Simhat Torah – The Real Jerusalem Streets

See the ways Jerusalem celebrated Sukkot and Simhat Torah

October 5, 2026October 5, 2026Sharon A

The week of Sukkot is always busy on the Jerusalem streets.

Thousands of visitors arrive from around the world for the holiday.

Israelis take advantage of the week off from work and children out of school to discover the city.

Some Jerusalem streets were so crowded they were gridlocked as drivers were seeking a place to park their cars.

Other streets were unusually free of traffic as locals ventured out seeking adventure and nature trails.

One day a year at Beit Hanasi, the Israeli President’s Residence, the gates are opened to the Israeli public for an ‘Open Sukkah’.

At the welcome desk, metal mugs were given not only as a souvenir but to use during their visit to drink water. There were multiple water fountains, but no plastic cups were available.

The Open Sukkah was indeed open,

with a theatrical theme, not agricultural as in the past, for the harvest holiday.

And also, sports were a theme.

During a media tour before the official opening time, sharing a few favorites:

From an old Israeli movie, a soldier raised his mug for a l’chaim.

A favorite scene set, with the only fruit on display this year.

The most aggressive actor records in his journal, with fellow actors and the President and Michal Herzog.

Paralympic athletes also posed with the President and his wife during the tour of the 10 activity stations.

This year, the activities were aimed at families with children.

Inside the line was to meet and take a selfie with the Herzogs in the Open Sukkah.

Meanwhile, music blasted to entertain those on the other side of the main hall.

Security has increased every year, with more levels to enter the official Presidential residence.

On my way home at the corner of Beit Hanasi Street, I passed a policeman.

Stationed near a sukkah with a chair, he had perhaps the best job that day.

I had to go over and tease him, and such a good sport he was; he smiled and waved.

Another favorite sukkah was in Mamilla Mall; one of several there for the restaurants to serve tourists.

This one, tucked away off of Derech Hevron, had an impressive meal prepared.

The views of Jerusalem, day or night, were impressive, with lights and sukkot.

Day or night, thousands filled the Old City and the Kotel, the Western Wall, not only for the two mornings of Birkat Kohanim.

With the holiday joy, a reminder with stickers of fallen soldiers stands near Jaffa Gate.

I was on my way to the Artists’ Colony.

HaOt gallery was one of the 22 locations for the 2026 Jerusalem Biennale.

This Jewish contemporary art exhibit theme was Tehilim, Psalms.

David Moss was one of the artists present to explain his work.

Here, stamps he designed were blown up especially for the Biennale.

More photos from the HaOt Tehilim exhibit HERE

Next to the Artists Colony in the park was a huge 20th-year celebration of United Hatzalah.

The Sultan’s Pool filled with supporters and music fans for a star-studded concert.

The music could be heard over the Jerusalem streets as I headed home.

RJS began with the Sukkot holiday, and each year I like to add new sukkot.

This new building is impressive every night, but even more so with the sukkot illuminated.

Clouds have formed; it’s feeling like autumn with cooler nights.

One of the very many Hakafot Sheniyot, or dancing with the Torahs, after Shabbat has returned to the Liberty Bell Park. We have fond memories as tourists years ago attending the lively event as the Torah scrolls were brought out for another night of celebrating.

Ambassador Mike Huckabee was there to honor the American sponsoring family. If he wore a kippah and left his security at home, he could easily walk down many a Jerusalem street as a local.

New buildings and new sukkot – one more impressive-looking to share.

One more special event to end this Sukkot holiday post.

For the third year, Kesher Yehudi has had a special event for Hakafot Hashniyot.

Nova Music Festival survivors remember their murdered friends.

This year, another 30 young men and women have become Sabbath observers.

The event was joyous, with their American sponsor coming to attend.

Also, former chief rabbi David Lau came.

Words of Rav Shlomo Amar were very appreciated and recorded.

Names of murdered friends are inscribed on the gold leaves.

Dancing with the Torah after Shabbat/Simhat Torah on 5787 was joyous in so very many locations.

Men and yes, women celebrated this year.

Along with the joy was also remembering. More photos HERE

Leaving David Castle event hall, the Tower of David was lit in vibrant colors to host another event.

One more new sukkah that caught my attention.

Sukkot 5787 is over. The streets are back to Jerusalem cats again.

And oye vey the next election is set for October 27, 2026.

Jerusalem street signs are up. Pre-election events have begun.

Hoping for good news and the best this year in Jerusalem!

15 Simchat Torah Highlights in Jerusalem

October 27, 2024October 27, 2024Sharon A

Sukkot. Simchat Torah.

The autumn holiday season has ended.

Certainly not the same as years past, but no question better than the last Simchat Torah.

There were celebrations on the Jerusalem streets, and this photo essay will focus on the highights.

The Rova, Jewish Quarter, had a large sukkah and people took advantage of the holiday atmosphere.

The crowds at the Kotel, Western Wall, filled the Western Wall Plaza, day after day.

The sukkot in the Mamilla Mall had people waiting in line to have a meal, inside it was easy to get a seat.

In the Cardo was a large sukkah this year. Who would have imagined that years ago?

The guy protesting internet was back with a sign, as people went on their way to Jaffa Gate.

Stop men with a luluv and etrog to take their photo, and they ask you to make the blessing first.

The big sukkah was back at Kikar Safra with a sign ‘Welcome to the Mayor’s Sukkah’.

There were musical events every night of chol hamoed and this one for children on Sunday afternoon.

Jaffa Street had the line of sukkot along the light rail tracks again.

On a smaller scale, a favorite private sukkah was back on the Jerusalem street.

The Israeli President’s sukkah in the back garden was a modest one as the large public sukkah was not built and open to the public this year.

Teens and youth groups from the North and South were invited instead of the big open event.

Olympic Judoku gold medal winner Peter Paltchik opened the program.

The teens met in discussion groups in the Beit Hanasi grounds, ate falafel, and

then went back to the main hall to meet the President Herzog and his wife Michal.

There was a Jerusalem March this year, but much smaller than in past years.

The route was greatly reduced as were the groups marching, but Gan Sacher, Sacher Park, was a popular holiday venue.

As the event was ending, two Muslim women were sitting in the park, enjoying the day.

And then there was Simchat Torah, how to celebrate after last year? With music and dance in many locations around Jerusalem from the Kotel to the Liberty Bell Park, I was at the Ramada Hotel.

At a Bar Mitzvah at the Great Synagogue on Friday morning, the guests from Florida were celebrating the Simchat Torah holiday, as the local Israelis were able to pull out their cell phones and capture the event.

From the Birkat Cohanim, Priestly Blessing at the Kotel, Western Wall, to the end of Shabbat,

thousands of people were on the Jerusalem streets,

the sounds of the shofar and “Next Year in Jerusalem” could be heard.

Today, the Israeli flag is flying at half-mast, marking the official national day of mourning for the fallen and murdered a year ago on October 7.

As we celebrate and remember the hostages, we are losing new heroes almost every day as war goes on in the north and south. We have personal connections to two funerals at Har Herzl tonight.

Sukkot in Jerusalem 2020

October 12, 2020October 12, 2020Sharon A

Oh, Jerusalem of 2020.

It used to be that “20-20” was an expression for hindsight.

This year of 2020 has taken on a different context with the COVID-19 pandemic. The novel coronavirus has changed the world and certainly life as we knew it in Jerusalem.

Jerusalem, Israel, endured a holiday season so unlike recent years, the excited holiday crowds and tens of thousands of international visitors were missing from the Jerusalem streets.

The huge Birkat Kohanim at the Kotel, Western Wall, was extremely limited.

The Israeli Chief Rabbis, Mayor Moshe Lion, US Ambassador David Friedman attended, however, the main plaza was empty. People watched from home on a screen, on Facebook for a live stream of the service.

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On other days a lone Kohen could be found blessing the small prayer groups. Regulations for the holiday week this year limited outdoor groups to 20 people, and within one kilometer from home.

This was the year for the private home sukkah, tucked away in the garden,

or up on the roof,

in all shapes and styles.

Some sukkot blended into the architecture,

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while others were easier to see.

A wooden one on this small porch is an annual sight,

but there seemed to be many more new white walls in driveways this year,

as more people had to stay home and not travel near or far.

They were placed in parking spots next to apartment buildings.

On the last night of Sukkot, I took a walk around the neighborhood and found a friend eating dinner. This “communal” sukkah is shared by many people in the building, but this year families were eating at separate times and not sharing meals.

When I started going each year, President Shimon Peres was at Beit Hanasi, hosting the Israeli President’s sukkah which was open to the public.

But this year, President Rivlin missed out hosting the public, and the “open sukkah” was a two-hour program online, which included