Jerusalem Day 2025: Photos mainstream media did not share

Why did The Real Jerusalem Streets start 15 years ago?

Because what I saw walking on the Jerusalem streets seldom matched what the media shared.

Now, there are close to 15,000 photos published on The Real Jerusalem Streets’ old photo essays.

At first, I avoided the annual Flag Parade/March on Yom Yerushalayim, Jerusalem Day, because of negative stories in the media. Then, year after year, I walked the parade route.

Yes, there was a crowded scene outside Damascus Gate.

There is also a known spot inside Damascus Gate where international media stand ready for a troublemaker’s winning photo and headline story.

Further along the Via Dolorosa route, closer to the exit to the Western Wall Plaza, it narrows to a crush.

So, what was the Yom Yerushalayim march really like this year?

This incredible view started my day on Monday of Yom Yerushalayim 2025. You see the tower of the YMCA, and in the distance is the King David Hotel. Jerusalem, beyond that in the distance, including the Old City, was occupied by Jordan from 1948-1967.

Going into that No Man’s Land on the other side of the hotel meant Jordanian sniper bullets.

Israeli Ethiopian memorial in cemetery on Mount Herzl

Yom Yerushalayim has also been hallmarked as a memorial day to the thousands of Ethiopians who died making the arduous trek from Sudan on their way to Zion. The memorial is in Har Herzl military cemetery, where an official ceremony is held in the morning.

Also, this year, in the morning, the Prime Minister and Jerusalem Mayor announced a plan to restore the Mamilla Pool, though the sign has been up for months.

Mamilla Pool with water after heavy spring rain

It does look a bit better after heavy spring rain, as published here in March 2022.

I wondered if the thousands of people on their way to the Kotel knew they had walked by it.

On Yom Yerushalayim, flags line many of the Jerusalem streets.

The walls of the Old City were illuminated with flags for the 58th year of the reunification of Jerusalem.

A giant flag was unfurled as the sky turned dark on Sunday night at the Kotel, Western Wall Plaza.

Smaller flags of Jerusalem and Israel were waved by the crowd of people of all ages.

Thousands filled the Kotel to pray with the special musical service live-streamed on YouTube.

Special visitor US National Security Secretary Kristine Noem made the Western Wall the first stop on her brief trip to Jerusalem. She was accompanied by security and US Ambassador Mike Huckabee. Janet Huckabee, wearing the bright jacket in a sea of black and white, hugged Noem on their way out.

This Jerusalem cat was out and on guard on Sunday night as people filled the Rova, Jewish Quarter.

After multiple morning prayer services, the main event on Yom Yerushalayim begins in the afternoon.

Blue and white is the preferred attire, and this woman agreed to show off her holiday dress.

Politicians appeared briefly on the Jerusalem streets along the parade route.

Not everyone wore blue and white, and for sure, not everyone was a teenage rowdy male.

While security was on high alert, this police officer shared his motorcycle with young admirers.

Thousands and thousands came out on the Jerusalem streets despite the high temperature this year.

With white shirts and T-shirts of all kinds, they marched through in groups from the starting point.

While an occasional politician made his way slowly through the crowd by car.

One smoke bomb, I did not understand, but another opportunity for groups to stop and sing together.

Media reports did not share the young families that participated.

This year, security had marching groups more regulated to reduce crowding.

You could find a bit of everything if you looked for it. Chabad with flags. Third Temple flags, and more.

How many photos did you see of the girls and young women on King George Street?

With flags, singing, and marching in such a crowd of thousands, I had to stop and wait to pass by.

One officer found a new way to make his way through the crowd.

This was the main live music stand this year on King George Street across from the Great Synagogue.

I made my way across the street to the stage to show the size of the crowd.

Despite the weather and high temperatures, people came in large numbers.

The thousands of girls gathered near Bezalel Street seemed to go on and on as they came by.

The thousands of marchers ended at the Kotel as Yom Yerushalayim at nightfall..

However, those peacefully praying, no matter how many more, are not considered newsworthy.

Signs line the Jerusalem streets, not only those celebrating Yom Yerushalayim, but also Jerusalem saying thank you to the reservists’ families during this difficult time of prolonged war.

Even with war, the skyline is changing. Jerusalem building goes up and up, as the roads back up with closures for light rail construction.

This year Yom Yerushalayim.

“Next year in Jerusalem” was in the ancient prayers in Ethiopia and is said until now.

Hope you can see the real Jerusalem streets yourself, soon.

Cheesecakes have been prepared for the holiday of Shavuot.

No downtime on the real Jerusalem streets.

Chag samech – happy holiday to all.

Jerusalem Week of Contrasts

In Jerusalem, Israel it was another week of extremes and contrasts.

Jaffa Gate was still closed and the plaza was empty outside and inside. As the world turned and the sun rose and set, the Old City was shut down.

Warms days followed by heavy winter rains filled Mamilla Pool. By Friday, people had ventured down to check out the winter wonder.

A view of the new of the Museum of Tolerance from old Mamilla cemetery .

Businesses are struggling to survive near Mamilla Mall during lockdown.

Two (even one) wheelers are in the still closed Mamilla Mall, where only a liquor store was open this past week.

The Arab shuk near Jaffa Gate was shuttered tight on Friday.

The only two people on the street Friday afternoon were police officers. The souvenir store vendor who earlier in the week tried to get me to buy something, anything, was not around and his store was shuttered down.

The infrastructure work near the Kotel, Western Wall, was completed by Friday and all was quiet. Guards were carefully watching who could enter.

I was instructed “No praying allowed” this past week.

On Monday, construction work was going full steam on the Kotel Plaza.

Interesting how fast work can proceed in Jerusalem- or how slowly.

Maybe one day the abandoned Pearl hotel will be fixed up for guests, at least no one sleeps on the streets outside now.

Parts of the old President’s Hotel were reduced to rubble last week.

Building on King George Street which was torn down to build hotel

Remember this derelict building on Jerusalem’s King George Street?

Two 10-story towers are rising in its place on the street near the Plaza Hotel.

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is Old-City-Shuk-Sharei-Hesed-162-2-1024x654.jpg

Even the old police station on Jaffa Road was getting a new paint job.

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is Old-City-Shuk-Sharei-Hesed-174-2-1024x698.jpg

Look what is rising over Jaffa Road next to the Machane Yehudah Market!

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is Old-City-Shuk-Sharei-Hesed-188-2-1024x513.jpg

Contrast this lockdown scene in the shuk – at the same time as the Old City was closed and empty.

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is Old-City-Shuk-Sharei-Hesed-190-2-1024x626.jpg

A favorite winter sight, not masks, but piles of those ripe red strawberries.

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is Old-City-Shuk-Sharei-Hesed-205-2-1024x688.jpg

Walking home I noticed new bright graffiti covering old walls in Nahlaot.

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is Old-City-Shuk-Sharei-Hesed-207-2-1024x598.jpg

The old synagogue was shut tight, with no prayers allowed inside.

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is Old-City-Shuk-Sharei-Hesed-206-2-1024x698.jpg

But the light shining through its stained glass window was colorful and bright and could be seen from the street.

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is Old-City-Shuk-Sharei-Hesed-217-2-1024x663.jpg

One more bit of new graffiti on a wall and the mess of a contrast next to it.

Jerusalem streets may have light traffic, but the sidewalks have been busy!

Besides people out walking more during the limited distance restriction,

there have been plenty of two wheelers of many types and kinds and skills.

I will spare you all the photos this week of bikers who nearly ran me over.

We continue to have to deal with noisy protesters day after day after night.

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is Azza-Mamilla-Jabo-048-2-1024x678.jpg

Ah, but Jerusalem the center of the world, is quieter than usual.

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is Old-City-Shuk-Sharei-Hesed-193-3-1024x678.jpg

However wandering the Jerusalem streets there was still music to be heard.

And signs of spring to see in nature, even in this locked down week.

Hard to believe this was Tu Bishvat last year, remembering a favorite and beautiful moment, Hatikvah – the hope at Beit Hanasi, the Israeli President’s Residence – BCE – Before Corona Era.

What a contrast to this year! And next year?

No one knows what will be or even who will be the next Israeli President?

Hope and flowers and continued vaccination campaign…and partial lifting of restrictions to begin this week.

Hope to see you soon on the Jerusalem streets. Take care and stay well out there.