Summer in Jerusalem: Building, Books, and Paisley

It’s feeling like summer on the Jerusalem streets.

The sun blazes down from a cloudless blue sky.

Walking during the day, shade can be hard to find.

Though with the new construction rising higher and higher above the Jerusalem streets that situation is changing.

Finding a parking space in Jerusalem is more of a challenge. These men had blocked off spots to save at their construction site on a busy street.

On our moving day, a big challenge was finding a spot for the truck to park to be loaded. Out early on the street, I was upset to see broken glass on the ground by the garbage dumpster probably from a discarded frame of ours.

But by 8:10 am, it was gone.

If I hadn’t been out before 8:00 am I would never have known that this man had cleaned up the area. Plus, he seemed surprised when I thanked him.

Cleaner Jerusalem streets and lots of construction will greet visitors to Jerusalem this summer.

The old ivy is long gone, as the Beit Hanasi entranceway gets renovated.

The President’s Residence visitor tours are back. The new red cord seems to be a physical reminder not to walk thru the president’s garden but stay on the path.

The WaterGen machine is a recent addition. I was able to drink 4 kinds of water – made from the air, from the old cooler, bottled water, and from the caterer’s ice-filled cooler. When it’s hot, water is good for you, right?

The garden stage area in the back of the Beit Hanasi garden was being set for ceremonies of awards to reservists soldiers this week, and the next day for three projects from the IDF, the Mossad, the Shin Bet, the Ministry of Defense, and the Israel Defense Industries. 

Reservist one is open to media, but the special Project Awards stay secret.

I went to Beit Hanasi for the swearing-in of the two new Supreme Court Judges. There were more than the usual number of photographers, but much less media coverage. I decided not to get on the floor with the guys.

So I was able to get the 5 newest judges’ reactions to President Herzog’s joke.

The ceremony itself is very brief. The new judge reads a short statement and receives his certificate from the President, the Minister of Justice, and the President of the Supreme Court.

It’s their speeches that fill the time, while their very proud families fill out the audience along with the Judicial selection committee.

President Herzog had connections with not only the newest judge but her family also from their days in New York at Ramaz School. Surprise, the other judge he did not have connections to talk about, that could have been the first time a Herzog was not connected to an honoree.

Here are the women currently serving on the Israeli Supreme Court,

and the two newest Judges of the Israeli Supreme Court are Yechiel Meir Kasher and Ruth Ronnen.

Education and opportunities for women was an RJS feature last week.

This week the popular Hebrew Book Week is back from June 15 to 25.

It is hard to even give away some Hebrew books. Especially encyclopedias, no one will take them, so they get left out for the Jerusalem street cleaners.

The love of books starts with the young. Beit Avi Chai is having special programs for children and families this week. One story session is to be in English for the children’s Hebrew Book Festival.

But much more than books can be found on the Jerusalem streets.

Paisley: A Princely Pattern is the name of the new exhibit at the Museum for Islamic Art, with a purple paisley pattern now featured on their wall.

The 11th Jerusalem Design Week will be held on June 23-30, 2022, at the nearby Hansen House with installations on the street light pole already going up.

The Jerusalem Symphony and the Jerusalem Beer Fest are advertising for July events. Summer in Jerusalem, the holidays are over, but plenty to do.

Or just stroll and take time to notice the flowers in bloom, thriving in the hot summer sun. However, there was little time for that this short week.

After ordering two closets (for those who do not know Israeli apartments usually have bare walls and you need to get something to put your clothes in) I had to stop for a second and get the sign over the exit door.

It says in Hebrew – Go in Peace! under a view of the Kotel, Western Wall.

The end of the school year events and summer weather were mainly what was happening on the Jerusalem streets this after the holidays week.

Hope you can come soon and see for yourself, summer in Jerusalem.

9 Jerusalem Summer Festivals

9 Jerusalem Summer Festivals

With all the activities and celebrations,

Celebrating 50 years liberation of Jerusalem

of Jerusalem Jubilee, 50 years since liberation and unification,

it was really hard to keep up with everything else that was happening.

StreetBal competition in Bell Park Jerusalem Israel

There was the annual Street Ball in Liberty Bell Park.

 “See the Sounds” Classical Music Festival began May 29,

image Israel Museum

 and runs through June 24, with multiple performances

 in locations inside the Israel Museum galleries and its gardens.

Jerusalem Israel festival season

The Musrara Festival is June 6- 8 in the evenings,

and even more streets will be filled with

Sign in Hebrew for Jerusalem Festival people performing with disabilities

special disabled artistic performers from June 4- 11.

Not everyone is happy with all these new culture festivals.

Sign for Shavuah Hasefer, Hebrew Book Week in Gan Sacher Jerusalem Israel

However, the annual classic

Shavuah Hasefer HaIvri,

the Hebrew Book Festival, is to be back from June 11-15,

in Jerusalem’s Takhana HaRishona, First Station.

Another Jerusalem annual long time event,

Annual Israel Festival in Jerusalem Israel

the Israel Festival is going from June 1- 18.

Also in June, there is Design Week,

and perhaps another Opera in the Sultan’s Pool.

July starts off with Maccabiah and tens of thousands of athletes coming

Jerusalem sidewalk with ad for Maccabiah 2017

from around the world to participate in sporting events,

and new signs were painted on the streets.

"image Jerusalem", "photo light festival", "picture art"

The annual Light Festival is set for June 28 – July 6

2017 Jerusalem light festival sign

with large signs posted,

and the International Film Festival is set for July 13-23.

  These are a few of the upcoming happenings in Jerusalem.

Holidays are over and summer is here,

only worry is what to do first.

Hope we can rest up on Shabbat, so as to be ready for

another Jerusalem Festival Season.

image shabat shalom and love

שבת שלום

Jerusalem in June

June in Jerusalem…the days are hot,

"picture boy", "image bike helmet", "photo child helmet"

 everyone seems to be moving a little slower

and taking a break for an ice cream or a cold drink.

"picture school crossing" , "photo school crossing", "image girls"

School crossing guards are being trained for the next school year. 

 Before school lets out for the summer and the kids are home,

"picture conference", "Photo women", "image Kishor"

the Kishor Women’s Business Networking conference 

"picture women", "image ladies conference", "photo Kishor conference"

attracted 350 business women from all over Israel to the Ramada Hotel.

Making the summer plans for children is a big headache this time of year.

"fruit stand photo", "picture fruit", "image fruit'

While the abundance of summer fruit in season is a pleasure.

The Jerusalem Light Festival has been a big success this year,

if you missed it,

"picture Damascus Gate", "photo Damascus Gate", "image Damascus Gate"

 Damascus Gate as a giant pinball machine was a popular attraction.

Gan haPa’amon, the Liberty Bell Park, was full every evening

  for the annual Shavua Ha’sefer  HaIvri, the Hebrew Book Week.

"picture shavuah hasefer", "photo shavuah hasefer", "image Shavuah hasefer"

Families came to look at children’s books

"pictrure shavuah hasefer,", 'photo shavuah Hasefer", Image book week"

and sat on the grass enjoying the entertainment.

"picture shavuah hasefer", "photo buying books", "image book week"

Religious books,

"picture book fair", "image book week", "photo books sellers"

university publications,

"picture shavuah hasefer", "photo book week", Image shavuah hasafer"

and all kinds of books are on sale in the park until June 16.

"image security", "photo book sale", "picture shavuah hasefer"

Security was obvious, perhaps more so than in the past.

Protesters getting ready for more rallies for social justice

are getting headlines,

but there is so much more happening in Jerusalem.

Once again the annual and popular

Season of Culture and the Israel Festival

will offer dozens of cultural events

to thousands of people from all over the world.

And one thing everyone hopes for…

 it will stay cool in the evenings.