Beit Hanasi

The President of Paraguay Received Warm Welcome In Jerusalem

Sharon A

The Real Jerusalem Streets has published over 1,200 posts.

Along the way, RJS received over 1.2 million spam comments.

And a couple of viral posts – so many loved those Arab girls.

Each week the goal of RJS photo essays is to show what is happening in Jerusalem, Israel–

what legacy media does not share – there is much more happening than conflict and protests.

This week was a week to honor the Republic of Paraguay and its President Santiago Peña.

Knesset flags in blue and white were joined with blue and white with red – for the Republic of Paraguay.

Yards of red carpets were out and the Declaration of Independence moved to a new location

to officially welcome the President of the Republic of Paraguay Santiago Peña.

Anthems were played before the review of the honor guard.

The Paraguayan delegation entered the Knesset building led by Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana.

After cutting a ceremonial blue ribbon, Peña cut off a small piece of the blue ribbon to save.

The President signed the official guest book as Ohana stood and dignitaries sat to watch.

Audience members taking photos and videos with their cell phones has become common practice.

Even an army officer took his shot as the two leaders spoke briefly in the Chagall Hall.

Peña’s wife was escorted to a private reception after the official photos and led past the October 7 display. The hostages and war are not forgotten even at the most festive of events in Jerusalem.

The official motorcade waited outside to rush them away to the next event on a short, tight schedule.

The Kotel, Western Wall, Yad Vashem, and the official ceremony in Har Hotzvim where the Jerusalem Embassy of Paraguay is located lasted two days.

The umbrellas have been replaced with new lights over Yoel Salomon Street awaiting winter holiday visitors in Jerusalem near the Friends of Zion Museum, across from the Museum of Tolerance.

On Thursday night the Paraguayan delegation was hosted at the Friends of Zion Museum,

and the President was presented with the Friends of Zion Award.

The new Chief Sefardi Rabbi Dovid Yosef arrived wearing his new official Rishon Lezion attire.

The room was crowded and all stood as the Presidential couple entered,

Fleur Hassan Nahoum was the moderator, she spoke in English from the podium, but in Spanish to many of the guests.

Even at this event, the memory of those murdered was not forgotten.

Mayor Moshe Lion presented a gift and Rav Yosef blessed the President.

They left before the toast and the meal was served.

The meat came from Paraguay and the wine served was a special label “PARAGUAY,” bottled by Psagot Winery.

A hamsa for good luck was presented by Israeli Minister of Culture Miki Zohar.

However, the Friends of Zion Award was the main event of the evening which was co-sponsored by the Zionist Organization Kol Israel.

Knesset Speaker Ohana was all smiles during the singing of Hatikva at the end of the evening. He had gone to Paraguay to open an Israeli consulate and must have been relieved to see the results of his efforts. See who was there in more photos HERE.

So the Paraguay events were fun, but not real streets unless you saw the motorcades go by.

On International Humanitarian Day December 10th, a special session was held at Beit Hanasi, the Israeli President’s Residence, concerning the health and welfare of the 100 hostages still held in Gaza.

Freed hostage Noa Argamani spoke after the health experts presented data.

Several freed hostages attended and comforted each other.

But families, some wearing the faces and names of their loved ones on their shirts, are still waiting after 435 unimaginable days, more photos HERE

But then, new signs are up for fun next week, with the Doll Festival and More at the Train Theater.

The first night of Hanukkah is December 25th and I started planning and baking.

Stores have dreidels and Hanukiot on display – it’s time to prepare for Hanukkah. The holiday where they tried to kill us and failed – so we eat sufganiyot and latkes and spin the dreidel to see our fate.

As President Peña said ending his remarks to the media at the Knesset – “This year in Jerusalem!”

Book a photo walk to see the sights and lights for yourself.

See Jerusalem December Nights with Stars and Lights

Sharon A

December has begun in Jerusalem with new lights on the Jerusalem, Israel, streets.

Beit Hanasi, the Israeli President’s Residence was lit up with purple lights on Wednesday night for the 2024 International Day of Persons with Disabilities.

The Tower of David Museum citadel was also illuminated purple that night.

The first days of December also were the beginning of the month of Kislev. The new moon aligned with the planet Venus as night fell and seasons changed.

In December, the Jerusalem Botanical Gardens opened its ‘Winter Dreams’ light festival.

The pond reflects small lights above and around the still water as visitors arrive.

Animals were the theme this year, 30 lights displays lined the path in the garden.

I try to go early to get the lights without the crowds, like here where an arch was over the path.

Red hearts are used in several designs along the route.

I never saw a live squirrel in Israel, but this giant squirrel was on display,

also a multicolored unicorn,

and the lion, the symbol of Jerusalem near the end of the route.

Animals and lights – all neutral – no Hanuka themes – unlike a giant menorah in past years.

The Nefesh BeNefesh Bonei Zion Prize ceremony for 2023/2024 was held at Beit Ha’am honoring 12 outstanding accomplished Anglo-Olim who have contributed to Israel, Israelis, and the world.

I knew Eylon Levy before he became a media star, long enough to ask him to pose in the lobby. MORE

I was running out to the Museum of Tolerance, dramatically illuminated at night.

Inside, the theater/auditorium was filled for the premiere of “The Children of October 7” and a panel discussion with three of the teen survivors of October 7 who bravely shared their testimonies.

Montana Tucker has used her star social media status to produce a 35-minute power documentary.

Back in Israel multiple times this past year, she shared her experiences on social media with the world.

Across from the Museum of Tolerance, the Friends of Zion was lit – Bring them home NOW.

The video ends with blue and white lights, alongside their Israeli flag.

The lights went on at the official opening of the Rose Garden – in Talbiyeh, not the one near the Knesset.

The sun was setting as a man carrying a child looked at the new pond at the opposite end of the completely renovated park area.

Mayor Moshe Lion arrived to speak and families gathered to hear the dignitaries.

But for me, these two women were the stars in their costumes.

Going home I passed the new buildings near the Jerusalem Theater with their lights on.

Holiday lights are turned on over Mamilla Mall Avenue.

The YMCA has new and more elaborate holiday lights this year.

Ending with long-time favorite lights from Jerusalem Jaffa Gate – Hanukka 5776.

Now it’s time to prepare for Chanukkah 5785, however, you spell חנוכה.

Hope to see you soon on the Jerusalem streets!

3 New Presidential Events Trigger Memories in Jerusalem

Sharon A

In Jerusalem, Israel, this past week, Presidents were in the news – in Israel and in the United States.

Some events made headlines more than others, and as usual, more happened on the Jerusalem streets than you might have heard about.

Twenty-seven world leaders were hosted in private meetings at Beit Hanasi, the Israeli President’s Residence, before and after the Fifth World Holocaust Forum (WHF).

Close to fifty world leaders converged on the Jerusalem streets for the WHF, which met for the first time in Jerusalem, to mark the 75th year since the liberation of Auschwitz and the 5th WHF.

In January 2020, the world was focused on Jerusalem to discuss antisemitism.

In Gan Sacher, preparations for the dedication of the Leningrad Memorial, in the presence of Russian President Vladimir Putin and Jerusalem and Israeli leaders, were rushing to completion.

Those memories returned as I walked through Sacher Park in the evening and noticed the lights in the monument with the Israeli Supreme Court Building in the background.

Oh, how things have changed in the past five years.

The lights were also on at Beit Hanasi in the evening for the installation ceremony of Israel’s two new Chief Rabbis.

Sephardi Chief Rabbi Dovid Yosef and Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi Kalman Ber sat next to President Isaac Herzog with Members of Knesset and other honored guests in the front of the audience.

I saw Rabbi Yosef before the ceremony, and noticed he looked similar to his father and brother who were previous Chief Rabbis,

however, he didn’t wear the same attire.

This is a favorite photo of mine, at the installation of the previous chief rabbis eleven years ago, with President Shimon Peres and Rabbis Lau, father and son. Israeli Presidents have a 7-year term, the Chief Rabbis serve for 10 years

This week’s event was not in the small diplomatic room, but in Beit Hanasi‘s main hall, with families and guests looking on.

The rabbis spoke of unity and working together, as Rav Yosef concluded his remarks in English, with “Let’s make the rabbanut great again,” a day before the US election day.

The formal diplomatic room has been remodeled recently, with a yellow chair in the corner.

Only the carpet, menorah, and state symbol look the same as when the room was yellow -as in 2017, when the room was readied for the President of the United States.

US President Donald Trump’s visit to Jerusalem on Jerusalem Day was welcomed by President Rivlin.

A favorite photo from the day at Beit Hanasi was of the audience with Ivanka and Jared Kushner.

I followed the Presidents and their wives outside to the Beit Hanasi back garden to see the “Trump Tree.”

The weather changed from hot to cold at night, but the tree now seems to have grown tall, losing its leaves in the autumn weather.

There is more than Presidents on the Jerusalem streets. It took me several minutes to understand the Hebrew in this ad for the Jerusalem Opera performance at the Jerusalem Theater – for Madame Butterfly.

Sadly, these signs are easy to understand–the frustration of over 400 days with hostages still in Gaza.

It’s much better to see, happy occasions, like new couples getting married and driving off in their decorated car.

The Piano Festival and Jerusalem Arts Festival are this month also.

Waiting to see what new flowers will go in the large flower bed near Bloomfield Park and the Montefiore Windmill as winter weather is coming in soon.

But these are appearing on the Jerusalem streets, small bits of color for you to see.

If not now, Next year in Jerusalem!