The old carousel is one visitor attraction for the younger crowd.
The market stalls and restaurants are busy, sometimes more than other times.
In this too-hot August weather, the Ice Rink at First Station was a place to cool off. Though many Israelis are less than agile on the ice, one man dressed in Haredi fashion went by too fast to capture in a photograph. I wondered where he was from originally – perhaps Canada?
The Hutzot Hayotzer Arts Festival has ended, but the live concerts in Sultan Pool change every night.
Going by in the early evening you can get a glimpse of the stars and bands rehearsing to get a preview.
In nature, the season is slowly starting to change, as the pomegranates reveal.
Finally, the August heat wave is giving way to cooler nights.
The crowds at the Kotel, Western Wall for Selihot on August 24, as seen in photos published by the Western Wall Heritage Foundation seem not to be changing until Yom Kippur.
Threats from without and within as the new year of 5784 is rapidly approaching.
But the Jerusalem streets are ready for the start of the new school year – asking, “On the way to class?”
RJS joins in wishing all a safe and good new year, to go in peace.
It was 21 years ago that I was in Israel for Yom HaZikaron and Yom Haatzmaut for the first time. We arrived after a March of the Living trip to Poland and a visit to Auschwitz on Hitler’s birthday.
Terrorists were blowing up buses on the Jerusalem, Israel, streets in 2001. Our group was sent to Arad and Beer Sheva instead of Jerusalem, which was thought to be too dangerous during those Intifada days.
The irony – after traveling by bus through Poland, and then being afraid of walking the Jerusalem streets, its buses, and eateries!
On Yom HaZikaron, Israeli Memorial Day, we remembered 24,068 Israeli soldiers who fell in battle and the 4,216 civilians who were murdered by terrorists.
To begin the busy week, The Michael Levin Base had a Sefer Torah dedication Monday night with former Ambassador Ron Dermer the featured speaker. These Torah covers were made specially from the tallis bag Harriet Levin had made for her son fallen soldier, Michael Levin z”l.
“You can’t fulfill your dreams unless you dare to risk it all” he had stated.
Photo credit: Kobi Gideon GPO
The official opening state ceremony is held annually at the Kotel, Western Wall Plaza, with the President of Israel speaking the lighting of a memorial torch with an honor guard, it is similar each year.
However, there are also thousands of smaller community ceremonies held throughout the country and by various groups. For the past two years, Covid severely limited all the major large community commemorations. The ceremony in Arad was well done and still, a vivid memory of a community united in mourning their fallen soldiers.
This year we attended an English event at Givat Tachmoshet, Ammunition Hill, led by The Michael Levin Base and supported by Norman Blaustein, in memory of his wife Sarah z’l who was murdered over 20 years ago. A terrorist sprayed their car with bullets, on an Israeli highway on the way to Jerusalem. One-shot to the back of her head was fatal. She had made aliyah nine months before.
A total of 28,284 men, women, and children have been killed in terrorist attacks and in defense of the Land of Israel since 1860, the year that the first Jewish settlers left the secure walls of Jerusalem to build new Jewish neighborhoods.
Since the last Memorial Day, 56 new names have been added to the roster of those who died defending the country.
A memorial siren sounds at night and again in the morning. There are official events at Har Herzl most of the day with families of soldiers and in communities throughout Israel as well.
This year the Netanyahus attended the program at the school where Sara works. In many Jerusalem neighborhoods, a ceremony was held at the local memorial site with the names of fallen residents.
Memorial Day ended on Wednesday evening, ushering in Israel’s 74th Independence Day with a multitude of live events with music and dancing.
Musical prayer services public and private could be heard walking along the Jerusalem streets after sunset ending the day of mourning.
Examples of the Blue and White themed plastic boppers, balloons, and glowing headbands were available for sale at First Station.
The musical prayer service attracted a huge crowd, while next to it at First Station the annual main event from Har Herzl’s live broadcast was seen.
People coming and going, and the crowd was so large it was hard to find friends. There were too many Jerusalem large events to attend, they included fireworks, and live musical entertainment, with some lasting all night long.
Annually at Beit Hanasi, the President’s Official Residence, the military honors start the daytime events, while in many synagogues the Hallel prayer is added to the morning service.
For thousands of Israelis, a highlight of Yom Haatzmaut is watching the Tanach Chidon or International Youth Bible Quiz on television.
This was the first time I was able to attend the annual and popular event held at the Jerusalem Theater, and fortunate to be there for the exciting finish. It ended with a tie between two young Israelis. The US representative came in third – first for the Diaspora communities.
The President, Prime Minister, and Jerusalem Mayor were honored to ask a question, but, the event is under Education Minister Dr. Yifat Shasha-Biton who was escorted to the stage to speak.
The full recorded broadcast is available online if you want to check your knowledge with that of these impressive youngsters.
I want to add this audience was the most enthusiastic, yet respectful group I have seen, they and we should all be proud.
In the afternoon the annual President’s Diplomatic Reception was back again after the corona limitations of the past two years,
with the traditional photos of representatives of international armed forces,
and religious leaders based in Israel in attendance.
But I wanted to get to the Jerusalem International Conference Center for the Israel Prize ceremony. This was the only decent image I could get. This was one event I should have stayed home and watched live on TV. It was much different than in past years when the live crowd filled the big auditorium.
Walking there thru Gan Sacher, Sacher Park, where people were enjoying family get-togethers on Yom Haatzmaut, some of the smallest flags were the cutest and I did see long time friends, so it was worth the time.
Much more happened this past week, but I will conclude with a brief quote from Dermer’s exceptional remarks which I hope to share in full soon.
“The Torah gives us purpose. Israel gives us power.
Purpose without power is a lethal combination…
But power without purpose also cannot secure the Jewish future. The mightiest of Empires and the greatest of civilizations have crumbled when their people lost their way when they lost their sense of purpose.”
The intense week of the Yoms, Yom HaShoah, Yom HaZikaron, and Yom Haatzmaut, with its extremes of highs and lows has concluded.
The Power of the IDF and the Purpose of the Torah were exemplified this week, and hopefully, we will continue together to build and celebrate Israel at 75 next year in Jerusalem.
Once again in Jerusalem, the weather has turned overnight, from freezing cold and cloudy to a full-blown sunshine heatwave.
Well, except when the next sand storm blows in to block the rays.
We asked for warmer and it’s here this week.
Lucky are all those thousands of returning tourists! People who have wanted to come but because of corona and closings were not able to get to Jerusalem sooner, they are arriving daily.
The Old City should be buzzing this year with Passover, Ramadan, Easter Sunday, and Orthodox Palm Sunday coinciding.
But there is much more to do in Jerusalem!
The Jerusalem Biblical Zoo is a short drive, with the Aquarium nearby,
Even at the Knesset, where you can book and join a free tour, there’s a large crane rising above the Knesset. Building construction is everywhere. Traffic is back and filling the Jerusalem Streets.
The Rose Garden and Gan Sacher, Sacher Park, are close to the Knesset.
Now that the 11th Jerusalem Marathon is over the park is much quieter than last week with tens of thousands of runners trying to stay dry.
The new playground is large with something for almost everyone. I am fond of that special Jerusalem lion.
However, I want to share some of the lesser-known spots for those who want some quiet time.
I love how this time of year flowers pop thru the old stones.
At Beit Hanasi, the Israeli President’s Residence, I saw this week that signs have been posted to explain the old stones displayed in the gardens on the new audio tour. Tour groups are back at Beit Hanasi!
This week the water was turned on at Jerusalem’s new-old tourist spot.
New signs for France Square were posted.
After months and months of construction,
the France Square dedication was held.
Mayor Moshe Lion was surrounded by Israeli flags, but no French ones.
The previous dedication was done by then Jerusalem Mayor Uri Lupolianski with the Mayor of Paris Bertrand Delanoe surrounded by media.
The old Paris Square stone was not incorporated into the new plaza.
Paris Square became known for the late-night anti-government rallies.
For those who do not remember, the old design had a street,
steps to the fountain area,
and what Paris Fountain looked like before this renovation.
The trees are not in full bloom, but the new France Square looks like the proposed design the city published.
For those breathing a sigh of relief that construction noise and protests are finally over at this junction of Jerusalem streets.
Wait.
The building at #62 King George Street is scheduled to come down and a new taller building is to replace it.
The Jerusalem building that was considered new in 1965, at the edge of the city is now old and to be replaced.
Meanwhile, the fountain on or off seems to be a magnet for children.
A short video from the official dedication of France Square.
