Leaving Jerusalem for a wedding, and waking to war

In Jerusalem, Israel, in the best of times, it is hard to keep up with what’s happening.

Who can remember last week?

It was only last week that we heard the motorcade of Argentine President Javier Milei pass by as he went to the Kotel, Western Wall, when he arrived in Jerusalem, Israel, for an official visit.

Milei met with the President and Prime Minister at their offices, then was welcomed to the Knesset plenary on Wednesday evening, where he got a standing ovation when he was called to the podium to speak. The two leaders, hugging each other and their sore throats the next day, were lost in the news cycle of war.

There was a warm welcome and praise for Milei, even from the opposition, as he was called to speak after the Prime Minister. Yair Lapid began by mentioning the hostages and also spoke in Spanish. Am Yisrael chai.

June 12th was a chance for the public to enter without charge to celebrate 60 years at the Israel Museum.

What timing – a day later, it would have been canceled like so many other long-time planned events.

Remembering the Israel Museum Big Birthday Bash at fifty years. It was quite a celebration.

Jerusalem continues to grow with construction seemingly everywhere. This main road was not busy during the rush hour because of the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha last week.

And now the streets are quiet as construction work has stopped, and people are staying close to home.

The closing of light rail lines and the narrowing of streets as construction proceeds made it a close call for all. A few bus lines are now running, but not with the usual schedules.

The Eldan Jerusalem Spinning Marathon 2025 took place June 11-12, adjacent to Alrov Mamilla Boulevard, next to the walls of the Old City of Jerusalem.

On Thursday, June 12, 2025, we left from Jerusalem for a special family event on the Kinneret.

Taking Route 90, we passed the live camel waiting for tourists near the “sea level” sign along the road.

It’s not exactly a major highway passing through an Arab village,

or the thousands of date trees that line the road.

New for this trip were the yellow flags along the way

and the construction of new neighborhoods.

We were headed for a destination wedding on Thursday night on the Kinneret.

As the sun set, all went well for a beautiful ceremony for the new couple.

The picture-perfect scene was enjoyed by all who had made the journey.

However, the mood shifted as Iran showered ballistic missiles on Israeli cities.

We could see interceptions on Friday night as we went back and forth from the dining hall to the shelter.

Finally, children slept in the big shelter as we all tried to get some rest.

It was not quite the family weekend that was planned. But the location was beautiful as always.

On Sunday morning, we safely returned to Jerusalem.

This time, by Route 6, not through the Jordan Valley.

It was good to see the Israeli flag banner on a building.

Together, we will get through this. I just wish we could get through the night without sirens and missiles.

#AmYisraelChai.

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.

See this week in Jerusalem: faith, memory, and celebrations

The Jerusalem streets are getting more crowded and busier as the days grow warmer.

Conferences and meetings, and tourists are arriving daily, despite the negatives you see in the news.

The Museum of Tolerance laid out a big blue carpet for the World Jewish Congress delegates from 72 countries who met in Jerusalem, Israel, for the first time in nineteen years.

The gala opening evening began with Eden Golan singing “October Rain.”

How was she in so many places this week in such a short time?

During the program, Sylvan Adams, the new head of WJC Israel, announced he wants another 1,000,000 people to immigrate to Israel in the coming year.

I was trying to get a good shot of the front row with US Ambassador Mike Huckabee. I noticed women dressed in white, but now I also notice the cool colors of those socks.

Between the speeches of unity, action, and impact, the Israeli singer David D’Or was one of the singers.

He had most of the audience up on their feet, and some dancing to his lively musical arrangements.

In contrast, the Award of Resilience was presented to hostage survivor Tal Shalem by Ronald Lauder, the WJC President. Shalem spoke movingly about his experiences.

US Ambassador Mike Huckabee seems to be everywhere. Each time he speaks with encouraging words. His description of Iran as the kitchen from which all the terror comes, and as a tree that needs not to be trimmed but its trunk cut down, seems too good to be true.

Do his words reach Washington?

A unique event was held at the National Library of Israel on Thursday night, The Codices of Damascus.

Twelve of the ancient illuminated Bibles retrieved from Damascus synagogues in the 1990s were on display in the special exhibition space for a limited time only.

These volumes from the 13th century were considered good luck and stored away in Damascus synagogues before finding their way to Israel and the National Library for safekeeping.

The program was for the yahrzeit of Rabbi Avraham Hamra, the last Chief Rabbi of Syria, who died four years ago. It began with a memorial prayer by his son, Rabbi Benjamin Hamra.

Followed by an interview with Mossad’s Efraim Halevy, who, much to my disappointment, revealed none of the intrigue involved in rescuing the books. All he divulged was that he met the Rabbi in New York.

Besides the valuable Bibles, they helped hundreds of Syrian Jews escape from Syria to the US.

Besides the memorial for Rabbi Hamra, the evening was appropriate before Shavuot, the holiday of the giving of the Torah, the chain from generation to generation.

Also on Thursday night, the Tower of David was lit up for a special award ceremony.

Twelve veteran members of the Jerusalem community were honored for their varied accomplishments as builders of Jerusalem. Jerusalem Mayor Lion presented awards. A video interview was shown of each one.

The outdoor spaces were filled with families and friends of the distinguished twelve men and women.

Entertainment filled out the program, with the lights and sound resonating onto the Jerusalem streets.

Six of the honorees sat on each side of the stage area.

Former Deputy Supreme Court President Eliaykim Rubenstein spoke on behalf of the award winners.

More music filled out the program before the singing of “HaTikva.”

People honored as a Yakir Yerushalayim are all seniors who have helped Jerusalem in various ways.

The building goes on and on. First going down and down, before going up and up.

The programs for children keep going and growing in Jerusalem, too.

Jerusalem Old City Walls

Jerusalem was divided before 1967, for 19 years, when Jews were not allowed in the Old City.

It is important to remember.

Jerusalem on Yom Yerushalayim – the night of May 25- May 26, 2025 – is a reason to celebrate.

Chag sameach!

While the war rages, antisemitic attacks are worldwide, news headlines are bleak.

I will leave you with a bit of the music of David D’Or for the World Jewish Congress.

This week in Jerusalem – Am Yisrael Chai.