Author: Sharon A

Jerusalem After Yom Kippur Getting Ready for Sukkot

Sharon A

Over the years “Yom Kippur is coming” has been an annual post for The Real Jerusalem Streets.

How was this year different?

I didn’t even remember to do a piece on the holiday approaching.

The umbrellas still stretch over Yoel Solomon Street, but fewer tourists walk under them.

This year the Yizkor, or remembrance of October 7 victims and hostages filled the Jerusalem streets.

Even on the poster for the various Selihot, there was one placed in the center.

On October 7, 2024, I walked into Jerusalem by the tent near the Prime Minister’s residence.

It was quiet on Day 367, but at night the area was filled with people.

Needing a bit of nature I found the new map of Geology of the Jerusalem Mountains.

You could see the large Israeli flag over the Knesset at half-mast from that vantage point.

In the outdoor garden at the National Library of Israel, the letters were impressive under the clouds.

Inside people were working as if it was a regular Monday.

But my goal was to see this video projection near the upper entrance of the new library.

To remember the murdered and fallen soldiers from October 7, too many faces.

At the lower entrance, those faces on posters on chairs with favorite books waiting for hostages to return. If you have not been – tours in English will run during Sukkot on Sunday-Tuesday (October 20-22).

  • Tour duration: approximately an hour and a half.
  • The group tour is suitable for ages 16 and up.
  • Price: NIS 50 per person over 5 years of age. Discounts are available for seniors, soldiers, reservists, and displaced families (identification required).
  • For more information about group tours in English and to buy tickets: https://www.nli.org.il/en/visit/tours/sukkot-tours

The restaurant will be open. A sukkah has been erected in the library garden for visitors.

For Sukkot “Poof Sipur” (“Bean Bag Stories”) for children ages 5 to 11 and accompanying adults is back.

Walking home on the path under the Israel Museum was a bit of hope for renewal – green growth under the trees and bushes in the seriously burnt area.

A Muslim woman walked alone along a Jerusalem street on October 7, and no one else seemed to notice.

Before Yom Kippur, the Israeli President hosted a Selihot program by the Beit Hanasi Synagogue with the musical ensemble of Yagel Haroush back again this year, coordinated by 929 organization.

In the Israeli President’s Residence back garden, the white chairs were lined up as in the past. Only the seats were filled with students and bereaved families instead of the many IDF uniforms in past years.

A bit of the powerful melodies of the Chazan during Selihot prayers.

I took a photo for you inside the Beit Hanasi Synagogue, which is not open to the public often.

However, at least one of the books on a small table looked well used.

This year the lead-up to Yom Kippur was filled with various October 7 memorial programs.

One event for fallen Israeli Police was held at the Friends of Zion Museum. In the first 50 hours of Operation Iron Swords, 59 police officers were killed.

Program moderator Dean Elsdunne, Spokesperson for Israel Police, supported and translated for the bereaved mother of Dan Ganot z”l, as she explained her new role to speak to school children about her son and the honor of police personnel.

The panel moderated by Avi Mayer with dedicated police who worked on and after October 7 was impressive. More to come on that soon, inspired by the stories they shared!

Walking home a new sign was up for Ushpizin – Sukkot begins Wednesday night October 16 – ready or not.

The Kings Hotel’s sukkah was ready for guests,

while the restaurant next door had the frame of their sukkah up before Yom Kippur.

On the Jerusalem streets, the few alert sirens of missiles approaching have not stopped the constant building projects.

The maze of construction for the light rail continues to confuse both drivers and pedestrians.

These Jerusalem street signs wish Shana Tova Jerusalem 5785.

May all have a better year!

As the Yom Kippur prayers ended – “Next year in Jerusalem”

And now – time to get ready for Sukkot and Simhat Torah.

One Week into October 2024 – Looking Back from Jerusalem

Sharon A

Some weeks are harder than others.

Each week the goal of The Real Jerusalem Streets is to share real things you may not hear about in the mainstream media. There are many such events and usually hundreds of photos to select from.

This week even more so than usual, it was hard to get started – oh what a week it was.

As I sat down at the computer after grabbing a quick photo out the window of impressive clouds at sunset, my phone on the desk blasted a Homefront Alert to seek shelter. This was the first-ever mass warning of incoming ballistic missiles from Iran.

I may be the only person who does not have a dramatic story or a selfie to share from Tuesday night.

Much of Israel was affected, and it was a miracle that the only people killed were a Gazan in Jericho, 5 Iranians on a backfire mishap in Iran, and possibly one person in Jordan.

It was sad to see the Kotel, Western Wall empty on a night it should have been filled for prayers before Rosh Hashana. A small service was held inside Wilson’s Arch instead.

However, after Shabbat which followed the two-day Rosh Hashana holiday, the crowds were back.

A simple photo from before the holiday, with the 72-hour candle, will have to do.

It was both a long holiday and a short week.

But, how can we complain about too much holiday, when those held hostage in Gaza for a year have had so little food and no freedom?

Cleaning my desk last night I found this 1982 cartoon.

Except for Castro, it is the same as today. “I move to condemn Israel!”

Today this warning from the Homefront command for northern communities flashed on the computer screen. There have been hundreds of missiles in the past week, and over 10,000 in the past year. Over 63,000 people have been forced from their homes – Shlomi is the last on this list.

Check out Israel’s Northern Exposure from 4 years ago.

Buildings near Lebanon border Blue LIne

Look at those “houses” on the Israeli border in Lebanon – some of the thousands of above-ground shelters for missiles.

The sounds of shofars for Rosh Hashana filled the Jerusalem streets, and planes flew overhead day and night. However, our friends and families in the north were under the constant stream of rocket fire interrupting their holiday and trying to take their lives.

“Falling in open spaces” means more miracles, when under persistent attack.

Tomorrow is October 7, 2024, with a list of commemorative events for the murdered and hostages.

Before I could publish, a terrorist stabbing in the Beer Sheva bus station with casualties.

These messages are no longer seen on buses, but the message has become more significant – Hatima Tova, “May you be sealed for good!”

In Jerusalem September Ends with the Sounds of Selihot

Sharon A

What a week this was in Jerusalem, Israel!

The Jerusalem streets are usually full of tourists this time of year as Rosh Hashana, the New Year, and the High Holiday season begins at the end of Elul into the Hebrew month of Tishrei.

People are arriving. But, only ElAl is flying and they are booked solid.

Cannot tell what will happen next.

But check out what happened on Jerusalem streets this week.

The view from the Tayelet shows Old Jerusalem, Mount Zion, and Mount Scopus in the distance.

But the view of the growth of Jerusalem is also evident, as the population of Israel grows to 10,000,000.

Where else do people arrive to visit and live as housing prices go up – during prolonged wars?

Since the outbreak of the war, around 853,000 tourists have entered mainly from (in descending order): the United States, France, the UK, Russia, and the Philippines.

The olive trees are full as the season changes and Jerusalem nights are cooler.

With war raging around, daily life and building in Jerusalem, there are new roads and tunnels.

Renovation on the old Knesset site for the new Knesset Museum is finally visible.

New outdoor lighting illuminates the Great Synagogue and Heichal Shlomo next door.

‘Uniting for the future’ was the theme of the Keren Kayemet – Jewish National Fund solidarity mission which opened on Sunday night at the Jerusalem International Conference Center.

Its themes are working for the future in education, rebuilding, and honoring heroes and heroines of the Iron Swords War which is ongoing.

I arrived early as did Dani Dayan, the chairman of Yad Vashem, one of many institutions affected by war.

Three hundred people came from around the world on this solidarity mission dedicated to rebuilding.

Involved in the program were victims of terror and loss. The siblings of fallen soldier Cpt. (res.) Shaul Greenglick, who was an aspiring singer, sang in the program.

It was a powerful program that hopefully inspired major givers to give even more.

Ending with a child from a southern community saying ‘Thank You’ for helping us re-light our hope’.

As October 7 approaches, multiple organizations, programs, and videos are appearing to tell the story.

Michael Dickson of Stand With Us spoke at the opening of the Faces of October 7 on Tuesday night.

Portraits by talented artist Benzi Brofman are on display in Jerusalem until the end of October.

Each life-like face is a person kidnapped or killed since October 7, 2023.

The entire Siman-Tov family was brutally murdered on October 7 by Hamas terrorists in their home.

The photos are exhibited with the family’s cooperation. IDF soldier Reef Harush’s parents were there, his father was one of the speakers. For Reef’s mother, it was too painful for her to look at the portrait by Brofman. Look into the bright eyes, in the photo in his IDF uniform in the center, and see her world lost.

With each image is the personal story of the person. What is overwhelming to me – this photo of Loris z”l was drawn in one hour during the afternoon before the opening by the talented Brofman.

Too much loss. Too many new graves this past year,

especially in the military cemeteries throughout Israel.

However – more is happening on the Jerusalem streets that is not sad.

The Jerusalem Design Week “The Ark” ended on Thursday night at Hansen House.

With lectures and talks along with the out-of-sight designs.

After Shabbat the Jerusalem streets were almost as busy as ever.

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is Selihot-5784-Erev-Rosh-Hashana-201-1024x461.jpg

As Rosh Hashana approaches in only a few days, there are fairs galore to support Israeli businesses.

It’s been a rough year for not only business but personal loss and longing on many levels.

Rachel Sharansky Danziger spoke at a book launch for “Az Nashir – We Will Sing Again: Women’s Prayers for Our Time of Need,” an anthology of prayers written by Jewish women in Israel addressing the unique experiences of living in Israel today in a post-October 7th world. 

Before Rosh Hashana in Jerusalem, the streets are filled with sounds of Selihot, and late-night prayers. At Yemin Moshe you can see the Old City Walls illuminated in the distance. One of many possible sights for popular Selihot tours each year.

The Solomon Brothers returned to do a musical Selihot with people standing all around.

At the Jerusalem Great Synagogue, Cantor Tzvi Weiss was singing in a very different style.

The men’s section was full this year to hear him accompanied by the choir directed by Elli Jaffe.

Thousands were at the Kotel, Western Wall, filling the plaza, as many past nights.

While thousands more at the Jerusalem International Conference Center to hear Yitzhak Meir again and at hundreds of other Selihot services as every year.

Colored holiday lights have appeared this week over the Jerusalem streets before Rosh Hashana.

I thought it would be nice to end with some of the sounds of the Solomon Brothers’ Selihot,

and share a few minutes of the Great Synagogue choir and chazan.

Shana Tov Jerusalem 5785

May all be inscribed for a good year.