Solomon Brothers – The Real Jerusalem Streets

A big day for diplomacy, but a slow day for the Jerusalem streets

December 7, 2025December 7, 2025Sharon A

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is in Jerusalem on his first visit to Israel as Chancellor of Germany.

Across Israel, on December 3, the International Day of Persons with Disabilities was marked with conferences, accessibility campaigns, and some Jerusalem public buildings lit in purple.

The Tower of David, including the walls, was lit purple at night.

I was disappointed that Beit Hanasi was not purple like last year as I walked by on my way home from a special event at the Friends of Zion Museum (FoZ).

Every event at FoZ has been a unique experience. I never know what to expect.

However, the music was often provided by The Solomon Brothers. They opened the VIP event of the Ambassador Summit 2025. One thousand pastors and influencers came to Israel for a week-long special mission under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Mike Evans’ FoZ

President Isaac Herzog received a warm welcome upon arriving in the FoZ Media Center.

The Israeli President was the opening speaker, welcoming the leaders of the 1000-strong Ambassador Summit 2025. “In the city of faith, it means so much,” he told them in his remarks.

U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee spoke brilliantly to the mission initiated by Dr. Mike Evans, a Christian leader and influencer, in cooperation with the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Ambassador Huckabee emphasized the importance of the friendship between Israel and the United States and the moral responsibility of the evangelical community to stand with Israel in its time of crisis.

“Come and see it for yourselves…my opinions don’t matter…land of Israel dry bones come to life, I have seen it in my own life…God keeps every promise he makes to us, even when we do not keep the promises we make to Him…faith… I’m giving you a place – Israel – a people, a place, and purpose… Without the Jewish faith, there would be no Christian faith.”

Immediately after the Ambassador spoke, the President left for his next scheduled appearance.

Well, after the official photo of the five leaders together. I stayed upstairs for a better, less crowded view.

Their buses traveled around Israel this week to see the truth for themselves and go back to share with their communities. Amb. Huckabee told them to come back and to bring a group with them.

On a pleasant day, there was time to take a walk and see the stalls along the Old Train Track.

With access to the businesses along Emek Refaim Street almost impossible to access because of light rail construction, they were put up as alternative venues to buy food.

The First Station has a new bike path, but much is also closed off because of construction.

Most everywhere in Jerusalem, if you dig down, you will find something. Archaeologists are examining the site before the new light rail station construction proceeds.

The Tuesday farmers’ market at First Station has had fresh produce for the past two years.

However, these stalls were without merchandise or sellers.

It was sad to take a photo with more cats than people on a nice afternoon.

Hopefully, the tourists will return soon as we enter the holiday season.

The Jerusalem Hanukkah lights above the streets were turned on.

One store window was ready for the holiday early.

Things are slowly returning to normal on the Jerusalem streets, despite all the construction and war.

However, there are still thousands of reserve soldiers on duty protecting our borders.

And still, one Israeli, Ran Gvili, a policeman murdered on October 7, is held hostage in Gaza.

Remember, ALL the hostages were to be returned in the first phase of the Trump 20-point ceasefire deal, before going on to the second phase.

Hopefully, the 1,000 members of the Ambassador Mission will go home and spread the truth of what’s really happening on the Jerusalem streets and all over Israel.

Hope to see you soon on the Jerusalem streets.

In Jerusalem September Ends with the Sounds of Selihot

September 29, 2024September 29, 2024Sharon A

What a week this was in Jerusalem, Israel!

The Jerusalem streets are usually full of tourists this time of year as Rosh Hashana, the New Year, and the High Holiday season begins at the end of Elul into the Hebrew month of Tishrei.

People are arriving. But, only ElAl is flying and they are booked solid.

Cannot tell what will happen next.

But check out what happened on Jerusalem streets this week.

The view from the Tayelet shows Old Jerusalem, Mount Zion, and Mount Scopus in the distance.

But the view of the growth of Jerusalem is also evident, as the population of Israel grows to 10,000,000.

Where else do people arrive to visit and live as housing prices go up – during prolonged wars?

Since the outbreak of the war, around 853,000 tourists have entered mainly from (in descending order): the United States, France, the UK, Russia, and the Philippines.

The olive trees are full as the season changes and Jerusalem nights are cooler.

With war raging around, daily life and building in Jerusalem, there are new roads and tunnels.

Renovation on the old Knesset site for the new Knesset Museum is finally visible.

New outdoor lighting illuminates the Great Synagogue and Heichal Shlomo next door.

‘Uniting for the future’ was the theme of the Keren Kayemet – Jewish National Fund solidarity mission which opened on Sunday night at the Jerusalem International Conference Center.

Its themes are working for the future in education, rebuilding, and honoring heroes and heroines of the Iron Swords War which is ongoing.

I arrived early as did Dani Dayan, the chairman of Yad Vashem, one of many institutions affected by war.

Three hundred people came from around the world on this solidarity mission dedicated to rebuilding.

Involved in the program were victims of terror and loss. The siblings of fallen soldier Cpt. (res.) Shaul Greenglick, who was an aspiring singer, sang in the program.

It was a powerful program that hopefully inspired major givers to give even more.

Ending with a child from a southern community saying ‘Thank You’ for helping us re-light our hope’.

As October 7 approaches, multiple organizations, programs, and videos are appearing to tell the story.

Michael Dickson of Stand With Us spoke at the opening of the Faces of October 7 on Tuesday night.

Portraits by talented artist Benzi Brofman are on display in Jerusalem until the end of October.

Each life-like face is a person kidnapped or killed since October 7, 2023.

The entire Siman-Tov family was brutally murdered on October 7 by Hamas terrorists in their home.

The photos are exhibited with the family’s cooperation. IDF soldier Reef Harush’s parents were there, his father was one of the speakers. For Reef’s mother, it was too painful for her to look at the portrait by Brofman. Look into the bright eyes, in the photo in his IDF uniform in the center, and see her world lost.

With each image is the personal story of the person. What is overwhelming to me – this photo of Loris z”l was drawn in one hour during the afternoon before the opening by the talented Brofman.

Too much loss. Too many new graves this past year,

especially in the military cemeteries throughout Israel.

However – more is happening on the Jerusalem streets that is not sad.

The Jerusalem Design Week “The Ark” ended on Thursday night at Hansen House.

With lectures and talks along with the out-of-sight designs.

After Shabbat the Jerusalem streets were almost as busy as ever.

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As Rosh Hashana approaches in only a few days, there are fairs galore to support Israeli businesses.

It’s been a rough year for not only business but personal loss and longing on many levels.

Rachel Sharansky Danziger spoke at a book launch for “Az Nashir – We Will Sing Again: Women’s Prayers for Our Time of Need,” an anthology of prayers written by Jewish women in Israel addressing the unique experiences of living in Israel today in a post-October 7th world.

Before Rosh Hashana in Jerusalem, the streets are filled with sounds of Selihot, and late-night prayers. At Yemin Moshe you can see the Old City Walls illuminated in the distance. One of many possible sights for popular Selihot tours each year.

The Solomon Brothers returned to do a musical Selihot with people standing all around.

At the Jerusalem Great Synagogue, Cantor Tzvi Weiss was singing in a very different style.

The men’s section was full this year to hear him accompanied by the choir directed by Elli Jaffe.

Thousands were at the Kotel, Western Wall, filling the plaza, as many past nights.

While thousands more at the Jerusalem International Conference Center to hear Yitzhak Meir again and at hundreds of other Selihot services as every year.