Author: Sharon A

January 2025 Hanukkah and New Beginnings in Jerusalem

Sharon A

For 2025, I saw a cartoon with two doors.

The one on the left says, “Disengage and hope it turns out ok for you.”

The one on the right says, “Fight for what’s right.”

RJS plans to keep engaging for 2025, as it has over the past years.

There were lovely days and nights over Hanukkah, with warm sunny days and cool nights.

So many lights lit up the Jerusalem streets for eight nights.

Crowd at Mamilla Mall for candlelight on Hanukkah

Crowds filled Mamilla Mall for live music, dancing, and donuts almost every night.

Programs for children were held in small venues and

Jerusalem Cinema City had special activities in addition to the regular holiday movies.

However, on the sixth night, it rained.

Rain poured down most of the day. Jerusalem managed ballistic missile attacks in the middle of the night better than the flooded roads and gridlocked traffic with cars and buses full of Hanukkah partygoers.

We finally got through the traffic congestion and arrived at Hadassah Hospital Mount Scopus –

but oops, we found the wrong Hanukkah celebration, in the wrong building.

Instead, our party was in the new Gandel Rehabilitation Center, for wounded soldiers and their families and the OneFamily volunteers who come each week to help from their war injuries.

Only in Israel? The basements of hospitals are ready for attack with underground emergency units.

Activities, good food, and music filled part of the lower level for the special Hanukkah celebration.

Nefesh Be’Nefesh held a special family celebration for Hanukkah.

When I saw this man at the party I thought he was an actor. When I saw him leaving, I decided to snap a photo of the best Hanukkah costume of the year.

There are still no nature photo walks at the still-shuttered Wohl Rose Garden near the Knesset.

“Bring them home now” signs line the Rose Garden and many Jerusalem streets.

Celebrations private and public, the war on many fronts, and the 100 hostages are always in mind.

The fallen Israeli heroes, over 825, include 85 since Sinwar was eliminated in Gaza.

Sitting home, reading the news, or scrolling on social media, the UN agencies’ lies and obsession against Israel are appalling. For over a year, the Red Cross has not helped Israeli hostages including children.

The clear weather is not good for farmers, but great to get out and walk and see what’s new.

Gan Sacher, Sacher Park has new information signs.

Old City walls near Jaffa Gate for second night of Hanukkah

Jerusalem Old City walls were illuminated with projections the same as two years ago.

“Hanukkah of gold and of light” was Jerusalem’s new Hanukkah message this year.

The Outline Festival 2024 is continuing into 2025. “Unknown” is what is ahead for the new year.

However, new buildings have risen above the Jerusalem streets.

Too many Jerusalem streets are dug up for construction and the future light rail tracks.

New bus stops are going up in new locations to add to the construction confusion.

The Real Jerusalem Streets aims to keep sharing what’s real, what’s happening in Jerusalem, Israel.

Not all is good, but with the sun shining and days getting longer, there is hope for better days.

If you want only good news, go to my friend Michael’s Only Good News Israel

However, to end with one good thing – the views and positive comments on this simple video from Sukkot Birkat Cohanim, keep coming.

May 2025 and 5785 bring blessings for all.

In Jerusalem, the year ends with colors and candles

Sharon A

It’s the end of December, the end of the Hebrew month of Kislev, and the end of 2024.

It’s been a difficult year with war raging against Israel on so many fronts.

I lived in the northeastern United States, and after the amazing autumn colors disappeared with the falling leaves, December was not only cold but dark and dreary.

See what’s on the Jerusalem streets – more than the yellow ribbons and protests.

Winter in Jerusalem, Israel, though some tree branches are bare, it’s easy to find bursts of color.

I love that you can still find white roses blooming in late December.

These orange aloe flowers are another favorite sight along the Jerusalem streets.

The bright colors contrast against the blue sky during the day, an annual winter delight.

The blue and white flags with colored army unit flags are new, a sad reminder of this year’s events.

But for Hanukkah, the lights are out to brighten up the Jerusalem streets at night.

Candles and colors started inside homes on Wednesday, the first night of Hanukkah.

An oil Hanukkah menorah was in a restaurant window in a Jerusalem mall on the first night.

On the second night, we had the annual family Hanukkah get-together.

My holiday-themed Hanukia menorah-shaped cookie and dreidel-shaped cake were not as colorful.

This is the potato latke kugel – at least I got a before photo. The chaotic commotion, with most of the family together, ended up with no posed photo of the table before or the people after.

Coming from the Ashkenazi culture in the US, potato latkes, those greasy fried potato pancakes, were the traditional holiday food for Chanukkah.

In Israel, we have adapted and adopted the sufganiyot, jelly-filled donuts as a holiday treat.

This year decorating the plain versions with piles of cream and colored candies was popular.

On Friday, I went to walk off some of the calories and check out the InPrint Festival at Hansen House.

InPrint Holiday Edition was much smaller than the Hansen House In Print ART Book Fair in January 2023.

However, a few people were still taking advantage of an activity near the closing on Friday afternoon.

The candles I had admired in many locations as decorations inside – had fake flames.

After Shabbat, the sufganiyot traditional donuts covered in white sugar with red jelly in the center,

and donuts with various frostings and fillings were real and served by the box.

Chabad Talbiya was back at Mamilla Mall after Shabbat on the fourth night for the 14th year.

The Solomon Brothers provided live music, while the family of fallen soldier Yosef Malachi Guedalia hy”d said the blessings and lit the large menorah.

A fourth night with flames and music and donuts in Jerusalem.

The crowd was packed in the mall and walking through was a challenge, so I stopped trying.

On the way home at Paris Square, the Chabad Rechavia lighting of the hanukiah and program had ended.

But a few steps away, the protesters were out near the Prime Minister’s official residence and the sign for 449 days with all the yellow flags and ribbons, a reminder of those denied freedom on this holiday–the celebration of freedom.

At Beit Hanasi, Israeli President’s Residence the electric hanukiah was lit for the fourth night.

There were private parties with music and colorful lights.

and signs thanking soldiers for their service along my way.

Schools are closed, but I liked this – “each one is a small light, and together we are a mighty light.”

The walls of the Old City were lit again each night.

However, I prefer one from nine years ago with Hanukkah music.

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New signs are up for more holiday activities. Now to decide what to do with so many choices.

Hope for you to see the colors and lights – next year in Jerusalem.

חנוכה שמח

Hanukkah sameach.

December Holiday Time in Jerusalem

Sharon A

How is this December holiday season different than other years on the Jerusalem streets?

At night, walking near the Old City walls I saw signs of progress and innovation.

However, the new lighting also showed the lack of tourists for this time of year.

New lights installed along the wall near Jaffa Gate illuminate the stones, where a lone man was walking.

This man sat in his usual spot to collect charity from those who walked toward Jaffa Gate.

The stickers of fallen soldiers covered the metal doors.

The Santa Claus off of the plaza inside was back, perhaps larger than usual.

New Gate, the entrance to the Christian Quarter, is usually lit up for the holiday. I was disappointed to see it closed and dark inside, early in the evening, so close to December 25th.

In contrast, on the other side of the Jerusalem street were the lights lit at the French Hospital.

Is there another hospital in the world run by nuns, which serves only kosher food, with a big decorated tree out front?

The YMCA is bright with lights every night in December.

Mamilla Mall had lights overhead and people strolling.

The sufganiyot, Hanukkah donuts, have been displayed all month at bakeries, this one at Mamilla Mall.

These Hanukkiot, Hanukkah menorahs, were bright in the store window.

An annual Bar and Bat mitzvah event for children who lost a parent to terror was at Beit Hanasi again.

At the President’s Residence, the yellow chair for remembering the hostages was front and center.

These young people and their families need no reminders of what a difficult year this has been.

Neither do those on the Jerusalem streets who see bus stops covered with posters as a reminder.

Some of the Jerusalem streets have these colorful Hanukkah lights above during December.

Hanukkah and Christmas are to be celebrated at the same time this year on December 25th.

I wish more tourists were on the Jerusalem streets to appreciate the lights at night.

But it is easier to get a clear shot of the I LOVE Jerusalem sculpture at Tzahal Square near the Old City, without the usual visitors climbing over it and crowds taking photos around it.

Next year in Jerusalem – hope to see you here to appreciate the holiday lights.