Hansen House

Three Best Things That Happened in Jerusalem

Sharon A

After living in Jerusalem for several years, I was upset. The world did not see what was really happening, only sensational media images. So I started posting photos online on The Real Jerusalem Streets.

I decided to share events from this week you would not have seen as anti-government protesters captured world attention.

It’s a busy time of year, so keeping to the three best events I attended.

The new National Library building was lit up at night as I walked by on my way to the National Library currently on the Hebrew University Givat Ram Campus.

They say the new building is to open in the fall, and I’m looking forward to finally getting to tour inside!

The National Library welcomed NASA Astronaut Dr. Jeff Hoffman who donated his space diary and memorabilia to the Israeli National Library.

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Jewish Astronaut Jeff Hoffman’s flights on the Space Shuttle included the mission to repair the Hubble Space Telescope in 1993.

He also took a Space Torah for a mission, explaining how he used velcro to attach the yad, and clamps to hold the parchment down in the shuttle capsule. Velcro was also used to attach a mezuzah to the sleeping cubicle.

Hoffman flew five missions, a patch was designed for each and was included in this donation to the National Library.

Along with new autographed stamp sets, the Israel National Library now reaches the moon and into space.

Amazing how quickly Jerusalem Marathon 2023 is old news. I am pleased when someone comes along and identifies a runner’s photo on Facebook days later. Did you know I updated the post with a video?

Two weeks ago, going past Hansen House, Primavera caught my attention.

Thursday and Friday, the Hansen gates were open for Primavera.

Not a new Jerusalem pasta dish, but a designer festival was being held.

Jewelry, clothes and bags, and a variety of wares were on display,

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to all types of clothing including this knit top

and diverse as Roota sprouts.

Ok, I stopped and laughed there, as I remembered the sprouted potato I found while cleaning under the dishwasher for Passover. New art form?

There were 36 more displays, MORE PHOTOS were posted on Facebook.

And for the third and biggest event, which ended Diaspora Week.

For the eighth time, from March 19 – 23, 2023, the Israeli Ministry of Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism held Diaspora Week events.

During the course of the week, Diaspora Week events and activities were held throughout Israel, in the education system, on campuses, in cultural institutions, in the IDF, and at this gala in the Jerusalem Theater.

The Minister of Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism Amichai Chikli introduced the program theme of unity and “loving one another.”

Israeli performers took to the stage, in a well-executed program.

Along with the IDF band, the performers were applauded by an enthusiastic audience for the #FOREVER_AM 2023 program.

There was an excellent video screen running in the background,

to the audience filled with representatives of youth groups and MASA.

After the show, which was broadcast live, ended, Chickli stayed around to the very end. As I commented to some passersby, he reminded me of the last one out of shul after sponsoring an elaborate kiddush.

Photos did not do justice to the night, so I made a short video with clips of the music, and there are more photos on Facebook.

Now on to the holiday season!

Whether you call Pesach the Holiday of Freedom

or the Holiday of Spring, new signs are up along the Jerusalem streets.

Easter and Ramadan coincide with Passover this year.

The important thing is it should be a Happy Holiday for all.

Hope to see you on the Jerusalem streets soon!

7 Things That Happened in Jerusalem this Week

Sharon A

With headlines full of controversy, negativity, and protests, you may have missed the positive things that happened in Jerusalem this week.

I have been trying to get a rainbow photo for so many years. Finally, on Thursday afternoon, it was starting to rain as I was ready to walk home.

I called my husband to give me a ride.

But a rainbow was forming in front of me. I hung up on him as fast as possible and captured the fleeting moment of the full rainbow.

A light, brief shower like that is called tif tuf in Hebrew and stopped in a couple of minutes, so I did walk home.

But I was obsessed enough to use the image for a Shabbat Shalom post.

While construction and building are hot topics again, the week was also filled with events you might have missed hearing about.

Starting on Sunday morning with Living Financially Smarter in Israel 2023.

Rifka Lebowitz started the private Facebook group 13 years ago and it has grown to over 36,000 members.

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Their first conference held at and with Nefesh Be’Nefesh was sold out early.

Amazing how many people stayed until the end of the long day to learn and ask questions. Knowing how to manage your finances is important for a successful aliyah.

In Cinema City, Yad L’Olim has opened a special shop for Ukrainian refugees to assist them in their getting established since many fled without many essentials.

Inside the Beit Hanasi, the Israeli President’s Residence had a busy week.

I wonder what Herzl would say about the current situation.

“The foundations of Israeli democracy, including the justice system, are sacred and we must strictly safeguard them, even at a time of fundamental arguments and debates about the relationship between the different branches of government,” stated President Isaac Herzog in an official statement issued on Sunday morning after rallies in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.

On Tuesday at Beit Hanasi, the new Education Minister and others joined with the head of the Jewish Agency and the President to acknowledge 30 years of the educational program Naale.

There were representatives from each one of the 30 years of the program’s existence, designed for students who come to Israel on their own for high school.

After the official program inside, the President posed with people who stood in line for the photo opportunity.

After the full morning of ceremonies receiving the credentials of five new Ambassadors to Israel on Wednesday, the Herzogs posed with the members of the Honor Guard after the last of the diplomatic limousines departed for the King David Hotel reception.

Instead of photos from the five-hour-long ceremony, I made an eight-minute video to share a bit of behind-the-scenes.

Hansen House hosted 58 artists for the InPrint ART BOOK FAIR from January 11 – 13, 2023.

Love how the old leper hospital is full of life now with art, science, and technology events.

Yes, positive things are happening on Jerusalem streets.

Come and see for yourself or for your group book a virtual tour.

Jerusalem Conferences and Festivals Returning

Sharon A

In Jerusalem, Israel, where to begin RJS this week is a problem.

Today is September 11th.

September 11 memorial flame off main road to Jerusalem

The day we remember 9/11 – September 2001 when terrorists hijacked jetliners, and crashed into the financial World Trade Center in New York City and the Pentagon, the heart of the US military, murdering thousands of innocents.

Jerusalem memorial to victims of September 11 flowers placed on names of murdered.

On September 11, 2018 – we had a different US Ambassador in Israel, but the Israeli 9/11 Memorial off the main road to Jerusalem, with all the names of the victims of terror, is there 24/7.

Jerusalem is changing. Buildings are to come down and go up higher.

The traffic back-ups. Near the entrance of Jerusalem, the road changes and heavy equipment, always something new to confuse drivers.

But this week outside, and inside the Jerusalem International Convention Center, one could find earth-moving equipment.

AGROMASHOV, Israel’s Largest Agricultural Conference, and CLEANTECH, two international conferences & exhibitions were held in Jerusalem, Israel, on September 5-6, 2022.

Israeli agriculture displays included watermelon of course!

Solar technology was also on display in the large hall.

One area featured the use of sabra cactus as food. The Ambassadors and Embassy representatives heard about various ways to use the fruit on their guided tour of the exhibits.

Angola was not the only African country in Jerusalem for the exhibition. I met a man who came from Nigeria that day who flew in specially for the conference.

I did not hear who won the cherry tomato competition.

But can tell you that 10% alcohol sabra cream was way too strong for me.

With the end of summer, school is back in session, a new bicycle tunnel opened, and Jerusalem festivals have returned to fill the days, nights, and streets.

For the first time, the Hansen House hosted a contemporary dance festival with solo works by choreographers from Israel and overseas. The new Jerusalem International Dance Festival included master classes and discussion panels.

The Takhana Rishona, First Station, is busy with food and entertainment.

At First Station, one can always find something new. I have no idea what this young woman was recording one night near the carousel.

At Teddy Park, the moon was full over the Old City walls and the fountain was on, but people were only passing by, headed to the Sultan’s Pool.

Thousands of concertgoers were headed to their seats at the Sultan’s Pool for the Shlomo Artzi concert.

The mega concerts and Jerusalem festivals have returned to the Jerusalem streets, and after two years, people are happy to be out again.

The Manofim Jerusalem Contemporary Art Festival joins the September Israel Festival in Jerusalem with unusual cultural options.

The postponed Woodstock Fest at Silo, near First Station, off the large parking lot, is set for September 15, 2022.

Plus, Emunah Jerusalem’s first Ethiopian Israeli Cultural Festival Featuring traditional Cuisine; Art; Theater; Drum Workshop and circle; Basket Weaving; Dance; Film, and more, is also at the Silo Cafe, on September 29th, from 4:30 – 8:30 pm.

A Green Inside and Out Festival will be held on the grounds of the Bloomfield Science Museum from September 14-16.

It’s hard to know what to do first!

End of summer clouds covered the Jerusalem streets this week,

and the setting sun setting added impressive colors to the Jerusalem streets, a reminder that the holidays are approaching.

Rosh Hashana, the New Year Selihot crowds have started to gather at the Kotel, Western Wall after midnight. Culminating, October 3, 2022, before Yom Kippur with what should be a huge attendance.

Hope to see you here soon.