Two international events returning to Jerusalem you should know

Sharon A

With a pandemic followed by 1,000 days of wars closing the skies, the ability for international travelers to get to Jerusalem, Israel, has been severely limited.

Conferences and major events have been canceled and postponed.

This past week, two events worth knowing about were held in Jerusalem.

Not as large an international attendance as in the past, but still impressive.

MIXiii-Health-Tech.IL

The life science and health technology conference by Israel Advanced Technology Industries was back at the Jerusalem International Conference Center on June 29-30, 2026.

It was good to see the Canadian Securities Exchange booth engaging with young future tech leaders.

It was good to see Panama’s Ambassador Ezra Cohen – he supports every event.

Fewer displays, but impressive nonetheless; many sound like science fiction.

Technion Professor Shulamit Levenberg presented on bioprinting and prosthetics.

With so many injured, their research is important. Imagine. Bioprinting tissues for implantation and limb repair, or instead of limping, can bioprinting be used to replace missing limbs?

Then Professor Yoram Weiss, Director General of Hadassah Medical Organization, illustrated how the hospital responded to patient treatment during war.

He went on to inform of working for the future with proton therapy, RNA organoid research, and more.

This panel discussed the next generation of cancer innovation.

If these were not futuristic enough,

Dr. Stephen K. Klasko came from the US to do a dramatic segment on the use of artificial intelligence in medicine.

It was good to see European venture capitalists speaking of investments in Israel, moderately but positively.

IATI CEO Karin Mayer Rubenstein mentioned media coverage of the 40% decline in funding for 2025 in Israeli life sciences companies.

As always, negative news gets headlines, not the close to 2,000 people who came to Jerusalem and attended the two-day conference.

Startups and technology leaders are looking to build and finance a better future.

Maccabiah 2026 – MORE THAN EVER July 1-14, 2026

I arrived very early and got a great front-row seat for the Maccabiah opening event.

This was the third gala opening I attended in Jerusalem’s Teddy Stadium.

Who remembers the first time Teddy Stadium hosted the Maccabiah opening?

I had time to remember those big balloons and 9,000 athletes from 70 countries in 2013.

Canada had 667 athletes, including standout basketball star Amar’e Stoudemire.

58 athletes came from Turkey, and 111 were from Cuba. Australia had 442.

Not this year, athletes were noticeably absent from Australia, Canada, and South Africa.

More ‘Photos of the Maccabiah opening in 2013‘ on the RJS post.

The Maccabiah – often called the “Jewish Olympics” – has been held every 4 years since 1932.

The 22nd Maccabiah was to be held last year, but was postponed due to the war.

Montana Tucker helped announce the countries as they entered. She changed outfits and later performed with dancers.

This year, Argentina sent a large group of athletes to participate.

Australia sadly had only a small contingent this time.

Memories of fallen soldiers cast a shadow over the exciting and loud entrances of each country in alphabetical order.

Brazil entered with children holding a flag.

Finland had one athlete, as did Poland, the Virgin Islands, and other countries.

Germany had a large delegation.

However, the largest international delegation was from the United States.

MACCABIUSA banner led the close to 1,000-member delegation into the stadium.

By the time the international athletes were in the stadium, the spectators had finally passed security and filled their seats.

Then, the Israelis marched in and took their seats.

There were entertainment and musical performances.

Emotional moments of people connecting from across the oceans.

A memorial moment before the Olympic torch was lit.

The fiery torch arrived and entered Teddy Stadium.

Emergency EMTs also arrived. I wondered how many noticed the woman in a hijab along with a man with a kippa and others.

Fireworks and the program were not as big or long as I remembered for 2022 for the opening show.

But the show did go on!

Like for the MIXiii, getting to Israel with airlines not servicing Ben Gurion was a challenge.

But many of those who wanted to be here found a way.

Hope to see you next time on the Jerusalem streets.

Photos from the JNS International Policy Summit

Sharon A

It’s summertime.

People are returning to the Jerusalem streets.

From June 21-23, 1000 people gathered in Jerusalem, Israel, to meet and hear from 200 speakers.

The Waldorf Astoria Jerusalem was the site of the three-day JNS 2026 (Jerusalem News Syndicate) International Policy Summit.

Breaking 3 full days down to 3 minutes of highlights was not simple.

DAY ONE

Before the official program began, the VIP Lounge was briefly open.

South African Chief Rabbi Warren Goldstein was one of the speakers.

Miss Israel 2025 Melanie Shiraz was one of the participants.

Security was at the highest level.

Getting stuck with Col Richard Kemp and Jonathan Cornicus made for an interesting wait.

Outspoken Sid Rosenberg was back again, as was diplomatic Malcolm Hoenlein.

As always, US Ambassador Mike Huckabee was a favorite speaker.

JNS Editor-in-Chief Jonathan Tobin moderated the first panel

One of the Israeli politicians at the summit was MK Ohad Tal.

The opening night program ran late, waiting for the Prime Minister and his wife to arrive.

During the day, they were at Har Herzl for the 50th anniversary of Yoni Netanyahu’s death during the rescue in Entebbe.

PM Benjamin Netanyahu spoke – all the plenaries were livestreamed and recorded.

We were all smiling when the program ended, and we could finally eat something.

I went home just as long-time friends were also leaving the hotel.

DAY TWO

Tzipi Hotovely, former Ambassador to the United Kingdom, now Head of the National Public Diplomacy Directorate, was interviewed by JNS CEO Alex Traiman.

There were hundreds of people outside the main sessions. Some spent their time taking selfies.

No, that is not me for a selfie. But one person I was glad to see, and compliment was Marcus Sheff, IMPACT SE CEO. I often use their information on UNRWA’s Arabic hate against Israel on social media.

Imagine so many people, I did not find friends in the crowd, but got these two with similar names together!

Jonathan Tobin found a minute of solitude to check his phone.

Shabbos Kestenbaum and comedian Ami Kozak were together again. I had taken their photo together at another conference.

I missed Einat Wilf speaking, but stopped her in the hall.

She is starting a new political party, OZ, and just wrote a complementary post on social media about the Lebanon-Israel agreement.

There was a long list of speakers and many panels.

Plus, videos were made during the days with interviews for JNS TV.

A highlight of the day, as the day went on, was the Shalva Band.

Interestingly, several minyanim, prayer services, were not in the schedule, but popped up in the hall, and not only in the synagogue.

Caught Caroline Glick on my way out, and watched the rest online.

More Day 2 photos- HERE

Nice to see something bright and new on the Jerusalem streets on my way home.

DAY THREE

Montana Tucker spoke well. I have been a fan since her movie, The Children of October 7, opened at the Museum of Tolerance in Jerusalem. I was glad I had a minute to tell her when she left the stage.

She is to be featured at the Maccabiah Opening event on Wednesday night.

Tired yet?

Summit chairman Richard Heidemann welcomed EMET founder Sarah Stern and Mosab Hassan Yosef to the stage.

Along with Dr. Dan Diker, the “Green Prince” spoke without politically correct filters about the Middle East to great applause.

As the son of the founder of Hamas, his inside views should be valued.

Another favorite panel – Israel’s Wounded Warriors – was corrected to Heroes by moderator Tila Falic Levi.

It was followed by ‘Making Aliyah Easier.’ For sure, not easy. However, it’s been almost 20 years for us.

One speaker of the night was Minister of Foreign Affairs Gideon Sa’ar.

Nissam Black was the featured entertainer, caught him with JNS Feature editor Steve Linde.

Skipped the rest of the program that ran late and watched at home.

That’s it, folks…

Now back to the real world.

Out on the Jerusalem streets, Emek Refaim has been torn up for light rail construction, and buses are being rerouted.

Road work delays and construction in Jerusalem are the norm.

BUT – the signs are up for Jerusalem Design Week from July 9-16, 2026.

Tomorrow is a med-tech innovation conference at the Jerusalem International Convention Center.

Always something happening on the Jerusalem streets, hope to see you here soon.

Summer in Jerusalem with 3 international events you should see

Sharon A

A week with Israel at the center of international headlines.

No idea what will happen next.

But I want to make sure you heard of these 3 events that happened in Jerusalem, Israel.

The IDF Band and honor guard were out early on Sunday to welcome the President of Somaliland, Abdirahaman Mohamed Abdullahi.

The Israeli President’s official guest book was ready to be signed in the diplomatic reception room.

The band was playing the national anthems as the President and his wife were welcomed on the red carpet.

Israeli and Somaliland government officials were lined up inside to meet and greet each other.

The President and their wives and military attaches followed for the signing of the guest book.

The Somaliland President was welcomed and spoke of the 6 million Muslims he was elected to represent.

The lunch that followed included the Israeli Foreign Minister and the former head of Mossad, who have been working on joint relations.

The Somaliland delegation had days filled with events and a dinner reception at the Friends of Zion Center.

No wine, again, but dined in style, hosted by Mike Evans and the FoZ.

The Friends of Zion Award is a menorah given over the years to leaders who support Israel.

President Abdullahi opened the Somaliland Embassy in Jerusalem.

He expressed his appreciation for Israel being the first country to recognize and support his country.

But Somaliland was not the only country with government officials in Jerusalem.

The President of the Argentine Chamber of Deputies, Martin Menem, was welcomed to Jerusalem at the Knesset.

On Monday morning, the head of Argentina’s parliament was greeted by Israeli Speaker Amir Ohana.

The national anthems were played as the flag of Argentina was raised.

Menem placed a ceremonial wreath at the memorial flame outside the Knesset.

He took a rather long time to sign the Knesset guest book.

I went to take a photo of what he wrote in Spanish. Here’s an AI English Translation:
The Honorable Martín Menem
President of the Chamber of Deputies of the Argentine Nation

With immense gratitude, I visit the Knesset, a symbol of Israeli democracy and of the strength of a people that has known how to DEFEND its freedom, its identity, and its values throughout its history.

It is an honor for me to be the first President of the honorable CHAMBER OF DEPUTIES of the ARGENTINE NATION to make an official visit to ISRAEL, which reflects the deep FRIENDSHIP that unites both nations that share FUNDAMENTAL VALUES.

With ADMIRATION and AFFECTION toward the people of ISRAEL.

[Signature]
MARTÍN MENEM

Jerusalem, 15 June 2026
30 Sivan 5786

One more event you may not have heard about.

Sarri Singer founded Strength to Strength, a global non-profit that connects and supports victims of terrorism, bereaved families, and first responders.

She established the organization after surviving a tragic 2003 suicide bombing on Bus 14 in Jerusalem, where she was severely injured while everyone seated around her was killed.

NGO Monitor, Strength to Strength, hosted an event at StandWithUs on Monday night.

Sharren Haskel, Israeli politician serving as the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, was the keynote speaker.

The panel (left to right): Fleur Hassan Nahoum, Sarri Singer, and Anne Herzberg discussed “pay for slay.”

The PA has found new ways to continue to pay terrorists and their families who murder Israelis.

Out in the real Jerusalem streets, 5 parking spots have been reduced to 2.

The pomegranate trees are in bloom as the grasses dry out in June.

And with all the uncertainty in the world today, the summer sunsets are colorful as always.

Tourists are arriving. Hope to see you soon on the Jerusalem streets.