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See what’s happening this August in Jerusalem

Sharon A

The end of August in Jerusalem, Israel, is not a favorite season.

Though it usually cools off at night, the days are often too hot for comfort.

Good for drying clothes outside, but the heat wave this week is not fun.

Jerusalem Teddy Park Fountain during day

That is, unless you are young or young at heart and head for one of Jerusalem’s water fountains.

The fountain at Teddy Park, located across from the Old City walls, has become a favorite.

Teddy Park water fountain lit at night

Day or night, when the music plays and the water shoots up, it is a sight to see, if not to jump in.

Children playing in Jerusalem Lion's Fountain

The water at the Lion’s Fountain in Bloomfield Park has been reduced over the years.

Signs warn not to enter the water, but that does not stop everyone on a very hot day.

Workers are out, summer sun or not, as endless road work goes on.

Light rail construction also goes on and on with constant changes to traffic and neighborhoods.

Now that Tisha B’Av is over, the weddings are back, their music filling the summer nights.

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The music from the annual Wine Festival at the Israel Museum filled three nights over the Jerusalem streets with different bands playing, while people wandered around trying samples from over 20 wineries.

At Yad Vashem, the crowd was seated in the Warsaw Plaza to appreciate Klezmer music.

Not sure how the long-planned Grand Slam at Givat Ram Stadium will be this week in the heat.

But the 34th International Puppet Festival is back next week at the new Train Davidson Theater with air-conditioned spaces.

School is out, and families once again look for child activities.

The summer weather has turned the green to dried weeds.

But the pomegranates are on the trees, a sign that autumn, Elul, is coming, and the fall holiday season.

A new season, but one remembering too many lost in the past two years.

And those who are still held captive in Gaza, not forgotten, even in a Jerusalem hospital.

Meanwhile, the music goes on on the Jerusalem streets.

Concerts and performances are scheduled for the Sultan’s Pool amphitheater.

Jerusalem is sponsoring a hip-hop Block Party on Jaffa Street on August 21, 2025.

Hard to predict what will happen next on the Jerusalem streets.

But the annual End of Summer Festival is planned for the Jerusalem Theater Plaza.

I can only share what happened and what is planned, and try to stay cool until the heat wave passes.

Just a bit of what’s happening on the Jerusalem Streets.

Now to go get a large Iced Tea.

Hope to see you soon again on the Jerusalem streets!

Tisha B’Av in Jerusalem 5785

Sharon A

Tisha B’Av.

Tisha B’Av in Jerusalem, Israel, is like nowhere else in the world.

At night, as the sky grows dark, the Jerusalem streets near the Old City swell with people walking towards the Kotel, Western Wall. Tens of thousands went last night, but I wasn’t able to walk this year as usual.

Model of Jewish Temple on Aish roof top with view to Dome of the Rock in the distance

A model of the Temple was lit one night from the Aish World Center rooftop. The Golden Dome of the Rock, which was built over the site of its destruction, can be seen at the top of this image.

For those who have not been to Jerusalem and toured the areas being rediscovered, here is a 2-minute video to give you an idea of what it was before the Roman destruction.

Stones fallen from Temple Mount at base of Old City Western wall

These stones were left where they fell so many centuries ago along the base of the Western Wall.

View of Absalom's Tomb from above at night

I missed walking around the walls last night and the views on the eastern side of the Old City Walls.

Mercy Gate on the eastern wall of Jerusalem Old City walls

Last year, I got a photo of Mercy Gate as we walked by on the way to Lion’s Gate and back to the Kotel.



Ten years ago, on the night of Tisha B’Av, as every year, tens of thousands came and sang slow songs.

The Western Wall Heritage Foundation shared photos from last night of the annual scene.

Bible Lands Museum Jerusalem video from a favorite exhibit on Babylon.

And there on the rivers of Babylon told their story,

for generation after generation.

Many Jews returned to Zion with the prophets Ezra and Nehemiah,

But many wealthy families remained.

Now 2500 years later,

Many have returned to Jerusalem, Israel, and others have not.

This has been an especially hard Tisha B’Av on a personal and national level.

The situation in Gaza, with 50 hostages, and world support growing for the terrorists, is hard to see.

Next year in Jerusalem!

Who’s here in July on the hot Jerusalem streets?

Sharon A

It’s too hot today to be out on the Jerusalem streets during this heat wave.

There are fewer tourists on the Jerusalem streets this summer,

not due to the sun blazing down, but to the rain of ballistic missiles last month.

photo raising Israeli flag

In July 2013, the Maccabiah opening was held in Teddy Stadium.

What a night it was!

Before July 2017, the Jerusalem streets were ready for the 20th Maccabiah.

Long-planned and Covid-postponed, the 21st Maccabiah opening event was held at Teddy Stadium in the Malha neighborhood of Jerusalem, Israel, in July 2022.

For the 2022 opening event, 30,000 people attended. What a light show and fireworks display.

What proud smiles as the Maccabiah teams marched in. In all the chaos, finding a familiar face – priceless.

Officially, Maccabiah 2022 had 74 delegations with 10,274 participants, and thousands of supporters.

Joe Biden and Yair Lapid

In addition to the Israeli President and Prime Minister making an appearance, US President Joe Biden was there in 2022, waving his USA Maccabiah hat to the crowd and TV audience.

But this year, Maccabiah had to postpone its July international mega sports events in Israel until 2026.

The Jerusalem streets are quiet this July, as many tourists and groups have changed their plans due to canceled flights and fear. What is in the headlines is too often not really what’s happening here.

However, last week, the theme was “Better together – Stronger than ever,” 180 educators, principals, and Jewish community leaders from 22 countries arrived in Israel to participate in Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael – Jewish National Fund’s (KKL-JNF) annual educational seminar.

“The presence of these educators in Israel at such a time is a powerful declaration of commitment and moral courage,” said Sar-Shalom Jerbi, head of KKL-JNF’s Education and Community Division. 

There was music and food served on the patio of the Menachem Begin Heritage Center for the closing.

Ifat Ovadia-Luski, Chair of the KKL-JNF Board of Directors, posed and smiled, surrounded by participants.

“Better Together, Stronger” than ever as the World Education Conference concluded with the walls of the Old City across the way in the distance on the pleasant Monday evening.

For some attendees, the seminar marked their first visit to Israel; for others, it had been many years since they last visited. It was certainly important for them to hear from residents from the north and south who are still displaced. to better understand what was really happening in Israel.

Zohar Vloski, Global Executive Director of Zionist Education at Jewish National Fund-USA, has led these missions for over a decade. He noted that the U.S. delegation was composed of senior educators, principals, cantors, and Jewish communal leaders, now with a greater understanding and appreciation, to bring back messages of strength and unity to their respective communities.

The Maccabiah Jerusalem night run was in 2022, and the night run was also canceled this summer.

The young Maccabiah athletes and their supporters from around the world were not able to come,

but everyone is looking forward to “Next year in Jerusalem.”