When will you join the Jerusalem street traffic?

Sharon A

Twice in the past two weeks, for special family occasions, we went for a short ride off the Jerusalem streets.

As always, traffic makes a difference in the time it takes to get anywhere.

Jerusalem traffic has been lighter until school starts this coming week.

The 1st-century historian Flavius Josephus wrote about Herodium (also Herodion/Herodeion), the artificial cone-shaped palace-fortress built by Herod the Great in the Judean Desert (c. 23–15 BCE), about 12 km south of Jerusalem.

From the road, I noticed new trees were planted along the road leading up to the developing tourist site.

We were on our way to Sde Bar on Tuesday morning for a special occasion.

Jordan is approximately 10 miles away over the Dead Sea. Sde Bar (Sdeh Bar Farm / Havat Sdeh Bar) sits near the foothills of Herodium, south of Bethlehem, near Nokdim.

From Jerusalem, before entering Har Homa, Road 398 goes toward Tekoa / Nokdim, and the drive is 20-30 minutes, depending on traffic.

Having not taken this ride in a few years, it was surprising to see all the new buildings.

Arab construction along the road and yellow warning signs not to enter.

Along with the better-known red warning signs forbidding Israelis.

From the road, the Arab building was impressive.

Where Israelis build, archaeologists first survey to see what was at the site in the past.

It took years for construction to start on this site, near Ramat Rachel.

These days, finding a road in Jerusalem without construction delays is unusual.

There is a student driver in the cab of this long flat-bed truck.

Sitting and waiting for heavy trucks to pass is not unusual in Jerusalem.

Fifteen years after the first trains, the new light rail line has opened. We got to sit and wait for it to pass on its way to the Malha Station.

September 1st, schools will open. More traffic will fill the Jerusalem streets.

The welcome to Kitah Aleph signs and celebrations have begun. Parents are counting the hours.

I love how starting first grade is celebrated with more exuberance than graduating from university.

The pomegranates are ripening. The seasons are changing.

As Elul ends, the streets will be filled with traffic as tens of thousands arrive for the pre-Rosh Hashanah Selihot prayers at the Kotel, the Western Wall.

This year, due to high demand, 19 major Selihot gatherings will be held with a cantor, sound systems, and giant screens set up outside the Western Wall area to ease congestion and enable more people to take part in the Selihot for the High Holy Days.

Will you join us this year in Jerusalem and add to the holiday traffic?

Summer days in Jerusalem too hot to go out

Sharon A

Summer in Jerusalem, Israel.

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.

Summer sunny days are getting shorter.

The seasons are changing.

Elul – time to share wishes for a good New Year.

It’s August vacation time, but never downtime in Jerusalem

Sharon A

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 Festival begins 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.

Plus, various Selichot tours of the Old City are starting.

Will you be here this year in Jerusalem?