Beit Hanasi – The Real Jerusalem Streets

Jerusalem streets fill with people and music before Yom Kippur

September 20, 2026September 22, 2026Sharon A

The Jerusalem streets have been crowded each night, with tens of thousands heading to the Kotel, the Western Wall, for selihot. These middle-of-the-night prayers before Yom Kippur have become a “thing.”

People, especially young people from all over, secular and religious, at the Kotel and flowing into the surrounding area after 1 a.m. have become the new norm.

Buses, light rail trains, and Jerusalem streets were packed with people on Thursday night.

One special event was held in the old Shaare Zedek Hospital building on Jaffa Street.

Organizations supporting lone soldiers and B’not Sherut national service volunteers came together under the leadership of ImpactIL®, founded by Lesley Kaplan, partnering with The Michael Levin Base. Booths, business owners, and mentors offered support and guidance for soldiers at this event, especially the lone soldiers and lone B’not Sherut participants, either after service or as their service neared its end.

Yeshiva University was one of many educational options to explore.

Inside, mentors were available for young people to meet and connect.

Inside and outside, people at stations were available to help.

Most of the 150 soldiers were not in uniform, and only a few had weapons.

It was an opportunity for those who finished their service to become financially smarter.

Soft music was played throughout the evening event.

It was wonderful to see so many worthwhile organizations working together.

Another less publicized event was held at Beit Hanasi, the Israeli President’s Residence.

President Herzog hosted a selihot music program organized by Rabbi Benny Lau’s 929 bible study organization.

This year the theme was “Gates”; opening the gates was on the program and on these magnets.

For this musical-based event, photos did not suffice, so please enjoy these short videos:

A beautiful rendition of “Who By Fire ” by the Yagel Haroush Ensemble.

More music from the Yagel Haroush Ensemble for Selihot 5787.

Yagel Haroush Ensemble posed with President Isaac and Michal Herzog after the performance.

The young people invited each year are treated to a unique experience initiated by President Reuven Rivlin.

One memory from when President Rivlin got involved with Selihot is still a favorite.

Not sure how to spell it in English, but David D’Or’s version was a highlight at musical selihot events this year, so I’m sharing one from almost a decade ago.

May you hear the music yourself: “Next year in Jerusalem!”

Even before Yom Kippur, signs were up for the Sukkot Jerusalem Parade on September 28, 2026, with family events planned for Gan Sacher, Sacher Park.

Always something happening on the Real Jerusalem Streets.

This time of year, it’s hard to keep up and impossible to be everywhere.

Shana tova, gmar hatima tova

Did you hear about these new Jerusalem welcomes?

August 9, 2026August 9, 2026Sharon A

The August heat wave on the Jerusalem streets is still going.

Daytime temperatures are soaring beyond comfortable.

Jerusalem nights are more pleasant.

By the thousands, people come out to enjoy the summer festivals and events.

On Monday morning, Beit Hanasi, the Israeli President’s Residence, rolled out the red carpet to welcome six new Ambassadors to Israel.

Nkechi Linda Ufochukwu of Nigeria presented her credentials to President Herzog, with her entourage lined up in traditional white outfits.

Her welcoming toast was with apple juice, not the traditional wine.

Each new ambassador writes a message in the official guest book.

“It’s an honour and privilege to be here and I look forward to strengthen the ties between the two Nations,” she wrote.

Honestly, I went to see Alexander Graf Lambsdorff of Germany, who had already done an impressive job introducing himself on social media.

Besides the traditional handshake, he was presented with a white hat with Israeli and German flags on the front.

On the way out of the private meeting, he was introduced to Walter Bingham. At 102 1/2, Walter is amazing and sharp with his comments.

This ambassador signed his name to the German comment in the guest book.

A surprise during the presidential welcome for Chilean Ambassador Gabriel Alejandro Zaliasnik Schilkurt was that as he presented his credentials, Zaliasnik spoke in Hebrew, not in English as most others have done.

During the meeting and handshake photo op, Zaliasnik introduced his wife, Elisheva.

I do not remember a previous ambassador carefully copying his message from a text.

The new ambassador from Chile is extremely careful to mention he represents all Chileans.

There was opposition from some Chileans to his appointment because of his leadership of the Jewish community.

And to conclude the ceremonies of the six new ambassadors was Honduran Ambassador José Luis Núñez Bennet.

His message in the guest book was only a signature. But his presence in Jerusalem is significant.

It is the first time both countries have had ambassadors in Israel since the Hamas massacre on Oct. 7, 2023.

And now with the new government in Colombia, things are looking up for Israel and South American relations.

Beka Dvali of Georgia and Saman Kumar Chandrasiri of Sri Lanka were the other two ambassadors who presented credentials before I arrived.

Only for Chilean Ambassador Gabriel Alejandro Zaliasnik Schilkurt, I followed up to get a comment at the King David Hotel. He even graciously posed with the rabbi from Chile who was at the reception that included my favorite South American Ambassadors.

Welcome to Jerusalem to these newcomers and wishing them great success.

A very different welcome was held at Har Herzl on Wednesday afternoon.

The official ceremony for the Herzl family reunion.

Security was at the highest level to enter.

The Israeli flags draped over the two caskets brought in, just like an IDF memorial service.

The remains of Shimon Leib and Rivka Herzl were exhumed from the Jewish cemetery in Zemun, Serbia, and were transferred to Israel

After 77 years, Theodor Herzl’s grandparents were welcomed to Jerusalem by the Israeli President and Prime Minister.

A parochet covered the caskets by the Herzl family graves.

President Herzog said, “In his will, Theodor Herzl wrote that he wished for his remains and those of his immediate family to be brought for burial in the Jewish state once it was established. Today, we complete the fulfillment of that wish…”

To the Ambassador of Serbia to Israel, the Prime Minister began his remarks, “I kindly request that you convey our greetings and gratitude to the President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić…”

The World Zionist Organization has worked on the reburial for many years.

Grandfather Shimon Leib Herzl served as the ba’al tekia, shofar blower, and gabbai at the synagogue in Zemun of Rabbi Judah Alkalai, one of the forerunners of political Zionism.

Shimon Leib and Rivka were given as close to a royal welcome as Israel provides.

Their influence on grandson Theodor can only be surmised.

But now the Herzl family is reunited on Har Herzl.

Tikvah – hope. Sometimes it takes decades to make a dream a reality.

More ceremony photos HERE

Meanwhile, the new exhibit on Shabbtai Zvi at the Islamic Museum sounds fascinating.

In the August heat, one option to cool off is the indoor water park near Malha.

Come check out what else is happening on the Jerusalem streets!

Would love to welcome you – this year in Jerusalem.

Summer Days in Jerusalem: Remembering History, Inspiring the Future

July 19, 2026July 19, 2026Sharon A

Summer in Jerusalem, Israel, is warming up as always in the Middle Eastern sun.

The 25th Knesset concluded its term.

With 100 days to go until the new elections, the political airwaves will heat up as well.

Tisha B’Av begins on Wednesday night and continues until dark on Thursday.

Then Israelis begin the serious holiday time, with many planning to travel.

But first, it was time to remember that eventful trip 50 years ago.

An Air France plane was hijacked by terrorists; the Israelis on board were held hostage in Uganda.

The commemoration of the daring Operation Entebbe was held at Beit Hanasi, the Israeli President’s residence.

Media, videos, and photographers came in large numbers early to set up.

I took a seat where I could see survivors meet again with their rescuers.

For eight days, the world waited as the Israelis were held 4,000 kilometers from home.

Before the program began, Benjamin and Iddo Netanyahu lit a memorial candle for their fallen brother Yoni, who led the rescue mission.

The other candles were lit to remember the civilians who died during the rescue and Dora Bloch, who was murdered in a Ugandan hospital.

The short video highlighted the young children who had to be entertained under the most dire of circumstances.

The video ended with those children united again and posing with smiles.

The panel discussion included former Hamas hostage Noa Argamani and one of the IDF soldiers who rescued her from Gaza. Also on the panel were Doron Almog, chairman of the Jewish Agency and a veteran of the operation, Amos Eran, who served as director-general of Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin’s Office during those sleepless nights, and Dr. Ephraim Sneh.

From my seat, I could take that scene. Noa’s father, Yaakov, was intentionally left in the photo watching his daughter on stage.

At the 40th Entebbe commemoration, I was not seated in the center of the room. Then I was able to get to the front row of dignitaries.

Shimon Peres (center) was Israel’s Defense Minister during the July 4, 1976 Entebbe raid (Operation Entebbe / Operation Thunderbolt / Operation Jonathan.

Who else do you recognize?

Meanwhile –