Sharon A – Page 5 – The Real Jerusalem Streets

A Jerusalem Ride to Remember: Home from Hadassah Hospital

June 29, 2025June 29, 2025Sharon A

Normal.

Back to normal.

For almost 2 weeks, the Home Front Command sent warning siren alerts of missile danger.

Then, with a flip of a switch, Jerusalem turned back to “normal” with noisy traffic and honking cars.

People came out of their homes to shop, lounge at outdoor cafes, and go to appointments again.

It was impressive to see that the light rail train to Hadassah Ein Kerem is finally up and running.

Our building’s shelter had served its purpose, but happy not to need it again.

Notice that foot in a cast at the bottom right of the photo? It’s mine.

Thursday night, we went to Hadassah Hospital Ein Kerem to see a specialist for a second opinion.

View of Jerusalem Israel from top of helicopter landing at Hadassah Ein Kerem

I had been up to the helicopter landing pad in November 2017 to take photos.

Jerusalem hospital were Australian doctors are training in pediatric emergency room procedures.

Five years ago, I was honored to take photos in the Emergency Room for a special training of Arab pediatric professionals from Gaza and Iraq, and other locations where showing their faces was not a great idea. However, the young women shared selfies with family and friends back home.

However, this was the first time I came as a patient through the main Davidson entrance in a wheelchair.

Getting to Hadassah by taxi was fine; there was less traffic than usual at night. Plus, seeing the light rail running after all these years was impressive.

But how to get home was the problem?

There is a ramp from the main lobby on the right to the elevators.

My husband asked a stranger to push me down the ramp in the wheelchair.

But the man kept going. Through the lobby, outside, to the footbridge, to the elevators, to the outside parking lot, he kept pushing with his daughter walking along with us.

Bassem from Beit Safafa has a teenage son who is disabled in a wheelchair. His white van with elevator lift was where we were headed.

Imagine my ride home in a wheelchair with my foot elevated, as his daughter wearing a hijab was on her phone, chatting and looking at fashion trends.

When we arrived, Bassem carried me and my chair up the front stairs and into my apartment.

Yes. You never know what will happen next on the Jerusalem streets!

PS. Bassem did not want anything in return for his kindness. After we insisted, he did take a box of chocolates for his children.

Finding safety in shelters in time of war

June 22, 2025June 22, 2025Sharon A

The news cycle is changing so fast that it is hard to keep up today.

In Jerusalem and most of Israel, we woke to a warning notice followed by a siren to take shelter.

The US had bombed Fordow, the Iranian underground nuclear center.
Severe damage and injuries are reported as Iran’s regime aims powerful ballistic and cluster bombs at Israeli cities and civilians daily.

Underground of Gandel Rehabilitation Hospital

Israel has been preparing for attacks by building shelters in new buildings. Here the underground hospital section of Hadassah Hospital Gandel Rehabilitation Center was ready for a Hanukkah celebration.

Today it is full and operating efficiently.

Bomb-shelter-near-bus-stop-southern-Israel

Shelters have been placed along southern roads and bus stops for safety.

Sderot-bomb-shelter-decorated-near-school

In Sderot, shelters near schools are decorated to be welcoming to young children.

Hundreds of new shelters are being delivered to various vulnerable locations.

Following the Homefront Command updates is important, they change with the situation.

On Thursday, the Tower of David Jerusalem Museum reopened to the public in full coordination with the Home Front Command and the Ministry of Culture and Sport.

The Museum operated during its regular opening hours. All gallery spaces throughout the site serve as reinforced, secure areas, in full compliance with the latest security guidelines.

The Museum was the first cultural institution to reopen on October 9th in 2023.

Soon after, I was honored to be the first to take photos of a bat mitzvah girl who was evacuated from the south. Again, the Tower of David was a first to be reopened for the general public.

Tower of David sign for shelter in the courtyard

The new Tower of David Jerusalem Museum brings the rich history of Jerusalem to life in one of the city’s most iconic landmarks. Located at the Jaffa Gate just across from the Mamilla Mall, it offers new immersive exhibitions in beautifully restored spaces, and a unique blend of archaeology, innovation, and storytelling. The newly accessible Museum works for children, adults, and senior citizens.

Tower of David Jerusalem Museum entrance

With the allowed 30 in a room at any one time, they followed the regulations.

Today, businesses and museums are again closed due to an increased threat

So sharing here a video with some of the new technology displayed on the stone wall.

Whether you’re a first-time visitor or a lifelong Jerusalemite, the Tower of David Jerusalem Museum offers a meaningful and inspiring gateway to the city’s past, present, and future.

A video of David’s wars has more views. But with plenty of war around us, it seemed a more tranquil section of the Tower of David Night Show would be appreciated.

The National Library of Israel in Jerusalem has been closed since October 13, 2025.

National Library of Israel main area from above

The main reading room is open with lots of light and glass.

National Library of Israel automated stacks

However, the stacks are well below ground and designed to be protected.

National Library of Israel new technology for ancient volumes

Once again, the most valuable items were stored way for safety.

Following the IDF Homefront Command’s country-wide siren announcing the IDF strikes on Iranian targets at 3:30 am on Friday, June 13, the Library’s security, conservation, and logistics teams, together with CEO Oren Weinberg and Board Chair Sallai Meridor, arrived at the Library to dismantle the treasures housed in the William Davidson Permanent Exhibition Gallery, the Helen Diller Family Rotating Exhibition Gallery, and the David Berg Foundation Rotunda Gallery.

Carefully, manuscripts, rare books, musical scores, archives, and were moved underground into climate-controlled vaults.

As in previous serious attacks, April 13 and October 1, 2024, and mainly on October 7, 2023, when staff rushed to the building despite unknown unfolding danger — the Library demonstrated its steadfast commitment to safeguarding the treasures of Jewish, Israeli, and world heritage, preserving and protecting these invaluable resources for generations to come.

UPDATED to clarify:

With schools closed due to the war, the NLI building is closed, and content and activities for all ages are available online. English-language content is available at www.nli.org.il/en

So there you have it, a brief review from the real Jerusalem streets.

Before we too have to go again to a shelter for safety.

Hoping for better news next time.

Amy Yisrael Chai!

Leaving Jerusalem for a wedding, and waking to war

June 16, 2025June 16, 2025Sharon A

In Jerusalem, Israel, in the best of times, it is hard to keep up with what’s happening.

Who can remember last week?

It was only last week that we heard the motorcade of Argentine President Javier Milei pass by as he went to the Kotel, Western Wall, when he arrived in Jerusalem, Israel, for an official visit.

Milei met with the President and Prime Minister at their offices, then was welcomed to the Knesset plenary on Wednesday evening, where he got a standing ovation when he was called to the podium to speak. The two leaders, hugging each other and their sore throats the next day, were lost in the news cycle of war.

There was a warm welcome and praise for Milei, even from the opposition, as he was called to speak after the Prime Minister. Yair Lapid began by mentioning the hostages and also spoke in Spanish. Am Yisrael chai.

June 12th was a chance for the public to enter without charge to celebrate 60 years at the Israel Museum.

What timing – a day later, it would have been canceled like so many other long-time planned events.

Remembering the Israel Museum Big Birthday Bash at fifty years. It was quite a celebration.

Jerusalem continues to grow with construction seemingly everywhere. This main road was not busy during the rush hour because of the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha last week.

And now the streets are quiet as construction work has stopped, and people are staying close to home.

The closing of light rail lines and the narrowing of streets as construction proceeds made it a close call for all. A few bus lines are now running, but not with the usual schedules.

The Eldan Jerusalem Spinning Marathon 2025 took place June 11-12, adjacent to Alrov Mamilla Boulevard, next to the walls of the Old City of Jerusalem.