The summer sun beats down over the Jerusalem streets during the day.
As afternoon wears on, I finally venture out to see what’s happening.
On Sunday, July 16, Binyunei Hauma, the Jerusalem International Conference Center, hosted two events.
The Hebrew date was ג’ אלול, the third day of Elul, the yahrzeit of Rav Kook, and a major commemorative event was held in the main halls, with a giant banner on the front of the building.
The Likud primary election was in the smaller area, beginning outside.
Upstairs, the media was posted to see voters and Likud politicians.
Those waiting to vote entered the room from there.
I did not go to vote.
I went to see how it was different than the last one held four years ago.
Zeev Elkin’s children were wearing campaign T-shirts. I thought it might be cute to get two of them together.
But I was busy eating a popsicle, dripping in my hand, and missed the shot.
The first time one was offered, I had refused, but it was hard to pass up when it was offered again.
Then, Amichai Chikli came in with the pink ice in his hand.
The area was filled with campaign ads plastered on a van,
and even on a fan.
The evening was not so warm to need the fan.
So comparison? Smaller than last time, and I knew fewer people.
But it’s Jerusalem, Israel; there was a protest outside the entrance to the Likud Primary.
Demonstrating for Haymanut Kasau, the young Ethiopian-Israeli girl who disappeared in Safed on February 25, 2024, and has not been found.
Meanwhile, people kept arriving at the main entrance for the Rav Kook programming.
If nothing else, from there, the view of the Chord Bridge as the sun sets is worth the trip.
It was another week of highs and lows, too-hot days, and busy nights.
A bit of this summer in Jerusalem.
The pomegranates are ripening on the tree outside the window.
The news cycle in Jerusalem, Israel, seems to run fast even in the summer heat.
August, though a popular time to visit, does not have as many large conferences.
It is more of a family time with school out and daycare hard to find.
Started our week with a drive out to a special family simcha in Nokdim.
The view of the sunset over Herodium was as beautiful as anticipated.
Remember when the area was empty and barren.
Now the way is lined with new Arab construction.
Glad to see family together to celebrate. It was a special bar mitzvah.
During the week, I was back at the National Library of Israel.
They were posting the new exhibit to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the United States.
Posters from the NLI collections were highlighted in light boxes.
The topics were related to early populations in New York.
A 1915 map of Brooklyn divided into areas according to residents’ countries of origin captured my attention.
Jewish neighborhoods are colored in pink.
In the 1920s, one quarter of New York City residents were Jewish.
We lived in Brooklyn for four years before September 11, 2001.
However, I never considered myself a New Yorker, always an “out-of-towner.”
A letter signed by President Harry Truman is on display.
“The United States recognizes the provisional government as the de facto authority of the State of Israel,” wrote Truman.
The Promised City is having its troubles.
In 1916, they printed a Ladino handbook for learning English and Yiddish. It was used to integrate the new immigrants with practical knowledge of life in America. The Ladino-speaking community numbered in the tens of thousands, but there were 1.5 million Yiddish speakers.
There is also a small alcove to sit and catch up on US literature. Books to read, not to take.
Signs are up outside the building for “Quest of Questions,” which is open until April 2027.
Also, the annual Docu.Text Festivalbegins on August 16, 2026, at the NLI.
It has become a popular spot to visit.
Good air conditioning and good food add to the experience.
Coming outside and seeing all the protest tents removed from the area was even better.
The Puppet Festival begins its 35th year at the Train Theater in Liberty Bell Park.
August festivals have become less international, but still attract crowds of Israelis who did not fly away for a holiday.
Street closings for the light rail construction are announced daily.
It feels like there is construction everywhere.
However, it’s Elul, and Rosh Hashanah and the new year are approaching.
So in Jerusalem, tens of thousands filled the Kotel Western Wall last night for the first Selihot.
The next major Selihot gathering at the Western Wall Plaza is planned for Thursday | 7 Elul | August 20 at 12:15 a.m. Tens of thousands of worshippers are expected to attend.
The August heat wave on the Jerusalem streets is still going.
Daytime temperatures are soaring beyond comfortable.
Jerusalem nights are more pleasant.
By the thousands, people come out to enjoy the summer festivals and events.
On Monday morning, Beit Hanasi, the Israeli President’s Residence, rolled out the red carpet to welcome six new Ambassadors to Israel.
Nkechi Linda Ufochukwu of Nigeria presented her credentials to President Herzog, with her entourage lined up in traditional white outfits.
Her welcoming toast was with apple juice, not the traditional wine.
Each new ambassador writes a message in the official guest book.
“It’s an honour and privilege to be here and I look forward to strengthen the ties between the two Nations,” she wrote.
Honestly, I went to see Alexander Graf Lambsdorff of Germany, who had already done an impressive job introducing himself on social media.
Besides the traditional handshake, he was presented with a white hat with Israeli and German flags on the front.
On the way out of the private meeting, he was introduced to Walter Bingham. At 102 1/2, Walter is amazing and sharp with his comments.
This ambassador signed his name to the German comment in the guest book.
A surprise during the presidential welcome for Chilean Ambassador Gabriel Alejandro Zaliasnik Schilkurt was that as he presented his credentials, Zaliasnik spoke in Hebrew, not in English as most others have done.
During the meeting and handshake photo op, Zaliasnik introduced his wife, Elisheva.
I do not remember a previous ambassador carefully copying his message from a text.
The new ambassador from Chile is extremely careful to mention he represents all Chileans.
There was opposition from some Chileans to his appointment because of his leadership of the Jewish community.
And to conclude the ceremonies of the six new ambassadors was Honduran Ambassador José Luis Núñez Bennet.
His message in the guest book was only a signature. But his presence in Jerusalem is significant.
It is the first time both countries have had ambassadors in Israel since the Hamas massacre on Oct. 7, 2023.
And now with the new government in Colombia, things are looking up for Israel and South American relations.
Beka Dvali of Georgia and Saman Kumar Chandrasiri of Sri Lanka were the other two ambassadors who presented credentials before I arrived.
Only for Chilean Ambassador Gabriel Alejandro Zaliasnik Schilkurt, I followed up to get a comment at the King David Hotel. He even graciously posed with the rabbi from Chile who was at the reception that included my favorite South American Ambassadors.
Welcome to Jerusalem to these newcomers and wishing them great success.
A very different welcome was held at Har Herzl on Wednesday afternoon.
The official ceremony for the Herzl family reunion.
Security was at the highest level to enter.
The Israeli flags draped over the two caskets brought in, just like an IDF memorial service.
The remains of Shimon Leib and Rivka Herzl were exhumed from the Jewish cemetery in Zemun, Serbia, and were transferred to Israel
After 77 years, Theodor Herzl’s grandparents were welcomed to Jerusalem by the Israeli President and Prime Minister.
A parochet covered the caskets by the Herzl family graves.
President Herzog said, “In his will, Theodor Herzl wrote that he wished for his remains and those of his immediate family to be brought for burial in the Jewish state once it was established. Today, we complete the fulfillment of that wish…”
To the Ambassador of Serbia to Israel, the Prime Minister began his remarks, “I kindly request that you convey our greetings and gratitude to the President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić…”
The World Zionist Organization has worked on the reburial for many years.
Grandfather Shimon Leib Herzl served as the ba’al tekia, shofar blower, and gabbai at the synagogue in Zemun of Rabbi Judah Alkalai, one of the forerunners of political Zionism.
Shimon Leib and Rivka were given as close to a royal welcome as Israel provides.
Their influence on grandson Theodor can only be surmised.
But now the Herzl family is reunited on Har Herzl.
Tikvah – hope. Sometimes it takes decades to make a dream a reality.
