middle east current events

Checking out Jerusalem streets before Hanukkah

Sharon A

The week before Hanukkah was a busy one in Jerusalem, Israel.

There is a general sense that things are returning to “normal” on the streets of Jerusalem.

Even as the horrid news comes from Australia, we must keep sharing the truth with the world.

Check out only some of what was happening:

  1. The Jerusalem Theater held the final event of the Ambassador Summit 2025.

Ambassador Mike Huckabee was the highlighted speaker. He is always popular with his audiences.

One panel featured the mother of a fallen soldier and Israeli officials discussing the war in Gaza and the aftermath of October 7.

Fleur Hassan Nahoum, Caroline Glick, and the father of Yaron Lischinsky spoke of the global impact of antisemitism on another panel.

A buffet dinner was ready for the 1000 Christian leaders before they headed home. Hopefully, they will share the truth they witnessed and return with their followers in tour groups to see the real Israel.

What timing. Last week, the first person I met from the Ambassador Summit was artist Hooman Khlili.

And there he was being interviewed by Jodie Cohen of Newsmax as I left the theater.

2. Monday morning, I was on my way to the Machane Yehuda Market, the shuk, when I had to stop

to look at the new towers that have risen over the old area.

Suffganiot, the Israeli doughnuts for Hanukkah, are traditionally fried, sugar-coated doughnuts filled with a red jelly or jam.

The display at Teller Bakery, the first stop, had many more varieties. It was the first time I ever had Trix and blueberry cheese cake doughnuts – and for breakfast. What a sweet start for the “Suffganya Crawl” with Jamie Geller and her Aish production team.

Oh, how very sweet it was!

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is image-45-1024x461.png

They stopped for a few minutes in the shuk to make a Happy Hanukkah video and pose for a photo.

In the Haba bakery stall in the shuk, he was making suffganiot. Only the traditional ones, not rated high, but the least expensive and the freshest if you got one that was straight from the fryer.

It had been months since I was in town on Agripas Street. Helen is a new bakery and restaurant.

The line of customers waiting for service was long and impressively patient.

The items on display made me wonder how many calories are in only looking.

This seems to be the year of the Lotus suffgania. These at Helen were the most expensive of the day. But considered a 10 by Jamie and large enough for two. But not my favorite flavor.

Gagou de Paris had plenty of customers lined up in front of its inviting display cases.

Getting there was not so simple due to all the light rail work going on.

However, taking a photo of the displays was not so simple either. These wild berry suffganiot must have been really good. I did not get a taste to sample. They were gone by the time I reached the back of the store to the tables. Pistachio was still available, salty, not sweet, which was different.

From there, we went to the roof of the new Suzana and Ivan Kaufman Aish Institute for Women’s Education, also on King George Street. Of course, I had to get a photo of the view from the roof first.

There, we had more samples from other artisan bakeries, and one non-dairy cream was surprisingly good.

3. I was off to the Old City and the Tower of David.

The Roladin suffganiot are well known for their inventive varieties each year, as these in Mamilla Mall.

This time of year, it is hard not to find suffganiot.

The plaza outside Jaffa Gate was too empty given the pleasant weather.

But the tourists are arriving.

People who have not been to Jaffa Gate recently will be surprised to find it covered with stickers. The friends and families of fallen soldiers have made stickers to share the names and faces of those lost.

The big archeological news this past week, before Hanukkah, was the Hasmonean Wall revealed in the Tower of David Kishle.

Archeologist Amit Re’em has been exploring the space for 25 years. On Monday, he was interviewed by the media as his extensive work was presented worldwide.

In around two years, a glass floor will enable the public to view the site.

4. Ambassador Mike Huckabee was the special guest for NGO Monitor on Wednesday night at the Menachem Begin Heritage Center in a discussion with Gerald Steinberg and Olga Deutsch.

He was the first and last speaker I heard this week. Not a problem, I could listen to him every day.

Great timing! The Storm called Byron only brought some rain as we headed home at night.

5. Inside the Jaffa Gate was quiet as three women walked toward the Muslim Quarter.

But the shops are open, and Santas are out, waiting for the holiday tourists.

The Hanukkah lights are colorful over the Jerusalem streets, ready for Hanukkah.

Hanukkah starts at sunset Sunday, December 14, 2025. We have had our share of rain for a while. I hope the week is dry. There are too many tours and events to list now. It’s a family time to celebrate together.

Hanuka sameach bus sign

HAPPY HANUKKAH

3 things you should know happened in Jerusalem

Sharon A

Three events from the third week of November in Jerusalem, Israel, are highlighted in this post.

As the Jerusalem skyline above us constantly changes, things are happening on the streets, conference halls and theaters. As always, there is more happening than makes the headlines.

ONE

Monday night, nine women took to a Jerusalem stage to perform “Heroines” for an audience of women.

In July 2023, inspired by a video of Rachel Goldberg-Polin speaking at Kever Rachel, Shayna Levine-Hefetz sat down at the piano. As she played, music flowed through her, imagining Rachel in conversation with her Biblical namesake. That was when the concept of “Heroines” was born.

The monologues are presented in a Reader’s Theatre style: an open-book dramatic performance.

The opening scene relates the story of Adi Vital-Kaploun, of Holit, who was murdered in her home in front of her 4-year-old and 4.5-month-old sons. The boys were then taken captive on October 7, 2023, but miraculously released. Each story is encapsulated in a short presentation of a dynamic event.

The open-book dramatic performance requires no memorization, and the costumes are simple.

Performers use voice and facial expressions to bring the words to the audience.

Not always seated for the solemn and sad stories, they were up and active in some of the scenes.

Plus, a few gestures and scenes were included, providing humorous relief from the tragic stories.

‘Heroines” is a tribute to the women who died and survived during the Swords of Iron War.

“Our nation’s history seems to repeat itself, but so do our nation’s qualities of unbridled bravery, leadership, faith, and hope,” said Toby Klein Greenwald, who has led the women of “Raise Your Spirits” Theatre shows with Biblical themes to women-only audiences for the past 24 years.

TWO

All day Wednesday at Nefesh BeNefesh, the 4th Jerusalem Business Conference was held.

Organized by Lesley Kaplan and the Israel Networking Hub in partnership with the Association of Americans and Canadians in Israel (AACI) and Nefesh B’Nefesh, the event theme was “Own Your Voice.”

Hillel Fuld was opening keynote speaker, with advice based on his experiences in tech and social media.

Joseph Gitler of Leket Israel was another important speaker in conversation with Lesley Kaplan.

The panel moderated by Heather Dean included Debbie Sassen, Fleur Hassan Nahoum, and Zev Levi.

The participants filled the room, including one fitness expert who brought along his own ball to sit on.

Most stayed for the speaker and special networking session late in the afternoon, and the prize raffle.

THREE

According to their tradition, Ethiopian Jews, also known as Beta Israel, are descended from emigrants from the tribe of Dan in the Land of Israel during the time of King Solomon. Each year on Sigd, they went to a mountain top in Ethiopia and prayed to return to Zion, to Jerusalem.

Ethiopian religious leaders Kessim in Jerusalem for Sigd

Sigd was declared a national holiday in Israel in 2008. Some members of the Ethiopian Jewish community fast and recite prayers. Tens of thousands come to Jerusalem each year, 50 days after Yom Kippur, for the services led by Kessim, their religious leaders.

I say each year, these were the original Zionists.

Woman praying at Sigd event in Jerusalem Israel

Thursday, November 20, in the morning, Sigd was celebrated on the Tayelet, with prayers and celebration.

Hostage-poster-Avera-Mangisto-ten-years

Special this year, former long-time hostage Avera Manfisto attended Sigd for the first time.

Traffic was still blocked as people were leaving in the afternoon.

And at night, it was Rosh Chodesh Kislev.

Chanukah is coming.

Festivals and culture are returning to the Jerusalem streets.

As the war in Gaza drags on, with three hostages still held captive, Jerusalem is building, bigger and better, like the new entrance to the Jerusalem Botanical Gardens seen here.

Next year in Jerusalem, or will we see you here sooner to see for yourselves?

Exciting times in Jerusalem on Chol Hamoed Sukkot

Sharon 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!