Watch as the Pendulum Swings February Begins in Jerusalem

Life in Jerusalem, Israel is like a pendulum swinging between chaos and calm.

This week was another one of extremes of emotions with the return of a few hostages from Gaza.

However, there are still another 79 humans held captive in Gaza, with no one certain how many are alive.

On one quiet day, I took a walk and saw recent landscaping had revealed one Jerusalem lion’s new colors.

With a down day but good weather going to the Jerusalem Botanical Gardens is my first choice.

You can look down at the muddy pond in the winter without the lilies.

However, every photographer knows there are different angles on all occasions.

Beautiful purple irises were popping out in full bloom for a sign of spring.

A long-time favorite is seeing white roses blooming in the winter in Jerusalem, Israel, in the midday sun.

Walking the Jerusalem streets is a challenge with the construction in so many locations.

Besides the light rail track work, new bike lanes will help cyclists.

However, how will emergency vehicles manage the reduced traffic lanes during rush hours?

Beware where you walk, no worry about too many bikes now, but also take time to look up.

It’s citrus season and trees along the Jerusalem streets are full of fruit against the blue sky.

If you need more color go by the Jerusalem Theater where new art fills the lobby and walls every month.

Colorful language too this week, Tuvia Tenenbom was at the Bible Lands Museum Jerusalem with his movie, “God Speaks Yiddish.”

The same night, the Jerusalem Theater had a full house for the music of Elvis Presley.

KUMA is still on display in the Bible Lands Museum’s temporary gallery.

The area was full earlier with visitors hearing the story of the young artist who fell in the Iron Swords War.

Yellow ribbons were outside. Yellow ribbons for the hostages in Jerusalem are almost everywhere.

New to Jerusalem – The new government of Argentina is opening its official residence in Jerusalem.

While there are thousands upon thousands of professional signs I could share, sometimes the simplest ones stand out “Together thanks – this is the light of this Nation.”

In honor of Groundhog’s Day, after finally transferring to digital and uploading to YouTube, here’s a video of our prime minister, when he was the UN ambassador in 1988.

What’s different after all this time?

Just like Bill Murray, Déjà vu, or another repeat as the pendulum swings?

Along the Jerusalem streets, trying to have a nice day, while reminders of fallen soldiers and hostages are everywhere can be an emotional ride any day.

January 2025 Hanukkah and New Beginnings in Jerusalem

For 2025, I saw a cartoon with two doors.

The one on the left says, “Disengage and hope it turns out ok for you.”

The one on the right says, “Fight for what’s right.”

RJS plans to keep engaging for 2025, as it has over the past years.

There were lovely days and nights over Hanukkah, with warm sunny days and cool nights.

So many lights lit up the Jerusalem streets for eight nights.

Crowd at Mamilla Mall for candlelight on Hanukkah

Crowds filled Mamilla Mall for live music, dancing, and donuts almost every night.

Programs for children were held in small venues and

Jerusalem Cinema City had special activities in addition to the regular holiday movies.

However, on the sixth night, it rained.

Rain poured down most of the day. Jerusalem managed ballistic missile attacks in the middle of the night better than the flooded roads and gridlocked traffic with cars and buses full of Hanukkah partygoers.

We finally got through the traffic congestion and arrived at Hadassah Hospital Mount Scopus –

but oops, we found the wrong Hanukkah celebration, in the wrong building.

Instead, our party was in the new Gandel Rehabilitation Center, for wounded soldiers and their families and the OneFamily volunteers who come each week to help from their war injuries.

Only in Israel? The basements of hospitals are ready for attack with underground emergency units.

Activities, good food, and music filled part of the lower level for the special Hanukkah celebration.

Nefesh Be’Nefesh held a special family celebration for Hanukkah.

When I saw this man at the party I thought he was an actor. When I saw him leaving, I decided to snap a photo of the best Hanukkah costume of the year.

There are still no nature photo walks at the still-shuttered Wohl Rose Garden near the Knesset.

“Bring them home now” signs line the Rose Garden and many Jerusalem streets.

Celebrations private and public, the war on many fronts, and the 100 hostages are always in mind.

The fallen Israeli heroes, over 825, include 85 since Sinwar was eliminated in Gaza.

Sitting home, reading the news, or scrolling on social media, the UN agencies’ lies and obsession against Israel are appalling. For over a year, the Red Cross has not helped Israeli hostages including children.

The clear weather is not good for farmers, but great to get out and walk and see what’s new.

Gan Sacher, Sacher Park has new information signs.

Old City walls near Jaffa Gate for second night of Hanukkah

Jerusalem Old City walls were illuminated with projections the same as two years ago.

“Hanukkah of gold and of light” was Jerusalem’s new Hanukkah message this year.

The Outline Festival 2024 is continuing into 2025. “Unknown” is what is ahead for the new year.

However, new buildings have risen above the Jerusalem streets.

Too many Jerusalem streets are dug up for construction and the future light rail tracks.

New bus stops are going up in new locations to add to the construction confusion.

The Real Jerusalem Streets aims to keep sharing what’s real, what’s happening in Jerusalem, Israel.

Not all is good, but with the sun shining and days getting longer, there is hope for better days.

If you want only good news, go to my friend Michael’s Only Good News Israel

However, to end with one good thing – the views and positive comments on this simple video from Sukkot Birkat Cohanim, keep coming.

May 2025 and 5785 bring blessings for all.

3 New Presidential Events Trigger Memories in Jerusalem

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!