You may see headlines of impending doom and gloom, but the real Jerusalem streets have not been this busy in a long time.
Things are so busy that I had to select multiple times where to go and what to do.
Sharing a very brief wrap-up with only some highlights, favorite faces, and photos.
Monday morning – Knesset
The Knesset on Monday morning was full of activity.
The red carpet and flags were to welcome the Prime Minister of Albania, Edi Rama.
At the entrance security, I met Alan Clemmons and Natasha Hausdorff, two advocates who support Israel in legal matters.
They were also on the way to the Official Parliamentary Opening Plenary led by MK Amichai Chikli and Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana.
The 2026 International Conference on Combating Antisemitism- Official Parliamentary opening Plenary was the forum for international delegates to speak.
One dramatic presentation was by Christian Terhes, Member of the European Parliament, when he showed the glorification of martyrdom in the UNRWA text.
The man Chikli was pleased to shake hands with when he entered the room was Flavio Bolsonaro. His name card read: Senator, Pre-candidate for the Presidency, Brazil. He did not speak at this session. But at the main event, he was given the keynote position and launched his campaign. Let’s hope he wins.
The opening conference gala entrance was on Monday night, at the same time as the Jabotinsky lecture at the Israeli President’s Residence. I had to pass on the gala.
Monday evening– Beit Hanasi
US Ambassador Mike Huckabee was the featured speaker, and fans surrounded him before the event started.
The Ze’ev Jabotinsky Lecture is an annual event that was postponed from its earlier date.
The main room was full.
The yellow chair, which had been at all the Beit Hanasi events for two years, was in place.
However, with the announcement that the last hostage was retrieved from Gaza, the Ambassador helped President Herzog remove the chair.
Huckabee gave a proper talk about Jabotinsky; however, removing the yellow chair and his yellow pin stole the show.
I was on my way out to attend a special dinner with long-time friends, as astronauts were waiting to enter to meet the President.
Tuesday morning, Jerusalem International Convention Center, Binyunei Hauma
The full-day conference “Generation Truth” was held at the Jerusalem ICC.
Rabbi Yehoram Ulman of Bondi Beach, Australia, gave one keynote in the morning.
Social media stars participated in a morning panel discussion on antisemitism.
At these events, it is hard to stay inside listening and not go outside to see who is attending.
I first became a fan of Fiamma Nirenstein at a Jerusalem hotel many years ago, where she was featured at an event about antisemitism. I told her I remembered where she was sitting on the panel when the late Robert Wistrich warned of antisemitism becoming mainstream in Britain.
Gad Saad and his wife, I saw at Beit Hanasi. I was glad to be at his keynote talk as I had followed him as a fan online.
Flavio Bosonaro from Brazil gave his talk in English, but it seemed aimed more at the Brazilian presidential campaign.
The panel ‘Algorithms of Hate’ focused on social media.
The Mike Huckabee interview with Alex Traiman, JNS Jerusalem editor, was another favorite.
Dinesh D’Souza, on the left, and his wife were also at the Knesset.
Not an internet or international star, but the man who gave me his chair at the crowded buffet lunch.
There could be much more about the conference.
Wednesday was a day focused on the funeral of Ran Gvili
Thursday night – Friends of Zion
I want to end with a special event at the Friends of Zion, where President Herzog opened with a video to commemorate the International Holocaust Remembrance Day. There were 6 candles for 6 million Jews murdered.
But also the movie ‘Quezon’s Game’ with the Philippine Embassy and Ambassador Aileen S. Mendiola.
Mike Huckabee was a guest, not a speaker. He rose to greet George Lewenstein, one of the Jews saved by Quezon, who spoke.
The story of how Manuel Quezon rescued 1200 Jews from Germany was new to me.
For those of you who are still reading here. Look it up, Manuel Quezon.
The movie is parallel with history. Not sure how comfortable the US staff were with how the US immigration policy worked to keep Jews out. The Philippines was a US territory at the time. Quezon went into exile in the US.
He had wanted to save 10,000 Jews, but only managed to get 1200 Jews to safety before the Japanese took over the Island. That is another chapter, and this is getting too long.
“He who saves one life saves the world entire.” Am Yisrael Chai
