7 New Views in Jerusalem

What’s considered new in Jerusalem, Israel, is a constant surprise.

Every week something new seems to grab headlines and attention.

Suspension bridge over Hinnom Valley

The suspension bridge over the Hinnom Valley (shared here in May) was officially opened and caused a bit of social media discussion.

What a view from the bridge!

But is it a bridge over the valley to nowhere on Mount Zion?

A photo taken during the development of the new bridge (twice mentioned here) appears that more development of the area might be called for.

Who remembers this photo and view from October 2021?

And this photograph was taken in December 2019 BC – Before Corona.

Well, here is the same spot near the end of Jaffa Road this past week!

Oh, how the view has changed!

All around Jerusalem, one day there is a store. The next day it’s gone.

The white sign over the door of the old Shaare Zedek is for Social Space.

The same sign as over the President Hotel entrance. Making use of old Jerusalem landmark buildings as the new ones pop up around them.

On Jaffa Road outside of the building workers were busy removing red Xs, from the new stones made so they look old.

Did you notice the new buildings built across the street?

The Jerusalem Gateway Project is at street level and visible from Jaffa Road.

Note on the left how the old cemetery remains as the towers rise above,

and well above the Jerusalem streets to change the view.

At first, this view of the Machane Yehuda Market on a summer weekday appeared the same as before strolling in off of Jaffa Road.

But now covered with a new roof, it was more pleasant than outside in the sun and filled with people, tour groups and shoppers, and summer camps.

People filled some of the passageways lined with new shops.

Fascinating to see cucumbers and corn packaged in plastic.

Even some of the baked goods were wrapped in plastic and not open as in the past. Good news for some, and outrageous for others.

The Jerusalem Botanical Gardens has a new attraction for summer 2023.

Colorful inflated “monsters” are meant to provide families with an outing to view the new kid-friendly monster balloons around the gardens.

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But I am waiting to view the details of the Japanese pagoda opening.

You can see it from the street, near the entrance of the Botanical Gardens next to the cherry trees and the Japanese flag.

The flag of Zambia was on view near Beit Hanasi, the President’s Residence, to welcome Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema to Jerusalem on an official state visit. The African leader had a busy schedule planned.

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I assume HH missed the popup flea market in the community park nearby.

This past week was Tu B’Av.

The time after the sad day of Tisha B’Av is filled with weddings.

But at all Jewish weddings, a glass is broken to remember the Jerusalem of Tisha B’Av and the destruction and promise of rebuilding as a new couple begins building their home.

As we left the wedding, I stopped to admire the view of the full moon.

Sturgeon moon over Yemin Moshe in Jerusalem Israel

Who remembers the same Sturgeon Moon over Yemin Moshe last year?

So it’s summer in Jerusalem, and signs are up for the Thursday night concerts back again in Safra Square with live musical entertainment.

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Saw this sign too late, but there are more Feel events on August 9 and 16.

And signs for even more events, to end off the summer before school starts, the Jerusalem Israel Festival, the International Puppet Festival at the Train Theater, The Tower of David Circus, and much more.

Solomon's Quarries for a piano performance

Remember the amazing views in Zedekiah Cave?

It’s to have reopened with a special video of King Solomon’s Quarries.

Enough views of above and below the Jerusalem streets for now.

Time to go and see what else is happening on the real Jerusalem streets, and to share next time what the mainstream media does not view as news.

Jerusalem Crowds Arrive for Shavuot and Music in May

As usual, things were happening in Jerusalem, Israel, and on the Jerusalem streets–good things that don’t make headlines.

With the Shavuot holiday starting on Wednesday night, tens of thousands of visitors were arriving from around the world to celebrate.

Shavuot time is also when the end-of-school-year events are held. Universities hold ceremonies for graduates and doctoral presentations.

However, my week began with a somewhat smaller-scale end-of-year event in the Hinnom Valley across from Jerusalem’s Old City.

Led by student guides, we left First Station, crossed the road, and went up the hill using those not-quite steps on the right side of this photo.

I had wanted one day to climb up to the lookout spot called Givat HaTakanah, Bible Hill, a popular photography venue. Here we were with costumed students leading the way and making dramatic presentations for their families on the history of these historic sites.

Going down a less steep path we arrived at one of the most fascinating sites near the Begin Center, Ketef Hinnom again, but with a younger guide.

In this burial area from the First Temple period, the finds included silver amulets engraved in old Hebrew with the text of Birkat Kohanim, the Priestly Blessing.

Walking thru the valley, one can see the bucket attached to the wire across, where food was sent to the Old City under siege in 1947.

Walking further, here is a closer look at the suspension bridge shared two weeks ago. The end-of-year party with loud music, ended hours later, but I had already gone home.

Only in Jerusalem can the past and present and future come together on-site, not just a story acted out on a stage.

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This week there was more music at Beit Hanasi, as the Israeli President accepted credentials from new Ambassadors to Israel.

An Israeli artist born in the USSR, Moshe Tamir, made these woven tapestries, a triptych, which were recently hung in the main hall – from the left, a menorah, Jerusalem, and tablets of the Ten Commandments.

After presenting credentials, each delegation met privately with the President in off-the-record sessions. The Ethiopian women had such beautifully embroidered garments, I thought I would share one view.

At the repeated official ceremonies, the IDF band had a lot of music to prepare. Here’s a short video with some of the music and flags.

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These red and white flags were also up this past week. Not for an official arrival of a President, but for the elaborate Georgian (as in the country, not US state) Day celebration held in Jerusalem at the YMCA.

At the invitation of the President of Azerbaijan, President and Michal Herzog are off this week for a state visit to Azerbaijan, a Shiite Muslim country bordering Iran.

During the visit, there is to be a signing ceremony for a cooperation agreement in the field of health between the State of Israel and Azerbaijan.

Time to stop negative Israel is isolated and doomsday headlines?

Also this past week, at a venue near the Old City walls, was a special pre-Shavuot event for women.

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‘Find your Waze, From the A for Anxiety to Aleph of Anochi‘ was the headline for a talk by Michal Oshman. You can find her Ted Talk online, she shares quite a personal journey and story.

Pianist Okana Yablonskaya was a highlight of the program with her exceptional musical interludes in the program.

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Deputy Mayor Fleur Hassan Nahoum was a guest speaker. I found it interesting that Leo Dee’s father knew Fleur’s father and uncle years ago.

And Rebbitzen Chana Canterman of Chabad Talbiyeh who organized and hosted the program, knew Lucy Dee from when she was a girl in London.

In his remarks, Rabbi Leo Dee mentioned the need for “two” – one example, the piano alone needs the hands for beautiful music.

The evening was dedicated in memory of Lucy, Maia, and Rina Dee hy”l.

As Rabbi Dee spoke his father and daughter held hands.

These events were held prior to Shavuot, when bakeries were busy, not only with preparing cheesecakes but sweets by the thousands.

May be an image of cookies, babka, crumbcake, oatmeal cookies and coconut macaroon

I even made time to do a little baking of my own.

Three years ago with the pandemic, the Jerusalem streets were too quiet.

It’s so good this year in Jerusalem, people arrived from around the world over the holiday weekend, and over 100,000 gathered at the Old City and the Kotel, Western Wall.

Once again people filled the Plaza and the air with musical sounds of song.