See the ways Jerusalem celebrated Sukkot and Simhat Torah

Sharon A

The week of Sukkot is always busy on the Jerusalem streets.

Thousands of visitors arrive from around the world for the holiday.

Israelis take advantage of the week off from work and children out of school to discover the city.

Some Jerusalem streets were so crowded they were gridlocked as drivers were seeking a place to park their cars.

Other streets were unusually free of traffic as locals ventured out seeking adventure and nature trails.

One day a year at Beit Hanasi, the Israeli President’s Residence, the gates are opened to the Israeli public for an ‘Open Sukkah’.

At the welcome desk, metal mugs were given not only as a souvenir but to use during their visit to drink water. There were multiple water fountains, but no plastic cups were available.

The Open Sukkah was indeed open,

with a theatrical theme, not agricultural as in the past, for the harvest holiday.

And also, sports were a theme.

During a media tour before the official opening time, sharing a few favorites:

From an old Israeli movie, a soldier raised his mug for a l’chaim.

A favorite scene set, with the only fruit on display this year.

The most aggressive actor records in his journal, with fellow actors and the President and Michal Herzog.

Paralympic athletes also posed with the President and his wife during the tour of the 10 activity stations.

This year, the activities were aimed at families with children.

Inside the line was to meet and take a selfie with the Herzogs in the Open Sukkah.

Meanwhile, music blasted to entertain those on the other side of the main hall.

Security has increased every year, with more levels to enter the official Presidential residence.

On my way home at the corner of Beit Hanasi Street, I passed a policeman.

Stationed near a sukkah with a chair, he had perhaps the best job that day.

I had to go over and tease him, and such a good sport he was; he smiled and waved.

Another favorite sukkah was in Mamilla Mall; one of several there for the restaurants to serve tourists.

This one, tucked away off of Derech Hevron, had an impressive meal prepared.

The views of Jerusalem, day or night, were impressive, with lights and sukkot.

Day or night, thousands filled the Old City and the Kotel, the Western Wall, not only for the two mornings of Birkat Kohanim.

With the holiday joy, a reminder with stickers of fallen soldiers stands near Jaffa Gate.

I was on my way to the Artists’ Colony.

HaOt gallery was one of the 22 locations for the 2026 Jerusalem Biennale.

This Jewish contemporary art exhibit theme was Tehilim, Psalms.

David Moss was one of the artists present to explain his work.

Here, stamps he designed were blown up especially for the Biennale.

More photos from the HaOt Tehilim exhibit HERE

Next to the Artists Colony in the park was a huge 20th-year celebration of United Hatzalah.

The Sultan’s Pool filled with supporters and music fans for a star-studded concert.

The music could be heard over the Jerusalem streets as I headed home.

RJS began with the Sukkot holiday, and each year I like to add new sukkot.

This new building is impressive every night, but even more so with the sukkot illuminated.

Clouds have formed; it’s feeling like autumn with cooler nights.

One of the very many Hakafot Sheniyot, or dancing with the Torahs, after Shabbat has returned to the Liberty Bell Park. We have fond memories as tourists years ago attending the lively event as the Torah scrolls were brought out for another night of celebrating.

Ambassador Mike Huckabee was there to honor the American sponsoring family. If he wore a kippah and left his security at home, he could easily walk down many a Jerusalem street as a local.

New buildings and new sukkot – one more impressive-looking to share.

One more special event to end this Sukkot holiday post.

For the third year, Kesher Yehudi has had a special event for Hakafot Hashniyot.

Nova Music Festival survivors remember their murdered friends.

This year, another 30 young men and women have become Sabbath observers.

The event was joyous, with their American sponsor coming to attend.

Also, former chief rabbi David Lau came.

Words of Rav Shlomo Amar were very appreciated and recorded.

Names of murdered friends are inscribed on the gold leaves.

Dancing with the Torah after Shabbat/Simhat Torah on 5787 was joyous in so very many locations.

Men and yes, women celebrated this year.

Along with the joy was also remembering. More photos HERE

Leaving David Castle event hall, the Tower of David was lit in vibrant colors to host another event.

One more new sukkah that caught my attention.

Sukkot 5787 is over. The streets are back to Jerusalem cats again.

And oye vey the next election is set for October 27, 2026.

Jerusalem street signs are up. Pre-election events have begun.

Hoping for good news and the best this year in Jerusalem!

From Yom Kippur to Sukkot on the Jerusalem streets

Sharon A

Yom Kippur in Jerusalem, Israel, is a quiet and solemn time.

The traffic lights flash yellow, and all traffic stops.

This year, the number of children on scooters seemed to grow over those on bicycles filling the Jerusalem streets.

The RJS camera is stashed away. I have no photos of the people dressed in white flowing along the Jerusalem streets or inside during the long day of prayers and fasting. Then the shrill sounds of the shofar break the silence as night begins and preparations for Sukkot start.

The day after Yom Kippur, a favorite sukkah was back on a Jerusalem street.

Plenty of strings, ropes, and ties were for sale for building a sukkah.

Major markets for the etrog and lulavim were established, but simple tables also popped up on the streets.

Sukkot were being put up in open areas all around Jerusalem.

Patience was required as sanitation workers disposed of mountains of excess packaging.

These Zaka vehicles were on the Jerusalem streets the day after Yom Kippur near the Israeli President’s Residence.

However, no terrible emergency was involved.

President Herzog was honoring their service at Beit Hanasi at a special event. He described ZAKA’s work as a form of “continuous duty” that begins when the work of other emergency responders ends. “You always arrive after the storm, always to a place where there is already nothing left to save.”

Another special event was held in the Mekor Chaim neighborhood, a groundbreaking for a new synagogue building.

Construction in this area has started for several new buildings.

Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Lion joined the supporters and well-wishers for the event.

He spoke and joined the synagogue rabbi and congregants to honor the donors involved.

Then, on Thursday morning, the day before Sukkot, the 7th Jerusalem Biennale had a media tour of one of its 22 sites, at the old National Library.

I like media tours to get photos to share before the crowds at the opening night event.

American artist Richard McBee posed for me in front of his paintings as we toured the contemporary art exhibition.

In its 13th year, this Jerusalem Biennale 2026 filled the former library space.

Not all of the over 200 artists are Jewish; this featured work is by an Arab artist.

From Portland Art/Lab, from the US, a first-time participant, a pile of dirt to shovel into bags,

and next to it, walls of ‘Meuzzah to the Moon.’

Curators Porat Solomon and Daniel Sperber shared information on “Or Chozer: An Active Vision.”

I had seen this and been impressed over the years, but had not appreciated the artist’s story. Mordechai Ardon, a European secular artist, incorporated Hebrew and biblical texts into his masterpiece.

In the upper right corner, his vision of weapons turned into plowshares.

There’s much more, so I recommend the Jerusalem Biennale 2026. It runs until November 12, and this venue is free of charge, located on the Givat Ram Campus of Hebrew University.

Hebrew is often hard to translate.

מתעמקים – de Profundis is what Ram Ozeri decided worked better than ‘From the Depths’ as this year’s theme.

More photos of the Biennale HERE

To round off the four days between Yom Kippur and Sukkot, a new Torah was dedicated Thursday night- just in time for Simchat Torah.

Friday, it was time to get back in the kitchen and prepare for dinner in the sukkah.

Glad to go out for lunch with family and friends!

The streets are full of tourists for this holiday season – this year in Jerusalem, with an endless list of events.

Check back next week to see what is happening on the real Jerusalem streets!

Moadim l’simcha!

Jerusalem streets fill with people and music before Yom Kippur

Sharon A

The Jerusalem streets have been crowded each night, with tens of thousands heading to the Kotel, the Western Wall, for selihot. These middle-of-the-night prayers before Yom Kippur have become a “thing.”

People, especially young people from all over, secular and religious, at the Kotel and flowing into the surrounding area after 1 a.m. have become the new norm.

Buses, light rail trains, and Jerusalem streets were packed with people on Thursday night.

One special event was held in the old Shaare Zedek Hospital building on Jaffa Street.

Organizations supporting lone soldiers and B’not Sherut national service volunteers came together under the leadership of ImpactIL®, founded by Lesley Kaplan, partnering with The Michael Levin Base. Booths, business owners, and mentors offered support and guidance for soldiers at this event, especially the lone soldiers and lone B’not Sherut participants, either after service or as their service neared its end.

Yeshiva University was one of many educational options to explore.

Inside, mentors were available for young people to meet and connect.

Inside and outside, people at stations were available to help.

Most of the 150 soldiers were not in uniform, and only a few had weapons.

It was an opportunity for those who finished their service to become financially smarter.

Soft music was played throughout the evening event.

It was wonderful to see so many worthwhile organizations working together.

Another less publicized event was held at Beit Hanasi, the Israeli President’s Residence.

President Herzog hosted a selihot music program organized by Rabbi Benny Lau’s 929 bible study organization.

This year the theme was “Gates”; opening the gates was on the program and on these magnets.

For this musical-based event, photos did not suffice, so please enjoy these short videos:

A beautiful rendition of “Who By Fire ” by the Yagel Haroush Ensemble.

More music from the Yagel Haroush Ensemble for Selihot 5787.

Yagel Haroush Ensemble posed with President Isaac and Michal Herzog after the performance.

The young people invited each year are treated to a unique experience initiated by President Reuven Rivlin.

One memory from when President Rivlin got involved with Selihot is still a favorite.

Not sure how to spell it in English, but David D’Or’s version was a highlight at musical selihot events this year, so I’m sharing one from almost a decade ago.

May you hear the music yourself: “Next year in Jerusalem!”

Even before Yom Kippur, signs were up for the Sukkot Jerusalem Parade on September 28, 2026, with family events planned for Gan Sacher, Sacher Park.

Always something happening on the Real Jerusalem Streets.

This time of year, it’s hard to keep up and impossible to be everywhere.

Shana tova, gmar hatima tova