under the trees and bushes in the seriously burnt area.

A Muslim woman walked alone along a Jerusalem street on October 7, and no one else seemed to notice.

Before Yom Kippur, the Israeli President hosted a Selihot program by the Beit Hanasi Synagogue with the musical ensemble of Yagel Haroush back again this year, coordinated by 929 organization.

In the Israeli President’s Residence back garden, the white chairs were lined up as in the past. Only the seats were filled with students and bereaved families instead of the many IDF uniforms in past years.

A bit of the powerful melodies of the Chazan during Selihot prayers.

I took a photo for you inside the Beit Hanasi Synagogue, which is not open to the public often.

However, at least one of the books on a small table looked well used.

This year the lead-up to Yom Kippur was filled with various October 7 memorial programs.

One event for fallen Israeli Police was held at the Friends of Zion Museum. In the first 50 hours of Operation Iron Swords, 59 police officers were killed.

Program moderator Dean Elsdunne, Spokesperson for Israel Police, supported and translated for the bereaved mother of Dan Ganot z”l, as she explained her new role to speak to school children about her son and the honor of police personnel.

The panel moderated by Avi Mayer with dedicated police who worked on and after October 7 was impressive. More to come on that soon, inspired by the stories they shared!

Walking home a new sign was up for Ushpizin Sukkot begins Wednesday night October 16 – ready or not.

The Kings Hotel’s sukkah was ready for guests,

while the restaurant next door had the frame of their sukkah up before Yom Kippur.

On the Jerusalem streets, the few alert sirens of missiles approaching have not stopped the constant building projects.

The maze of construction for the light rail continues to confuse both drivers and pedestrians.

These Jerusalem street signs wish Shana Tova Jerusalem 5785.

May all have a better year!

As the Yom Kippur prayers ended – “Next year in Jerusalem”

And now – time to get ready for Sukkot and Simhat Torah.

How many empty chairs for Passover seder this year?

Passover 2024 or Pesach 5784, will be different from last year on the Jerusalem streets.

The Chag Aviv, or the Holiday of Spring, can be seen in nature as the bees have returned.

As usual, baskets for unopened bread products can be found on the Jerusalem streets,

plus special bins to burn the bits of bread and crumbs on Monday morning before the holiday begins.

However, this year there will be thousands of empty seats at the Seder table on Monday night.

National Library of Israel entrance with faces of the murdered

The faces of the 1,200 murdered in the October 7 Massacre were illuminated in the new National Library.

At Beit Hanasi, the Israeli President’s residence a ceremonial presentation of certificates was held.

The families of the three young Israelis who escaped from their Hamas captivity in Gaza, only to be shot by friendly fire were acknowledged.

Iris Haim mother of Yotam Haim, posed and smiled for a photo. There were more than the usual amount of hugs and tears that day. I refrained from photographing the most powerful scenes.

The next day back at Beit Hanasi, 30 nurses were honored in advance of International Nurses Day. Even though the audience was asked not to photograph, phone cameras were used repeatedly by family members and friends. Each nurse was called up by name and her story was briefly recounted. One was the nurse in Beeri on October 7. One had been taken captive to Gaza on October 7. The hospitals mentioned were from the north to the south of Israel.

One of the nurses was Talya Slotki, the Nursing Coordinator in the Pain Clinic at Shaare Zedek Hospital in Jerusalem, Israel, who was awarded an Honorable Distinction for Bravery and Heroism.

Her husband, Rabbi Shmuel Slotki shared their story with our solidarity mission at the beginning of January along with a video of his sons and family.

On the morning of October 7th, their two sons, Noam and Yishai, left their home when the attack began and traveled south to join in the brave defense of the besieged communities along the border. Both sons fought heroically before falling in battle.

For the next week, their exact whereabouts and fate were unknown, before the family was informed that both sons had been killed.

Following the completion of the shiva, Talya continued to work to provide critical medical care in addressing and alleviating pain. Among many of her patients have been soldiers evacuated from the fields of battle who were treated for a wide range of injuries – many included painful orthopedic wounds and burns that have required intensive attention and care.

As I read about the commendation that Talya Slotki received, I remembered when Rabbi Slotki entered the room to speak to our group. Rabbi Doron Perez left his spot at the front of the room and went to hug him.

At 97 days from October 7, Rabbi Perez and supporters completed a Torah in the merit of the return of the members of the Perez tank crew missing since the day Hamas started the war by invading Israel.

A month ago the Perez family had a funeral to bury a bloody shirt after a video was found showing that the young soldier who held off the invasion was not only injured but killed. He was no longer counted among the 133 hostages still possibly alive in Gaza.

As we approach 200 days from the Shabbat Simhat Torah massacre and anticipate Passover the remaining hostage’s fates are unknown.

Table set for Passover meal

Passover tables are being prepared for the seder meal and retelling of the story of freedom from Egypt. The freedom of Israeli hostages and the many empty chairs at the seder are very much in mind.

In addition, the tens of thousands from north and south are still under constant rocket fire and unable to be home for all these months, as well as the soldiers on duty to protect against further attacks.

But to end on a brighter note, the colorful spring flowers are as usual lining the Jerusalem streets.

Now it’s time to finish preparing for Passover.

Hebrew sign Happy Passover, bus sign in Hewbrew

Passover Kosher and Happy

Remember, the Hagaddah ends with “Next year in Jerusalem!” Let’s hope we can all celebrate once again joyfully on the Jerusalem streets!