cultural events

Summer nights in Jerusalem when the streets come alive

Sharon A

Israel is in the midst of a heat wave.

During the Middle Eastern summers, Jerusalem is usually cooler at night.

Staying in during the day and venturing out at night is how I see the Jerusalem streets.

The lights of the Old City illuminated in the distance over the Sultan’s Pool are a favorite.

Turn around on the footbridge over Hevron Road and see

the lights of the Scottish St. Andrew’s Church towering over the Menachem Begin Heritage Center.

Another interesting interview in the Begin Center Prime Ministers series was held Sunday night.

Herzl Makov not only worked with Begin but also served as the Center’s founder and CEO.

Look for the recorded informative series online.

Summer in Jerusalem and it’s festival season again. Too many events to attend them all!

Leaving the Wolt delivery motorcycle in the photo of the construction on the new entrance to the Jerusalem Botanical Gardens.

As slow as the construction seems, that is how fast and frequent those food deliveries are.

The Botanical Gardens is hosting another summer-themed event for families – Magic in the Forest.

The pond is filled with lilies,

and as temperatures rise, even the birds are slowing down.

The Jerusalem Botanical Garden has expanded greatly over the years.

Another location that has changed over the years is the old Shaare Zedek Hospital on Jaffa Road.

Not in use as a hospital for decades, it has now temporarily become a home for the Jerusalem Biennale art exhibits.

Wednesday was opening night for “Only Briefly.” Mindy Weisel is curator of the solo exhibition by Amy Gelb.

This piece with three layers of soft fabric hangs close to the wall, so it was difficult to photograph.

People gathered to support the American artist with her show in Jerusalem.

I had not been back in a while and also noted the restored ceiling of the former synagogue of the hospital, which has been given new life as a cultural center.

The highlight of the week was our family celebration of 20 years in Israel at the Shalva National Center.

The Shalva entrance lobby is full of color, butterflies, hearts, and messages.

“You don’t have to see the whole staircase. Just take the first step.”

Our excellent dairy dinner did not disappoint; everything was spotless and spot-on.

“Memory and hope light the way” – Lianne, Noiya, and Yahel Sharabi – new in the lobby, where Eli Shrabi participated in the dedication.

Shalva is one example of improving the world from a personal challenge.

Written on the walls are words of wisdom: When you love what you have, you have everything you need.

When nothing goes right… go left.

Good things take time.

Do not judge my story by the chapter you walked in on.

I caught one little guy in the hallway.

They all have a long way to go.

May they and we all go, building better and stronger, in good health.

3 things you should know happened in Jerusalem

Sharon A

Three events from the third week of November in Jerusalem, Israel, are highlighted in this post.

As the Jerusalem skyline above us constantly changes, things are happening on the streets, conference halls and theaters. As always, there is more happening than makes the headlines.

ONE

Monday night, nine women took to a Jerusalem stage to perform “Heroines” for an audience of women.

In July 2023, inspired by a video of Rachel Goldberg-Polin speaking at Kever Rachel, Shayna Levine-Hefetz sat down at the piano. As she played, music flowed through her, imagining Rachel in conversation with her Biblical namesake. That was when the concept of “Heroines” was born.

The monologues are presented in a Reader’s Theatre style: an open-book dramatic performance.

The opening scene relates the story of Adi Vital-Kaploun, of Holit, who was murdered in her home in front of her 4-year-old and 4.5-month-old sons. The boys were then taken captive on October 7, 2023, but miraculously released. Each story is encapsulated in a short presentation of a dynamic event.

The open-book dramatic performance requires no memorization, and the costumes are simple.

Performers use voice and facial expressions to bring the words to the audience.

Not always seated for the solemn and sad stories, they were up and active in some of the scenes.

Plus, a few gestures and scenes were included, providing humorous relief from the tragic stories.

‘Heroines” is a tribute to the women who died and survived during the Swords of Iron War.

“Our nation’s history seems to repeat itself, but so do our nation’s qualities of unbridled bravery, leadership, faith, and hope,” said Toby Klein Greenwald, who has led the women of “Raise Your Spirits” Theatre shows with Biblical themes to women-only audiences for the past 24 years.

TWO

All day Wednesday at Nefesh BeNefesh, the 4th Jerusalem Business Conference was held.

Organized by Lesley Kaplan and the Israel Networking Hub in partnership with the Association of Americans and Canadians in Israel (AACI) and Nefesh B’Nefesh, the event theme was “Own Your Voice.”

Hillel Fuld was opening keynote speaker, with advice based on his experiences in tech and social media.

Joseph Gitler of Leket Israel was another important speaker in conversation with Lesley Kaplan.

The panel moderated by Heather Dean included Debbie Sassen, Fleur Hassan Nahoum, and Zev Levi.

The participants filled the room, including one fitness expert who brought along his own ball to sit on.

Most stayed for the speaker and special networking session late in the afternoon, and the prize raffle.

THREE

According to their tradition, Ethiopian Jews, also known as Beta Israel, are descended from emigrants from the tribe of Dan in the Land of Israel during the time of King Solomon. Each year on Sigd, they went to a mountain top in Ethiopia and prayed to return to Zion, to Jerusalem.

Ethiopian religious leaders Kessim in Jerusalem for Sigd

Sigd was declared a national holiday in Israel in 2008. Some members of the Ethiopian Jewish community fast and recite prayers. Tens of thousands come to Jerusalem each year, 50 days after Yom Kippur, for the services led by Kessim, their religious leaders.

I say each year, these were the original Zionists.

Woman praying at Sigd event in Jerusalem Israel

Thursday, November 20, in the morning, Sigd was celebrated on the Tayelet, with prayers and celebration.

Hostage-poster-Avera-Mangisto-ten-years

Special this year, former long-time hostage Avera Manfisto attended Sigd for the first time.

Traffic was still blocked as people were leaving in the afternoon.

And at night, it was Rosh Chodesh Kislev.

Chanukah is coming.

Festivals and culture are returning to the Jerusalem streets.

As the war in Gaza drags on, with three hostages still held captive, Jerusalem is building, bigger and better, like the new entrance to the Jerusalem Botanical Gardens seen here.

Next year in Jerusalem, or will we see you here sooner to see for yourselves?

10 Things to Love About Jerusalem

Sharon A

The sense of uncertainty about what will happen next is ubiquitous.

Israel’s borders are closing again and isolations are becoming mandatory. Will the US be the next to be declared a red country?

Tourists were coming back to Jerusalem and tour buses were seen on the Jerusalem streets. But how many trips have again been canceled? Long-planned meetings put on hold.

In our neighborhood, a school is back on Zoom classroom sessions with so many students sick with corona.

However, there are positive things to share from this week in Jerusalem.

I love that no matter how many times you walk down the same streets, there is always something new to see or a new angle to notice, as you can see here at the entrance to Mamilla Mall.

At Mamilla Mall, I stopped for a moment to take a photo of the men at the mincha minyan, praying outside in the middle of the day. I loved that friends who walked by also noticed and commented.

Amazing how a short walk becomes longer when you stop to talk with friends you have not seen in too long a time.

The construction is just everywhere, as the buildings go up and up.

The noise is often deafening as the digging goes on and on.

Most of King David Street is completed. But the next phase here at Mamilla Junction is beginning. Watch out, this week the extension to King Solomon Street is to be closed as the new water lines are installed.

Won’t we all love it when the roadwork is done?

At last, reconstruction work on the old Knesset Building, slated to become the new Knesset Museum, appears to finally be moving along.

The entrance to Balfour Street was open! It had been without a security guard, an exciting development for those of us who live in the area. We were forbidden to walk down the street, and now there is a sign to pull the pedestrian gate open.

A TV media crew was wandering around and taking a video. At one point in the recent past, there were five layers of security and a huge black curtain. Now, new security cameras have been installed instead.

I had to go back again to check if it was real. The last time I walked down this street was the summer Obama was running for US President (first time!) and Olmert was Prime Minister.

Here you can see what was blocked, under strict security and now is quiet.

Security officers dressed in black jackets on motorcycles were out along Jaffa Road. It was good to see them chatting rather than having serious work to do.

The annual Hanukkah decorations are gone and stowed away.

But Santa near Jaffa Gate in the Christian Quarter is still this month.

Reindeer have lit up the Jerusalem Botanical Gardens for the nighttime show since before Hanukkah.

The YMCA has more decorations and new lights this year.

At New Gate, a Christmas Market is open in the evenings until December 22nd, however, the sign says that it is limited to 500 people.

I am not sure I like it, but I am still amazed to see young children on the Jerusalem streets walking alone, like this little girl walking from New Gate,

or outside along the path by the Old City Walls going towards Jaffa Gate,

or little ones leading even younger ones in Nachlaot.

But for children, I just love the new lion in the Gan Sacher, Sacher Park play area.

This week the 11th Temech Conference was held at the Jerusalem Convention Center. Temech services Jewish businesswomen and entrepreneurs, and the conference is a popular annual networking event. I loved the various areas decorated for women to sit and talk.

The day-long programming was full of excellent speakers, so it was hard to catch up with friends you had not seen in too long. Plus recognizing new acquaintances from online meetings was a challenge. Did she seem so short or so tall, so thin?

When the Hebrew and the Anglo groups merged for a late lunch it was hard to get everyone in one photo, but safe to say most everyone was Energized.

In the Artist Colony across from the Old City walls is Kol HaOt, a studio for art with connections to Torah, and a venue for the Jerusalem Biennale.

During the corona lockdown last winter, 48 artists were able to use the space to create a piece based on one of the 48 ways Torah is acquired.

I loved many aspects of this 5th Jerusalem Biennale, but more another time.

Ready to walk home I heard music, the fountain was on at Teddy Park. The show went on and on – better to share a short video than a photo.

Winter music festivals are back! The 12th Hullegeb: Israeli-Ethiopian Arts Festival, Chaznut Performances, and more – I love the varied cultures.

Chagnival at HaMiffal is this week at The Miffal, however, not sure what it is.

I love what they did in the old abandoned building. Do people know about it?

I LOVE JLM, especially on a sunny winter day or a clear cool night.

I love to take a walk and see what’s happening on the Jerusalem streets.

Here’s hoping those millions of tourists that were expected before corona shut down the skies will be able to return –

and soon.