Jerusalem Sacher Park – The Real Jerusalem Streets

What’s new as Jerusalem returns to the streets?

April 12, 2026April 12, 2026Sharon A

Over and over.

The Real Jerusalem Streets has used the expressions “roller coaster” and “highs and lows” to describe the emotional changes that happen in Jerusalem, Israel.

This week, a new word was repeated over and over: “whiplash.”

It was used to describe the extremes of war one day and back to “normal” the next.

One day, life was filled with the beautiful flowers and meals of Passover.

Shelters were needed much too often because of Iranian and Hezbollah missiles and rockets.

And the next day, we could again walk and appreciate nature without looking out for sirens or falling missile fragments.

One day, the doors were locked at the Museum for Islamic Art. The gates were chained shut.

The next day, after 6 weeks, schools in Jerusalem were to open again.

On Friday, after baking challah, it was time to walk again to see what was happening on the Jerusalem streets.

One back-to-normal street scene was flowers being sold for Shabbat.

Young people were riding bikes in Gan Sacher, Sacher Park, in the afternoon sun.

Picnics and families were at the Gan Sacher children’s play area.

A new sign was up for the Jerusalem Winner Marathon, rescheduled for Friday, April 17, 202.

The security fencing around the park was going up.

The finish line for shorter races was up over the Jerusalem street.

People were walking and running again. Training preparations for this marathon are more like a sprint than the usual long marathon prep.

Around the Knesset, Israeli flags usually go up after Pesach, the Passover holiday.

This year, marathon posters and flags are also on the Jerusalem streets.

Tomorrow night is Yom HaShoah, Holocaust Martyrs’ and Heroes’ Remembrance Day. This year, April 13-14, 2026. The program was recorded, so no question about whether to go to Yad Vashem this year – it will be closed on Monday night.

Next week is Yom HaZikaron, Memorial Day, followed by Yom Haatzmaut, Independence Day on April 20- 21, when the annual extremes of mourning and celebration become a rollercoaster of emotions. What will be with the fragile 12-day ceasefire by then is anyone’s guess.

The Yom HaZikaron ceremony I usually attend on Ammunition Hill is also being recorded. No one wanted to be responsible for 1,000 people out in the open with not enough time to find shelter if this fragile ceasefire fails.

However, the first spotting of flags on a car as Israel approaches 78 years.

Meanwhile, Jerusalem is preparing Gan Sacher for thousands of people on Friday.

Not sure how many will come from overseas this year. But if it rains, the new walkway will be appreciated.

The Passover seder ends with’ Next Year in Jerusalem’.

Hope to see everyone soon in Jerusalem.

Exciting times in Jerusalem on Chol Hamoed Sukkot

October 12, 2025October 12, 2025Sharon A

The Sukkot holiday is always a busy time of year, with many activities and events held not only on the Jerusalem streets, but all over Israel.

This year was almost back to normal with international visitors arriving to celebrate.

Adding to the excitement on Chol Hamoed, the intermediate days of Sukkot marked the announcement of the ceasefire and end of war. The Chord Bridge was lit with US and Israeli flags.

The Knesset was also lit in red, white, and blue to honor the US.

My week started with a special event at the Alyn Hospital for the Gilat Foundation with Yishay Ribo!

The audience appreciated the music, and so did the Dutch family’s organization, which provides entertainment to children who are in hospitals for treatment.

Flags for the United States were raised over the Jerusalem streets to welcome US President Trump tomorrow morning, who is to speak at the Knesset.

Sukkot is a school vacation time each year, and families are looking for activities.

In Jerusalem, Gan Sacher, Sacher Park had entertainers on Thursday for families.

The Jerusalem Municipality also provided colorful activities for free.

However, many Israelis found the International Jerusalem March to be the best entertainment.

Starting in the afternoon, people from over 70 countries walked around the park, some in costumes.

All were smiling and interacting with the spectators under colorful international flags.

Children received small flags from the marchers. Not sure who enjoyed the interactions more.

Security was relaxed, and a good time was had by all involved.

Brazil was near the end of the march, with a smaller group than in past years, but as always, enthusiastic.

The positive interactions between locals and the love displayed for Israel from the visitors were impressive. In a time when the international media was so negative, the march was full of music and song, and positive vibes were felt by all.

At the entrance to Gan Sacher, there is a piano with a “You are not alone” yellow sign on top. The hostages are impossible to forget – even in the best of times and celebrations.

Optimism for their return was a theme of the annual Sukkot United Hatazalah Gala after Shabbat at the Jerusalem International Conference Center.

Lights, music, special guests, and MC Elon Gold filled the auditorium stage

Backstage before the show began, UH President Eli Beer met with influencer Lizzy Savetsky, who has been working overtime to promote Israel and is here from New York for the holidays.

Popular singer Avraham Fried was a main attraction as usual.

However, it was the US Ambassadors to Israel who got a standing ovation when introduced.

David Friedman was a UH supporter long before he became ambassador. Current Ambassador Mike Huckabee was not only present but also up dancing with Eli Beer to Avraham Fried’s niggun.

The highlight of this UH event was near the end when the Ambassadors got on stage to perform.

Joined by Avraham Fried at the end, the full-house crowd rose in appreciation.

It was an impressive and amazing evening, glad I was able to attend.

There were fewer people on Sunday morning at the Kotel, Western Wall, for Birkat Cohanim.

The large broadcasted Priestly Blessing was done twice this year, the first time on Thursday morning drew a huge crowd.

The tens of thousands included the Ethiopian leaders, Kezim, under their colorful umbrellas.

I did not go this year; however, the Blessing is the same as last year and the years before.

The sukkot lit at night were found on and off Jerusalem streets as every year.

Now, we prepare for the end of the holiday week and Simhat Torah.

All are hoping for a day filled with joy for the holiday.

But first tonight, many will stay up learning Torah all night on Hashanna Raba.

חג שמח

Chag sameach!

See 3 Jerusalem Events You Should Know About – OurCrowd & More

February 19, 2023February 19, 2023Sharon A

I am leaving politics and protests for others to discuss and debate.

Check out what else was happening this past week on the Jerusalem streets.

Let’s start on Monday at the Jerusalem Botanical Gardens.

When the sun finally comes out after heavy rain, the sky is bright blue with white puffy clouds. The scene over the pond in the Botanical Gardens was serene with ducks resting under the trees in the distance.

Members of our group for lunch, lecture, and tour had trouble finding a place to park their cars. The public lot was filled early because of protesters parking and walking toward the Knesset.

I wondered how many of those flag-carrying protesters paid attention to Arab students who were in the Gardens and on their way out.

Highlights of the tour included the tropical conservatory which opened in 1986, with banana and other trees soaring above.

Gorgeous orchids in many colors and sizes are growing on the trees.

Our guide explained the impressive growth and varieties.

And the 2000-year-old columbarium, where the Romans housed pigeons, was discovered and exposed as the Botanical Gardens was developed.

The aloe flowers this time of year are always a favorite sight.

The cherry trees near the site of the future Japanese Pagoda were in bloom. Hard to believe they arrived as seeds in a packet from Japan eight years ago. Our guide said that the plantings in the gardens all arrived as seeds.

As our tour was ending and we went to leave, the traffic chaos caused by the protesters leaving was compounded by the traffic lights not working, which added to the streets blocked by protesters on the light rail tracks and buses not getting through on their usual routes.

On Wednesday, after three years, the OurCrowd Global Investors Summit was back at the Jerusalem International Convention Center.

Booths with startups lined the walls and halls of the convention center.

Under the theme of “Saving the Planet” the over 8,000-person mega event was back bigger and better than before the pandemic.

President Isaac Herzog opened the morning plenary.

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It was impossible to see and do everything with so much happening at once.

However, it was good to see Amit Goffer “standing” upright. I remember the first time he was at OurCrowd and I saw him rise to get food during the morning break. For those not familiar, he is the chief technology officer and president of UPnRIDE Robotics Ltd.

This year brought together over 8,000 people from over 81 countries, but the most noticeable new ones were from UAE, Bahrain, and Morocco.

The line to meet with representatives from Abu Dhabi was long at times.

On the main stage, there were speakers, startups, media stars, and vegan lamb chops. Yes, as they were grilled on stage and it smelled like lamb cooking. The bone is made of wood for those concerned.

There were AI, VR, and science fiction-sounding technologies.

But the longest line in the Agriculture technology hall was for fake meat burgers – again as I remembered from last time. One person said they were better this year. Another said they tasted like meat and yet another was not impressed.

You could even find a toilet with flashing lights when the crowd thinned enough in the entry-level halls.

The steps up to the main auditorium for OurCrowd Investor Summit – Artificial intelligence – human tasks without humans. But the humans I met were thrilled to be back live at the conference in Jerusalem.

The next day a tour took off to Tel Aviv for more tech treasures.

The innovation tour will have to wait for next time, too much for now.

But I will share one photo of a new farm-Tel Aviv style – miles and years away from those rolling green fields we passed along the road from Jerusalem.

On Friday morning, the Michael Levin Lone Soldier Base opened in a larger location near the Machane Yehuda Market.

The mezuzah was posted on the front door.

And the new Israel Police Spokesperson Dean Elsdunne spoke movingly about his service as a lone soldier in the Border Patrol. The artwork of fallen lone soldier Alex Singer z”l was displayed on the wall behind him. In the distance, a photo memorial of other fallen lone soldiers is exhibited on the wall near the entrance.

Friday, Michael Levin z”l would have had a 39th birthday.

The renovated space has a kitchen facility and washing machines,

a study and interview room,

and storage space with necessities for lone soldiers to purchase at discount.

Plus an outside area, where these two lone bnot sherut, young women who come from overseas to do volunteer service posed. The Base serves both lone soldiers and lone bnot sherut and MORE.

Walking home the irises were bursting with color in the midday sun.

The sod was down as Gan Sacher, Sacher Park in preparation for the Jerusalem Marathon next month.

And more of the almonds trees are in bloom.

Much more happening on the Jerusalem streets, and another busy week ahead. Hope you will come soon and see us as we enter the month of Adar, a perfect time of year for a Jerusalem photo walk.