Three highlights from a Jerusalem week like no other

Was it a whiplash/12-hour/one-day/or annual June War?

Anyway, the past week was more of an unamusing amusement-park ride than the usual roller coaster of the Jerusalem streets.

Sunday threats turned to Monday morning siren alerts of incoming Iranian ballistic missiles.

Events were canceled. Some were postponed due to security situations. Reservists were called back into uniform.

Children on school trips in the north were brought home in the middle of the night.

And BOOM. The next day, it was over and back to regular programming.

It was nice to relax on Tuesday night at the Tower of David Jerusalem Museum.

The weather was perfect. Whatever was going to happen had happened.

Now it was time for – Lights. Action. Music.

The featured performer was Assaf Amdursky, one of Israel’s leading contemporary musicians.

The temporary galleries for the past year have had an exhibit on the life and music of Yehoram Gaon.

On Tuesday night, the exhibition came to life with a special concert.

With Gaon called to the stage, the cell phones came out to record him.

On the stage for one classic song – here’s one minute of the performance.

The citadel courtyard was filled with music for an appreciative audience, with the colorful lighting on the stone walls adding to the experience.

I walked home past Gan Haatzmaut, Independence Park. The construction fencing contained a picture of the future Mamilla Pool project.

Most of Gan Haatzmaut’s green area is also surrounded by construction fencing.

Construction fencing is showing future development projects near Zion Square.

At least some renovation projects are announcing completion, as seen here next to the Mamilla Hotel.

The annual Hebrew Book Week opened at Kikar Safra.

Hundreds of people, of all ages, come each night.

This statue was an interesting feature and was accepting donations.

The Hebrew books are from a long list of varied sellers and publishers.

Marking 100 years from its inception, celebrating Hebrew books in Israel.

My favorite was seeing the generations together, families, with 3 generations, grandparents bringing their grandchildren.

The Hebrew Book Week moved to Kikar Safra last year, due to the light rail construction at First Station.

The light rail tracks have made some progress, but walking, not only driving, can be complicated.

Traffic lights have disappeared. New signs pop up every day.

Another of the series on Prime Ministers was held at the Begin Center.

I recommend the talk about Golda from Meron Medzini. I found it fascinating.

Medzini was born in Jerusalem in 1932. He knew all the Prime Ministers and was her spokesperson. He spoke well, very well. Fascinating bits of history.

What a week it was on the Jerusalem streets!

President Herzog welcomed the President of Somaliland on His First State Visit to Israel this morning. It is a Muslim country with 6 million people, so the l’chaim was with orange juice, not wine.

Now we go on to see what will happen next.

In Jerusalem, looking for good news the first week of June

Another week, another day to decide what to share about the Jerusalem streets.

This week had more challenges, personal and professional.

For sure, no one knows what will happen next on the Jerusalem streets.

However.

The beginning of the summer season is good for vividly colored sunsets.

The summer season has brought serious forest fires. Again.

We could smell smoke last night.

This is a new photo of past fire damage along Route One into Jerusalem, Israel.

Traffic was moving so slowly on the day I went to Ra’anana for a meeting.

Better to see the construction along the highway, from afar, where new communities are growing,

than up close in Jerusalem’s Talpiot.

Getting to Hadar Mall by car, bus, or on foot is not easy or safe.

When the light rail is completed it will be a day for celebration on the Jerusalem streets.

One section of Herzog Street has new lines painted. A miracle? No traffic for a minute to take a photo.

Sitting in traffic was also a time to take a photo of the new entrance of the Botanical Gardens.

One day, both areas should be popular when the light rail construction ends.

While there was enough unpleasant news to share, I want to do a bit of the positive.

This was a very pleasant surprise to find.

The Community Garden in Baka has really progressed.

New plants were planted and have grown.

The shaded sitting area has also been developed.

Baka community garden in Jerusalem with book library

The library in this photo from two years ago is still looking good.

I was glad I wandered away from a 6-year-old birthday party to take a quick look.

Last week was Jerusalem Education Week.

The end of the school year now approaches with endless events.

The annual Hebrew Book Week, June 9-18, will take place again in Kikar Safra, Jerusalem’s Municipality Square.

First Station, where the book fair was for many years, is another huge construction site.

Another week, we carried on.

Birthday celebrations and a bar mitzvah, where the father got out of miluim for the week.

Yes, along with protests, traffic nightmares, and pre-election pontification.

Always something happening on the Jerusalem streets.

It is possible to find the positive if you look around.

Hope to see you this year in Jerusalem!

Jerusalem, old and new, and inside and out

Jerusalem, Israel, is a city of contrasts.

A place of diversity, where the Jerusalem streets are constantly changing.

Jerusalem’s ancient Tower of David and the Old City walls are well known.

The lanes of Yemin Moshe have long been photo-worthy.

Now, with almost everyone having a camera on their smartphone, sights and scenes are widely shared.

The annual Jerusalem Unity Prize awards were presented at Beit Hanasi, the President’s residence, on May 24, 2026.

When Raviv Kaner began to sing, the phones began recording.

Awards were given to 5 communities and organizations for their efforts in promoting unity.

The last two awards were to individuals – Rabbi Yonatan Reiss, founder of the Chedvata network of haredi hesder yeshivot, was honored for advancing the integration of ultra-Orthodox young men into meaningful national service and Israeli society while maintaining strong religious observance.

The audience stood to applaud his award and work.

The final honoree, Sheikh Muwafaq Tarif, spiritual leader of Israel’s Druze community, also received a standing ovation for his longstanding efforts to strengthen relations between the Druze community and broader Israeli society and promote shared life among Israel’s diverse populations.

Also, a new book, “Heroism and Hope” by David Bryfman, was launched on Monday night.

Good to see a long-time connection doing well and launching his book on education in Jerusalem

Out on the Jerusalem streets this week, people were enjoying the weather.

Plus, the unusual quiet, with the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha, there was less traffic.

Most construction sites were not active for the holiday.

The International Writers’ Festival was less international than in the past.

But as I was going to check it out, another couple was getting engaged nearby.

Ah, the Jerusalem streets where one could find “A little light can dispel a lot of darkness.”

While much of the news is negative, here are a few of Jerusalem’s views you may not have seen.

Construction from every direction, in the distance,

and not so far away.

The light rail construction drags on, with too many images of closed roads to share.

But if you get out to walk on the Jerusalem streets, there are roses to stop and smell.

And the old lanes of Nachlaot to admire.

Hoping for you to see for yourself the real Jerusalem streets.

Not next year in Jerusalem, but soon.