See Jerusalem December Nights with Stars and Lights

Sharon A

December has begun in Jerusalem with new lights on the Jerusalem, Israel, streets.

Beit Hanasi, the Israeli President’s Residence was lit up with purple lights on Wednesday night for the 2024 International Day of Persons with Disabilities.

The Tower of David Museum citadel was also illuminated purple that night.

The first days of December also were the beginning of the month of Kislev. The new moon aligned with the planet Venus as night fell and seasons changed.

In December, the Jerusalem Botanical Gardens opened its ‘Winter Dreams’ light festival.

The pond reflects small lights above and around the still water as visitors arrive.

Animals were the theme this year, 30 lights displays lined the path in the garden.

I try to go early to get the lights without the crowds, like here where an arch was over the path.

Red hearts are used in several designs along the route.

I never saw a live squirrel in Israel, but this giant squirrel was on display,

also a multicolored unicorn,

and the lion, the symbol of Jerusalem near the end of the route.

Animals and lights – all neutral – no Hanuka themes – unlike a giant menorah in past years.

The Nefesh BeNefesh Bonei Zion Prize ceremony for 2023/2024 was held at Beit Ha’am honoring 12 outstanding accomplished Anglo-Olim who have contributed to Israel, Israelis, and the world.

I knew Eylon Levy before he became a media star, long enough to ask him to pose in the lobby. MORE

I was running out to the Museum of Tolerance, dramatically illuminated at night.

Inside, the theater/auditorium was filled for the premiere of “The Children of October 7” and a panel discussion with three of the teen survivors of October 7 who bravely shared their testimonies.

Montana Tucker has used her star social media status to produce a 35-minute power documentary.

Back in Israel multiple times this past year, she shared her experiences on social media with the world.

Across from the Museum of Tolerance, the Friends of Zion was lit – Bring them home NOW.

The video ends with blue and white lights, alongside their Israeli flag.

The lights went on at the official opening of the Rose Garden – in Talbiyeh, not the one near the Knesset.

The sun was setting as a man carrying a child looked at the new pond at the opposite end of the completely renovated park area.

Mayor Moshe Lion arrived to speak and families gathered to hear the dignitaries.

But for me, these two women were the stars in their costumes.

Going home I passed the new buildings near the Jerusalem Theater with their lights on.

Holiday lights are turned on over Mamilla Mall Avenue.

The YMCA has new and more elaborate holiday lights this year.

Ending with long-time favorite lights from Jerusalem Jaffa Gate – Hanukka 5776.

Now it’s time to prepare for Chanukkah 5785, however, you spell חנוכה.

Hope to see you soon on the Jerusalem streets!

November ending in Jerusalem with ups and downs

Sharon A

It was another busy week of ups and downs on the Jerusalem streets.

A favorite Jerusalem, Israel, the site is the Tower of David. The changes over the years have been fascinating to watch and admire.

I am not the only fan. One family went to the trouble to build temporary protection for a wedding ceremony. It was up during the day and then down after a night.

However, years of preparation have gone into making the fortress accessible. I remember how hard those old steps were to climb and go down. The new walkways are so much easier.

Eilat Lieber explained the upcoming International Day of People with Disabilities on Tuesday, Dec. 3rd. An online conference will be hosted by the Tower of David Jerusalem Museum with free registration.

The conference aims to share knowledge gained from archeology and innovation in Jerusalem with the world. This initiative is intended to enhance mobility and also enable accessibility for those with vision and hearing impairment.

A sign is up for the Mamilla Pool Project. How many knew it was there was such a thing?

First Station is struggling with few tourists but is ready for winter by putting up weather enclosures for people to sit and eat protected from the cold.

The Menachem Begin Heritage Center auditorium was filled for Douglas Murray. He received a standing ovation, and as he entered people stood up and applauded before he uttered a word.

During a conversation with Dr. Gerald Steinberg and Olga Deutsch, his wit and timing were impressive.

The old home of the Hebrew University Library at 44 Jabotinsky Street is in a sad state.

However, the new National Library of Israel has become a popular research and busy tourist site.

The main area has its research spaces filled daily by students and scholars of all types.

The landscaped outside space, with its autumn colors, is also worth seeing.

Inside the chairs, await the hostages, with their favorite books – still after too long.

The signs are up for the opening of the new temporary exhibition on Kafka.

More on that next time. I went on the preview tour and will share.

But this is getting too long and I want to end with one more event.

A special Thanksgiving dinner was held for Lone Soldiers and Bnot Sherut at the Nefesh B’Nefesh Jerusalem Campus on Thursday night.

Hundreds of young men and women from around the world (for a good meal you did not need to be from a place that celebrates Thanksgiving) gathered to eat, meet, and enjoy themselves.

On the way home we passed two women standing on a street corner, in the dark and cold.

Their sign is “Together we will be victorious!”

That sums up a week of ups and downs and in between on the Jerusalem streets.

Jerusalem Streets finding Balance after 414 Days of War

Sharon A

The Jerusalem, Israel, streets are constantly changing. The buildings are rising higher.

The stresses of over a year of prolonged Operation Iron Swords are growing more serious.

Sharing the events of one week in a short photo essay is a constant challenge.

On Jaffa Road, the new skyline is difficult to capture with a simple lens.

The old Ticho House is hard to see with the new surrounding construction.

Yoel Solomon Street is missing the tourists who browsed the shops, though volunteer tourism is high.

But the Machane Yehuda Market – the shuk – is popular on Thursday afternoons and at night.

Jaffa Road has new signs for hotels with the old Jerusalem buildings.

These Arab women going past Zion Square were shopping on Jaffa Road.

I still feel safer walking on the Jerusalem streets late at night, than almost anywhere else in the world.

Years of constant construction during years of ongoing threat, the Jerusalem-TLV train is still a wonder.

The new entrance to the Jerusalem Botanical Gardens can be easily seen from the road.

It is located near a future light rail train station. I wonder which will be completed first.

When it is Muslim prayer time, there are prayer rugs on the Jerusalem streets.

To make room for the buildings and roads, mountains have been moved.

But along the Jerusalem streets, there are constant reminders of the young who have fallen this past year.

Over 800 lives – each one a world – have been lost in this war.

The Jerusalem municipality has supplied tents to the mourning families. Hundreds of people come to pay a condolence call to the families of the fallen.

A note from this past week asks visitors to see photos from happier times.

After Shabbat, a Torah was dedicated in memory of fallen lone soldier Rose Ida Lubin hy”d. The procession made its way through the Jerusalem downtown streets to a small synagogue off of Jaffa Road.

There was music food and dancing, some found it difficult to participate, but the Lubin family attended, proud of their daughter and pleased so many contributed to keeping Rose’s name alive.

There are thousands of lone soldiers serving now, and falling, but also couples are coming together.

The OU Israel location on Keren Hayesod is closing down and new locations are to fill in the gap. The Women’s Hub had a grand opening on Monday night.

There have been protests, large and small, new and long-standing, against the government, and for the war to continue to victory on the Jerusalem streets.

However, life goes on, but not like before. The 3rd Jerusalem Business Conference began with a United Hatzalah presentation of the terrible day of October 7, 2023.

But as keynote opening speaker Izhar Shay, whose son was killed on October 7, emphasized,” “we are here to build.” His ‘Next October’ NGO is to support startups to grow. PHOTOS and more PHOTOS.

Time to give thanks, as the Michael Levin Base is preparing for Thanksgiving dinner again for lone soldiers and bnei and bnot sherut.

We give thanks for what we do have and hope to see you soon on the too-quiet Jerusalem streets.