Old and New in Jerusalem before Passover

The tourists are arriving!

Finally, after two years of corona closings, the spring holiday season is starting to feel normal again. However, there are some people who, after a few days, realize they are not suffering from allergies but go into isolation after testing positive for corona. The virus is still a part of life on the Jerusalem streets as is the annual spring pollen count.

Oh, what a day in the Old City it should be! Sunday, April 17, 2022, Passover, Ramadan, Easter, and Orthodox Palm Sunday are to be celebrated.

In this busy time preparing for Passover, I decided to share some of what’s new with the old on the Jerusalem streets with you.

The Jewish cemetery on the Mount of Olives goes back thousands of years but was not accessible from 1948 to 1967 because of Jordanian occupation.

Har Hamenuchot opened in 1951 instead as the main Jerusalem Jewish cemetery. It was visible on the right side of the road as one drove up to Jerusalem on the old winding Route One. Today there are new modern highways to arrive in Jerusalem.

Rising above the expanded Route One, are those new “buildings” on the hilltop. New apartments under construction below near the highway, and burial sites rising high above cover more of the mountain top.

With land scarce all over Israel, other cemeteries have also built new above-ground burial structures.

This was a regular Sunday morning at Damascus Gate, before the start of Ramadan. Did you hear of trouble there at night as thousands of Muslims come out after breaking their daytime fasting?

A regular Sunday morning at the Kotel, Western Wall, men’s section.

A regular Sunday morning at Kotel, Western Wall, women’s section.

On a regular Sunday morning at Kotel, this is the Western Wall egalitarian section in the distance. They started working on the section where the Second Temple stones were left at the bottom of the western wall of the Temple Mount.

This view of the work being done next to the women’s section shows why the sections were not connected and expanded in the past.

New is the excavation of the Kotel Plaza exploring what is above ground.

At the Givati parking lot nearby, the excavation has gone down exposing centuries of history just outside of the Old City walls.

Coming soon, there will be a new restaurant on top of the current visitor’s center at Ir David, the City of David.

Work has progressed under the Jerusalem streets, on the Pilgrim’s Path.

The route is being prepared for visitors to Jerusalem.

Remember the story from a visit in 2017?

Now one can go up the steps up from the Shiloah spring without wading through the water.

Along the new/old route taken by visitors to Jerusalem is a shop, a model of the shops that were available for the pilgrims who went up to the Temple Mount.

View of Jerusalem Gateway construction from above

There is more old and new in Jerusalem for you to see than in the Old City beside the new tunnel tours.

France Square’s dedication was in last week’s Tips for Touring in Jerusalem.

A new dedication stone was placed near the previous location,

with the former mayors’ names in Hebrew and French and the 2008 date.

Not all vacant lots in Jerusalem are building sites; some are prepared for much-needed parking spaces.

There are so many more cars and trucks on the Jerusalem streets!

The new tunnel from Gush Etzion is open and the old one is being repaired.

The new Pesach, Passover festivals, and activities are beginning soon.

New signs are posted to welcome visitors to Jerusalem for the holidays.

The last old wrecked house in Yemin Moshe along my photo walk route is being renovated, with the new roof resembling the old Templer tiles.

Visitors will be surprised to see so much new with the old.

Also, they should be pleased that behind those old post boxes in the Yemin Moshe parking lot, is one of the new public toilets. An important new and welcomed addition to those spending time on the Jerusalem streets.

Jewish wedding venue

Many challenges this past week, but also many good events to celebrate.

Hope to see you soon!

Summer in Jerusalem: Down Pilgrimage Road to Outer Space at Israel Museum

Summer in Jerusalem: Down Pilgrimage Road to Outer Space at Israel Museum

It’s summer.

School is out for the summer. Now, what to do?

The Jerusalem Light Festival in the Old City started on June 26 and ends July 4th.

Israeli dancing begins at First Station on Sunday evenings at 8:00 pm.

Music will play in Kikar Safra, Safra Square for two big night concerts, July 11 – Goran Bregovic and July 25 – Stavros Xsarchakos.

Too classical and late at night? Programs for children are available in community parks.

And of course, many museums are including summer events for families.

Sign for Israel Museum exhibit Pan to Peter Pan

In Jerusalem, the Israel Museum is always a go-to place on a hot day.

Peter Pan exhibit at Israel Museum sign

There are new temporary exhibits, like Peter and Pan.

Pan and Peter entrance Israel Museum

From Greece to Neverland starts with larger than life Greek statues.

Photos of Barrie author of Peter Pan

Then it progresses over the centuries to James Barrie,

Jerusalem Israel exhibit Poster of Peter Pan

and eventually to Disney’s Peter Pan,

Fairy section of Peter Pan exhibit in Israel Museum

with Tinkerbell and tales of fairies.

Pan and Peter section for reading Israel Museum

A family-friendly reading corner compliments the video presentations at the end.

Jerusalem Israel Museum sign for Veiled Women exhibit

From one extreme to another: nude Greek statues to the Veiled Women of the Holy Land.

Israel Museum veiled women display Christian Nuns

Here we find three religious extremes in women’s clothing, Nuns,

Muslim women in Israel Museum exhibit on veiled women

Muslim women,

Jewish women "Taiblan" veiled women in Israel Museum

and Jewish women, covered in layers head to toe, with even their faces covered.

Israel Museum sign for veiled women

New trends in modest dress, or flashbacks to ancient times?

Across the hall from Pan to Peter, is another temporary exhibit.

Enter from the Ancient Civilizations section of the Israel Museum,

Dairy of Ilan Rimon on display at Israel Museum

and you find this darkened room that holds the remains of the diary of astronaut Ilan Rimon z”l, recovered and reconstructed after the explosion of the Columbia Space Shuttle

Duplicate sefer Torah to one in outerspace with Ilan Rimon which was destroyed in space shop explosion

Rimon took a miniature Torah into outer space, which was destroyed in the explosion. A duplicate miniature Torah was located and is on exhibit. The story of its use during the Shoah in Bergen-Belsen concentration camp for a Bar Mitzvah is next to the display case.

Israel Museum corridor without people

The halls of the Israel Museum are filled all summer, only empty at closing time.

Israel Museum in Jerusalem outside view near entrance

Besides the Israel Museum, there are many events happening.

There is a special exhibit at the Art Shelter where 62 works by 22 artists are for sale, July 9 – 16th.

The Outline Festival – Illustration and Words in Jerusalem is from July 4 – 11th.

For the summer a very different exhibit is on at First Station in the Hangar.

Jerusalem Israel First Station Zahal Shelanu exhibit

When Prime Minister Netanyahu saw Zahal Shelanu in Holon, he said this should be in Jerusalem, Israel, for more to see.

IDF Zahal Shelanu at First Station Hangar

So the special IDF display is at First Station in the Hangar for the summer.

Jerusalem Israel First Station Hangar for Zahal Shelanu

The big equipment is on display outside.

IDF Zahal Shelanu at First Station Hangar

But if you want to get inside, it is only open from 9-5:00 pm.

Special tickets are free but have to be ordered online in advance.

My attempt to go at night for good light was not so bright.

Also this week there was an official opening of the Pilgrimage Road.

It will still be another four years before the public will be able to walk this underground path.

We saw the beginnings of the project two years ago.

More on the story from then HERE.

The Wine Festival is coming next week, so that means the beer festival should be soon after.

Tower of David sunset view inside

There is a new Happy Hour on Monday evenings in July at the Tower of David.

Enjoy the views with a glass of wine!

As always so much happening on the Jerusalem streets.

Dry weeds in summer in Jerusalem Israel Valley of the Cross

It’s summer. It’s hot. But even in the dried weeds of summer one can find beauty.