Beit Hanasi

In Jerusalem, Silver, Bronze, and Gold under Grey Sky

Sharon A

On the first day of school in Jerusalem, Israel, usually the photos of politicians and proud parents fill the news feed. Not so this morning, with the news of the return of six Israelis murdered in Gaza.

President Isaac Herzog went as planned to Yad Mordechai, where a large percentage of the students wore yellow shirts, instead of the traditional white ones.

The art on the wall in the Jerusalem Theater reflects the mood and the sky over Jerusalem today.

The photos of Israelis forced from their homes for months as rockets are constantly fired from Lebanon onto their northern communities are in the lobby as you enter, along with the red sign for the protected area in the theater.

Nevertheless, the end-of-summer concerts were held outside to hundreds of theater patrons last week.

During these dark days, there was a source of light, pride, and hope that was overshadowed.

Olympics and Paralympics Pride!

🇮🇱Ami Dadaon won a gold medal in swimming, setting a new Paralympic record. The Israeli clinched the gold in the 100m freestyle final. This is the second gold for Team Israel! He adds this gold medal to the two golds and one silver he won at the 2020 Paralympics in Tokyo!

The returning Olympic athletes were hosted at Beit Hanasi, the Israeli President’s Residence last week.

The medal winners were given honored seats near the President.

The Judo medal winners,

all had bright smiles for the cameras.

Artem Dolgopyat won gold last time, and now silver, but was only present in a video.

The Herzogs entered and greeted their guests.

Two of the medalists spoke for them all, every athlete a source of pride.

Many athletes got a turn to speak also, pride for all of them was the theme of the day.

The official posed photo with the medalists was taken inside Beit Hanasi.

The large group photo was taken outside. It was a feel-good positive event.

However, the news of the IDF rescuing Qaid Farhad Alkadi took all the international headlines that day. Interesting, how even that rescue could be spun into a negative press story by the media.

The end of August is the time when all hands, friends, and relatives are called on to help out with young children on the last days before the start of school. We made pizza, challah, and a big mess, but no meltdowns, blood, or broken bones. So a huge success?

One of the athletes at Beit Hanasi had two young children with him. As he took the microphone to speak holding one child, the older one left the building and put herself in the stroller outside. The look of relief when he realized she was found – priceless. Now hopefully all are safely back in school.

With the month of Elul, the nightly selihot and selihot tours are to begin. Many more nights this year at the Kotel, Western Wall, from the Tower of David, and Selihot for women and girls in Jerusalem private homes.

I was going to end with an upbeat video from the past…but this new one seems more appropriate today, it’s September but we are still experiencing October Rain.

Shulem – October Rain.

Before I could publish, this news- ‘Mazal Tov’ to Israeli rowers Shahar Milfelder and Saleh Shahin for winning the bronze medal at the Paris 2024 Paralympics.

May the good news rain over the bad.

In Jerusalem, the National Library of Israel and the Paris Olympics offer Relief to the War News

Sharon A

Summertime on the Jerusalem streets, though too warm for comfort, is usually filled with tourists. Not so this year, as most visitors were arriving to “volunteer” or to support family and friends.

No one was playing on the piano in the plaza by the Central Bus Station under the watchful eye of the Hamsa on Sunday, often a busy day in Jerusalem, Israel.

The daytime temperatures kept me inside with the air conditioning going, but after dark, despite the humidity, it was crucial to get out and walk for at least a short distance.

The National Library of Israel has a special summer exhibit for children, featuring nine oversized pillows.

Children’s books are on display along the new corridor.

The idea is storytelling, text, and tactile stimulation to engage young readers with oversized themed floor pillows.

These two children jumped right into one colorful “Poof Sipur” pillow.

Keeping children busy and safe under the threat of war adds a layer to the usual summer plans. Entertainment was set up outside the library for the early evening as the sun was going down.

More photos of the pillows on Facebook HERE

Summertime and the living is easy…

Nope. Not in our house, no lounging around – it was time to bake again for HaHamal HaMatok. For over 39 weeks, thousands of Israelis wanting “to do something” have baked challot and cakes and cookies to send to soldiers on the northern and southern borders.

Many Israelis are looking for news, good news, anything other than war news and terror attacks.

They have turned to Paris for the Olympic reports of Israeli success.

The Israeli Olympic team send-off was held at Beit Hanasi in June. Since October 7 the athletes have trained and performed under additional pressures.

Medal winner Raz Hershko said: “Thank you. This is our goal, to come and represent the country in the most correct, clean, and best way possible and to show everyone how strong we are and what an amazing people we are and nothing can bring us down. This medal is mine but in effect, it belongs to us all. I really love our country and there is nobody like us, and thank you for calling to offer congratulations.”

On August 16, 2021, medal winners from the Tokyo Olympics posed with President Herzog in the garden.

Artem Dolgopyat won a gold last time and now silver. He was popular for selfies then, and more so now, as he is the first Israeli to win back-to-back Olympics medals, and plans to go again next time.

Everyone wanted a photo with the gold medals even the President’s photographer. Makes me the only one there that day who missed out on getting a selfie.

Looking through the photos from the last Olympics in 2021, I had forgotten COVID-19 and the masks.

Now the war and hostages held for over 300 days are hard to forget.

In the National Library, the chairs and books for the remaining hostages are still on display.

August 5, 2024, is Ariel Bibas’ 5th birthday.

Hard to believe that despite the video showing the family’s abduction there are still those who deny the October 7 atrocities happened.

And the fallen soldiers and their families, the list grows, as Israel tries to carefully get rid of threats north and south.

The seasons change and hopefully, we can all walk safely on the Jerusalem streets again.

Three Under-Reported Events in Jerusalem You Should Know

Sharon A

Schools are out for the long summer holidays.

The temperatures have risen to uncomfortable highs.

Things feel almost “normal” on the Jerusalem streets.

There is less traffic during the usual rush hour times, but you never know when there will be delays.

The changing season is evident in the pomegranates growing in the garden at Beit Hanasi, the Israeli President’s Residence front garden near Theodore Herzl.

I was at Beit Hanasi twice for events that did not make headlines.

First, the swearing-in ceremony for new Israeli Labor Court Judges, where the diversity was apparent.

Of the seventeen new judges, 13 are women, not only Jewish women.

All the families in the audience were proud to record the moments.

Many sectors of Israeli society were included in this ceremony.

There were more children than usual for official events, and not all appreciated the speeches.

With the controversy around the Supreme Court this year, Uzi Fogelman is “acting” President, not the official head of the Court. But you know I was in the perfect spot to get his photo when the government photographer popped in front.

They all posed for the official photo at the end of the ceremony as usual.

Also this week at Beit Hanasi was an event attended by many rabbis. The Chief Rabbis have finished their official 10-year terms, but new elections have not been held. So they really represent themselves.

The morning was the launch of the publication of the English translation of the works of the former Chief Rabbi Herzog. I think the current President Herzog resembles the grandfather he is named for.

As in the video shown, the photos of the older rabbinic figure were the images most familiar.

As I left Beit Hanasi, a large white truck arrived with a police motorcycle in front and behind. Hot, tired, and wanting to get home, I had to stop and see what happened when they opened the back. No arrest drama, rather, they were just unloading the barriers in preparation for another night of protests.

Most photos from Thursday night were of protests, but in Baka, a new Torah was dedicated.

Hundreds of friends and supporters followed the Goldberg-Polins to the Baka Community Center.

Waiting traditionally were others to welcome them.

But this was not a traditional joyous dedication. The Torah was dedicated to the merit of their kidnapped hostage son Hersh and the other 119 hostages as part of their Week of Goodness.

The ‘Week of Goodness’ is universal and the activities are broad enough that both Jews and non-Jews all over the world were urged to join. Certainly, in Baka, hundreds came in person to join and support. The crowd spilled out from the Baka Community Center into the surrounding Jerusalem streets.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s meeting with US President Joe Biden is to take place on Tuesday afternoon; the Prime Minister’s flight will depart tomorrow morning.

May there be respectful events on the Jerusalem streets and beyond…