Summer and the Jerusalem streets are hot during the day.
On weekdays, the Municipality tempts tourists with price cuts and deals. Residents try their best to get away from the city. Now, with the skies opening, Cyprus and Azerbaijan are two popular destinations this summer. However, because of recent news, the Druze and their relationship to Israel have become important to share.
It was quite a beautiful sight. Druze women from the north came by the hundreds in October 2010. Wearing their white head coverings to participate in the Komen Race for the Cure. Walking from Gan Sacher, Sacher Park, toward the Old City walls under white umbrellas to rest in the shade. That was the day I started a Facebook page because I had so many photos.
This photo is from last year on July 20th, the Israeli President, the Head of the Labor Court, the Supreme Court, and the Minister of Justice posed with Israel’s first Druze female judge.
She spoke as family and friends with phone cameras recorded the historic message.
Today, President Isaac Herzog announced the second group of 15 recipients of the new annual “Presidential Medal for Civil Valor.”Included was Milhem Asaad, a Druze citizen from Maccasra-Samie, a Maccabi Tel Aviv fan who flew to a game in Amsterdam. When the pogrom began on the streets of Amsterdam at a Maccabi Tel Aviv game, he took advantage of the fact that he spoke Arabic to mislead the rioters, thus saving many fans and warning other fans of the danger.
On Yom Haatzmaut, Israel Independence Day, these Druze leaders were honored guests at the televised Har Herzl ceremony with front row seats.
At the Jerusalem Marathon, Druze women participated with the OneFamily Together Organization.
Israelis and Druze come together in good times and mourning. The Israeli and Druze flags were flying together on July 19, 2017.
At the time, we traveled far north to pay a condolence call to the two Druze families whose sons were the policemen killed in Jerusalem near Lions Gate on July 14.
The women sat together outside, across the street.
A bereaved mother with a photo of their son supported by his sisters.
Mourning another Druze policeman who fell in the line of duty.
Another stop for this bereaved father – the women asked that their photos not be taken.
However, they had this photo of Haiel Sitawe smiling down above where the women sat.
It was last July when a rocket hit a football pitch in Majdal Shams, killing 12 Druze children.
I remember my first time at the Knesset sitting across from a Druze Member of Knesset in the dairy lunch room. He spoke of the long and sometimes difficult tradition of Druze support of Israel.
Israel is coming to the aid of Druze being attacked and murdered nearby in Syria while the world watches.
Here were only a few examples of Israel and Druze coming together in good times and bad.
In Jerusalem, Israel, the last week of November 2023 began with an important visitor.
Beit Hanasi, the Israeli President’s Residence, was open, but with less of the usual formality: no red carpets and no flowers decorated the stage in the main hall, just flags and two podiums.
The President of Germany Frank-Walter Steinmeier was met outside and escorted in by the President of Israel Isaac Herzog as the media and staff watched.
The cameras were ready early, and I made sure to get a good seat.
Their speeches were broadcast live and are available to the public.
The large delegation that came from Germany was warmly greeted, but more importantly, the solidarity visit included traveling south to see the destruction of the Simhat Torah Massacre firsthand.
I wondered if they noticed the memorial candles for a fallen soldier, the son of Beit Hanasi staff member.
The yellow ribbons are still out.
The dog tags – “Bring them home – now” – are becoming more popular.
While some are so happy to take down the posters of the returned hostages,
the faces of the too many who are still held captive in Gaza are seen as life goes on slowly in Jerusalem.
After its grand opening, the Bezalel building is only open to students.
Haneviim Street was strangely lacking traffic, but the new buildings behind were easily visible over the old, showing the contrast on this old Jerusalem street.
People were on Ben Yehudah Streets and Zion Square, an interesting diversity of people as usual.
HaBoydem was open with their recycled fashions, it seems with all the donations to help southern families, the donated clothing for this charity keeps arriving in the original Talpiot branch.
The Farmer’s Markets keep popping up in various Jerusalem locations. I should have bought those orchids on the right when I saw them, as they were gone when I came back a few minutes later.
Perhaps fewer, but the young hijab-wearing women were also walking on Jaffa Road.
And as always, at Israeli medical facilities, Arabs both work and receive treatment.
Kikar Safra is the home of the Jerusalem municipality that has been working overtime to serve Jerusalem residents and the thousands of people from around the country who had to leave their homes under threat.
It was good to see tour groups as I walked around on a sunny weather day. Things are not always as they seem, as the sign warns that those cushions that look so inviting are made of cement.
Near Tzahal Square there was much less congestion than usual.
I had time to notice the Jerusalem lion on the bollards for the first time.
The view on the way to Jaffa Gate is an old photo favorite as usual.
This man sitting in his usual spot collected charity, a sign of returning to normal.
Traffic below coming and going from Jerusalem, who would have thought it a positive sight?
By Jaffa Gate, the tourists and birds were missing, but, as usual, a Muslim family walked by.
An arts and crafts sale to aid southern businesses, at a time when culture is not seen as a priority.
In a city with too few tourists, there was live music at the popular tourist sight,
sweet treats to be designed and made,
and beer was sold, as well as food, at the Tower of David before Shabbat.
The flags were up on the JVP Margalit campus of Startup City Jerusalem, only I arrived after the Hackathon was over. It was hard to keep up with everything that was happening this past week.
However, from there I could see the sign announcing the Jewish Film Week at the Cinematheque, December 9 – 14, 2023.
Donuts. So hard to believe it will be Hanuka in a few days, as the past 2 months are a blur.
Today the traditional menorah, made entirely of bronze, standing over 2 meters tall and 2 meters wide, was placed in the Kotel, Western Wall Plaza, a popular sight year after year.
The Bible Lands Museum Jerusalem had a poster up along a Jerusalem street. Most museums have special activities planned for the week of Hanuka, especially for children.
