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 2025: Photos mainstream media did not share

Sharon A

Why did The Real Jerusalem Streets start 15 years ago?

Because what I saw walking on the Jerusalem streets seldom matched what the media shared.

Now, there are close to 15,000 photos published on The Real Jerusalem Streets’ old photo essays.

At first, I avoided the annual Flag Parade/March on Yom Yerushalayim, Jerusalem Day, because of negative stories in the media. Then, year after year, I walked the parade route.

Yes, there was a crowded scene outside Damascus Gate.

There is also a known spot inside Damascus Gate where international media stand ready for a troublemaker’s winning photo and headline story.

Further along the Via Dolorosa route, closer to the exit to the Western Wall Plaza, it narrows to a crush.

So, what was the Yom Yerushalayim march really like this year?

This incredible view started my day on Monday of Yom Yerushalayim 2025. You see the tower of the YMCA, and in the distance is the King David Hotel. Jerusalem, beyond that in the distance, including the Old City, was occupied by Jordan from 1948-1967.

Going into that No Man’s Land on the other side of the hotel meant Jordanian sniper bullets.

Israeli Ethiopian memorial in cemetery on Mount Herzl

Yom Yerushalayim has also been hallmarked as a memorial day to the thousands of Ethiopians who died making the arduous trek from Sudan on their way to Zion. The memorial is in Har Herzl military cemetery, where an official ceremony is held in the morning.

Also, this year, in the morning, the Prime Minister and Jerusalem Mayor announced a plan to restore the Mamilla Pool, though the sign has been up for months.

Mamilla Pool with water after heavy spring rain

It does look a bit better after heavy spring rain, as published here in March 2022.

I wondered if the thousands of people on their way to the Kotel knew they had walked by it.

On Yom Yerushalayim, flags line many of the Jerusalem streets.

The walls of the Old City were illuminated with flags for the 58th year of the reunification of Jerusalem.

A giant flag was unfurled as the sky turned dark on Sunday night at the Kotel, Western Wall Plaza.

Smaller flags of Jerusalem and Israel were waved by the crowd of people of all ages.

Thousands filled the Kotel to pray with the special musical service live-streamed on YouTube.

Special visitor US National Security Secretary Kristine Noem made the Western Wall the first stop on her brief trip to Jerusalem. She was accompanied by security and US Ambassador Mike Huckabee. Janet Huckabee, wearing the bright jacket in a sea of black and white, hugged Noem on their way out.

This Jerusalem cat was out and on guard on Sunday night as people filled the Rova, Jewish Quarter.

After multiple morning prayer services, the main event on Yom Yerushalayim begins in the afternoon.

Blue and white is the preferred attire, and this woman agreed to show off her holiday dress.

Politicians appeared briefly on the Jerusalem streets along the parade route.

Not everyone wore blue and white, and for sure, not everyone was a teenage rowdy male.

While security was on high alert, this police officer shared his motorcycle with young admirers.

Thousands and thousands came out on the Jerusalem streets despite the high temperature this year.

With white shirts and T-shirts of all kinds, they marched through in groups from the starting point.

While an occasional politician made his way slowly through the crowd by car.

One smoke bomb, I did not understand, but another opportunity for groups to stop and sing together.

Media reports did not share the young families that participated.

This year, security had marching groups more regulated to reduce crowding.

You could find a bit of everything if you looked for it. Chabad with flags. Third Temple flags, and more.

How many photos did you see of the girls and young women on King George Street?

With flags, singing, and marching in such a crowd of thousands, I had to stop and wait to pass by.

One officer found a new way to make his way through the crowd.

This was the main live music stand this year on King George Street across from the Great Synagogue.

I made my way across the street to the stage to show the size of the crowd.

Despite the weather and high temperatures, people came in large numbers.

The thousands of girls gathered near Bezalel Street seemed to go on and on as they came by.

The thousands of marchers ended at the Kotel as Yom Yerushalayim at nightfall..

However, those peacefully praying, no matter how many more, are not considered newsworthy.

Signs line the Jerusalem streets, not only those celebrating Yom Yerushalayim, but also Jerusalem saying thank you to the reservists’ families during this difficult time of prolonged war.

Even with war, the skyline is changing. Jerusalem building goes up and up, as the roads back up with closures for light rail construction.

This year Yom Yerushalayim.

“Next year in Jerusalem” was in the ancient prayers in Ethiopia and is said until now.

Hope you can see the real Jerusalem streets yourself, soon.

Cheesecakes have been prepared for the holiday of Shavuot.

No downtime on the real Jerusalem streets.

Chag samech – happy holiday to all.

See this week in Jerusalem: faith, memory, and celebrations

Sharon A

The Jerusalem streets are getting more crowded and busier as the days grow warmer.

Conferences and meetings, and tourists are arriving daily, despite the negatives you see in the news.

The Museum of Tolerance laid out a big blue carpet for the World Jewish Congress delegates from 72 countries who met in Jerusalem, Israel, for the first time in nineteen years.

The gala opening evening began with Eden Golan singing “October Rain.”

How was she in so many places this week in such a short time?

During the program, Sylvan Adams, the new head of WJC Israel, announced he wants another 1,000,000 people to immigrate to Israel in the coming year.

I was trying to get a good shot of the front row with US Ambassador Mike Huckabee. I noticed women dressed in white, but now I also notice the cool colors of those socks.

Between the speeches of unity, action, and impact, the Israeli singer David D’Or was one of the singers.

He had most of the audience up on their feet, and some dancing to his lively musical arrangements.

In contrast, the Award of Resilience was presented to hostage survivor Tal Shalem by Ronald Lauder, the WJC President. Shalem spoke movingly about his experiences.

US Ambassador Mike Huckabee seems to be everywhere. Each time he speaks with encouraging words. His description of Iran as the kitchen from which all the terror comes, and as a tree that needs not to be trimmed but its trunk cut down, seems too good to be true.

Do his words reach Washington?

A unique event was held at the National Library of Israel on Thursday night, The Codices of Damascus.

Twelve of the ancient illuminated Bibles retrieved from Damascus synagogues in the 1990s were on display in the special exhibition space for a limited time only.

These volumes from the 13th century were considered good luck and stored away in Damascus synagogues before finding their way to Israel and the National Library for safekeeping.

The program was for the yahrzeit of Rabbi Avraham Hamra, the last Chief Rabbi of Syria, who died four years ago. It began with a memorial prayer by his son, Rabbi Benjamin Hamra.

Followed by an interview with Mossad’s Efraim Halevy, who, much to my disappointment, revealed none of the intrigue involved in rescuing the books. All he divulged was that he met the Rabbi in New York.

Besides the valuable Bibles, they helped hundreds of Syrian Jews escape from Syria to the US.

Besides the memorial for Rabbi Hamra, the evening was appropriate before Shavuot, the holiday of the giving of the Torah, the chain from generation to generation.

Also on Thursday night, the Tower of David was lit up for a special award ceremony.

Twelve veteran members of the Jerusalem community were honored for their varied accomplishments as builders of Jerusalem. Jerusalem Mayor Lion presented awards. A video interview was shown of each one.

The outdoor spaces were filled with families and friends of the distinguished twelve men and women.

Entertainment filled out the program, with the lights and sound resonating onto the Jerusalem streets.

Six of the honorees sat on each side of the stage area.

Former Deputy Supreme Court President Eliaykim Rubenstein spoke on behalf of the award winners.

More music filled out the program before the singing of “HaTikva.”

People honored as a Yakir Yerushalayim are all seniors who have helped Jerusalem in various ways.

The building goes on and on. First going down and down, before going up and up.

The programs for children keep going and growing in Jerusalem, too.

Jerusalem Old City Walls

Jerusalem was divided before 1967, for 19 years, when Jews were not allowed in the Old City.

It is important to remember.

Jerusalem on Yom Yerushalayim – the night of May 25- May 26, 2025 – is a reason to celebrate.

Chag sameach!

While the war rages, antisemitic attacks are worldwide, news headlines are bleak.

I will leave you with a bit of the music of David D’Or for the World Jewish Congress.

This week in Jerusalem – Am Yisrael Chai.