School is out. Those never-ending graduation ceremonies have ended.
Now to figure out what to do, well, now that the Iranian ballistic missiles have stopped raining down.
In 2018, the AutoOhel, or food truck summer festival started in the Hinnom Valley.
Food Festival JLM 2025 and the light show were back this year.
However, at the improved and much more accessible venue on the Tayelet.
Each week this summer, as in the past, the menus change with various Jerusalem restaurants’ offerings.
On the opening night, the light show included a ballistic missile from Yemen.
Hopefully, that will be the last time.
The 42nd edition of the annual summer Jerusalem Film Festival is to take place July 17-26, with special guests Gal Gadot and producer Lawrence Bender.
With an opening night again in the Sultan’s Pool with a special screening on the large screen, as two years ago with Dame Helen Mirren.
In the Sultan’s Pool this week on July 8, singer Avraham Fried is back to perform a live concert.
The Tower of David has plans for an unforgettable overnight camping adventure in the historic citadel, a hands-on art course, a special kids’ summer camp, and workshops for grandparents and grandkids.
All events take place inside the walls of Jerusalem’s magical Old City.
The summer event “The Secret Garden” will take place from July 27 to August 12 at the National Library of Israel.
Signs were up for the Jerusalem Festival July 2-4, 2025.
The Jerusalem Theater is back for the summer season.
Of course, the other Jerusalem museums and the Train Theater offer special events for families.
Much is happening on Jerusalem streets. Now, if we could have a quiet summer to hear the sounds of children playing in the parks along the Jerusalem streets.
It was hard to decide on only three of the special things from this past week. There was so much happening on and off the Jerusalem streets you may not have heard about, but should know.
Ok, only two were really inside and one very much outside.
Who remembers the old President Hotel on Ahad Ha’am Street?
We stayed there once on an organized tour and I remember saying the 1-star status at the time meant there was a toilet in the room.
I had heard it was being used as a new Social Space and drove by to share a photo a few weeks ago, but that didn’t get shared at the time.
Then I started out last week to see inside but got distracted by a loud noise.
Oh no, I thought, not another protest group marching thru the Jerusalem streets. But I was wrong. They were color war teams of a local youth group. I ended up following them in the opposite direction that day instead.
So finally, here it is!!
Remember this photo? Yes, the hotel was this run down – not Photoshop.
For a very long time mostly abandoned, as in this photo from four years ago.
However, now stepping inside I got a pleasant surprise. At the end of the hall, a dance studio opened in March, and the dancers were having a lesson.
A wall mural was clean and neat and new.
I looked through the metal grating and saw a bar space ready to open,
and an impressive colorful meeting area, smaller spaces around and above.
Tables were set up outside, but only a few people seemed to know about Jerusalem’s newest urban renewal by the reaction to my post on Facebook.
The side of the building that faces Keren Hayesod Street is still an eyesore and has been for years. It still needs work, but the lower levels are a huge improvement and it looks like they are working their way up.
2. A much more well-known Jerusalem meeting space is the Israeli Knesset.
Walking to the Negev Hall for a meeting, I was so surprised to see Alan Clemmons, a former State Senator from South Carolina, to my embarrassment, I at first called him – Sam Clements.
The halls were filled with Knesset Members interacting with visitors.
The meeting I attended started late, as members were busy voting. But the Knesset Israel Victory Caucus held its opening meeting. I learned that with each new Knesset, caucus meetings have to be held anew, as they do not carry over from one government to the next.
Speakers from the government and opposition, as well as security officials, called on Israel to start defeating its enemies, in the event titled “How Should Israel Win the Next War?”
Held in coordination with the U.S.-based Middle East Forum, which manages the Israel Victory Project, it’s an initiative seeking to change the public discourse on the Arab-Israeli conflict.
While the Jerusalem street where the Prime Minister lives is often closed, walking the Knesset halls one would never realize troubles outside.
3. The 40th Jerusalem Film Festival opened in the Sultan’s Pool on Thursday night, with thousands filling the outdoor amphitheater stands.
Award-winning actor Dame Helen Mirren was on hand for the premier.
The British actress stood out elegantly dressed in white lace. Director Oliver Stone was also honored – wearing the red tie, also in the front row, as everyone stood when Israeli President Herzog and his wife Michal entered.
President Isaac Herzog was the first of several speakers.
Helen Mirren, the actress who starred as Golda Meir in “Golda,” got the most attention that night, for her brilliant performance in an excellent movie.
The Yom Kippur War was a difficult time, yet the movie has a few moments of comic relief and was well-paced. Even though everyone knew the ending, the film kept viewers entranced. An amazing depiction of a great woman at the most difficult time of her life.
The Jerusalem Film Festival, JFF40, runs from July 13 – 23, 2023.
Showing “Golda” as the opening event made this year indeed special.
Want to guess where else I was?
I have lots more to share for next time, so check back next week.
A clue–this sunset was not in Jerusalem but in southern Israel.
Everyone is trying to stay cool and hydrated, as it’s very hot this week on the Jerusalem streets. So very glad it did cool off to enjoy the movie, as most summer nights in Jerusalem have been reasonably comfortable.
Shabbat morning I was not the only one taking a walk on the Jerusalem streets before the heat of the day.
Without his usual entourage, I almost didn’t recognize Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Lion with two security guards dressed in short sleeve shirts. It looked like the CEO of the Jerusalem Development Authority was the fourth person walking along looking at Azza Street.
Clouds of smoke covered the sun in the Jerusalem sky last week as the Jerusalem Forest burned out of control for two days. Homes and businesses were destroyed. People raced to put possessions into their cars and escape the flames. Hospital patients had to be evacuated until fire units could control the burning forest under windy conditions. Everyone was relieved when the winds and flames ended.
As usual, along with the bad, many new, good things were happening too.
Docu.text, the annual documentary film festival, was held by the National Library this past week.
The new Israel National Library complex under construction is an impressive sight at night. Looking forward to when it will finally open.
The new Train Theater is to host the annual International Puppet Festival.
The name now makes sense, as this is the original Train Theater being restored on the new campus, located at the end of the Liberty Bell Park.
It is located next to the expanded parking lot across from First Station. But be warned; I have seen cars circling around and around looking for a spot.
The Jerusalem Theater is preparing to celebrate its 50th year.
The opening night of the 38th Jerusalem Film Festival, JFF is set for August 24th, again at the Sultan’s Pool near the Cinematheque. However, this year there is a new addition, Film Truck, which will have showings in various Jerusalem neighborhoods – for free.
At the last big JFF opening night, BC, Before Corona, Dr. Ruth was a special guest, along with then-President Reuven Rivlin.
Speaking of the former president, he was back at Beit Hanasi with new President Herzog and Prime Minister Bennett to welcome back the Israeli Tokyo 202 Olympic athletes.
Cameras were readied in the main diplomatic hall of the Israeli President’s Residence.
There were selfies galore with the two gold medal winners.
Smiles, hugs, and kisses, as the athletes, coaches, and supporters celebrated Israel’s success at Tokyo 2020 games.
And of course, there were speeches also.
Coming outside for official photos, President Herzog stayed for more and more poses with the medalists.
For even more of those smiles, check on Facebook HERE
PM Bennett left followed by his security detail.
Back at Balfour Street, the ugly added layers of security have been removed. Protesters are now in Ra’anana, where the Prime Minister lives, rather than near the official residence in Jerusalem.
Families are getting in their last days on the Jerusalem streets near the end of August, and hopefully before the start of a new and better school year,
Ben Yehudah is one of many locations with people listening to music and finding places to eat on the cooler summer evenings.
Big concerts at Kikar Safra, Jerusalem City Hall Plaza, are now accompanied
by long lines of people waiting to get their jabs. Vaccinations are now going to be available in a long list of Jerusalem neighborhoods also.
Those random Jerusalem street closings still continue to challenge drivers.
And those building sites go up (after going deep down first) all over the Jerusalem streets!
Get ready for The Jerusalem Night Run to launch the Maccabiah Games to be held in Jerusalem, set for August 29th.
The Israeli athletes on the Paralympic teams are on their way to the Tokyo Games. They receive less attention than the main Olympic events but have a tradition of more medalists.
And as August comes to an end and we approach the New Year, a shemittah year. Planting on new traffic circles has been sped up.
The new outside locations need to be planted before the restriction of planting beginswith anothershemittah cycle.
Gardeners are busy now, but they won’t be as busy next year.
A favorite sight this time of year on the Jerusalem streets–pomegranates are ripening on the trees. And those in the know cover the ripe fruit to protect it from the birds.
So there you have it, some of the good things happening in Jerusalem to balance the bad ones that make headlines.
Take care and stay well, the new year will be here soon.
