Beit Hanasi – The Real Jerusalem Streets

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 –

On the Alon Shvut campus of Herzog College this past week, thousands of people gathered to remember and study events from long ago.

One of the hundreds of teachers, Rabbi Menachem Leibtag, spoke about when politics and religion clash – in the Bible.

Nothing new under the sun?

Rabbi Yoel Bin Nun started teaching teachers in the summer over 30 years ago.

Growing every year, locations throughout the campus were filled with men and women.

People come from across Israel and overseas to study the Bible in Hebrew, English, Spanish, and French.

The schedule is packed throughout the week, making it hard to decide which classes to attend.

And out on the Jerusalem streets, construction goes on.

The building projects rise higher.

Time to come see for yourself!

This year in Jerusalem!

Jerusalem, old and new, and inside and out

May 31, 2026May 31, 2026Sharon A

Jerusalem, Israel, is a city of contrasts.

A place of diversity, where the Jerusalem streets are constantly changing.

Jerusalem’s ancient Tower of David and the Old City walls are well known.

The lanes of Yemin Moshe have long been photo-worthy.

Now, with almost everyone having a camera on their smartphone, sights and scenes are widely shared.

The annual Jerusalem Unity Prize awards were presented at Beit Hanasi, the President’s residence, on May 24, 2026.

When Raviv Kaner began to sing, the phones began recording.

Awards were given to 5 communities and organizations for their efforts in promoting unity.

The last two awards were to individuals – Rabbi Yonatan Reiss, founder of the Chedvata network of haredi hesder yeshivot, was honored for advancing the integration of ultra-Orthodox young men into meaningful national service and Israeli society while maintaining strong religious observance.

The audience stood to applaud his award and work.

The final honoree, Sheikh Muwafaq Tarif, spiritual leader of Israel’s Druze community, also received a standing ovation for his longstanding efforts to strengthen relations between the Druze community and broader Israeli society and promote shared life among Israel’s diverse populations.