Temech – The Real Jerusalem Streets

10 Things to Love About Jerusalem

December 19, 2021December 19, 2021Sharon A

The sense of uncertainty about what will happen next is ubiquitous.

Israel’s borders are closing again and isolations are becoming mandatory. Will the US be the next to be declared a red country?

Tourists were coming back to Jerusalem and tour buses were seen on the Jerusalem streets. But how many trips have again been canceled? Long-planned meetings put on hold.

In our neighborhood, a school is back on Zoom classroom sessions with so many students sick with corona.

However, there are positive things to share from this week in Jerusalem.

I love that no matter how many times you walk down the same streets, there is always something new to see or a new angle to notice, as you can see here at the entrance to Mamilla Mall.

At Mamilla Mall, I stopped for a moment to take a photo of the men at the mincha minyan, praying outside in the middle of the day. I loved that friends who walked by also noticed and commented.

Amazing how a short walk becomes longer when you stop to talk with friends you have not seen in too long a time.

The construction is just everywhere, as the buildings go up and up.

The noise is often deafening as the digging goes on and on.

Most of King David Street is completed. But the next phase here at Mamilla Junction is beginning. Watch out, this week the extension to King Solomon Street is to be closed as the new water lines are installed.

Won’t we all love it when the roadwork is done?

At last, reconstruction work on the old Knesset Building, slated to become the new Knesset Museum, appears to finally be moving along.

The entrance to Balfour Street was open! It had been without a security guard, an exciting development for those of us who live in the area. We were forbidden to walk down the street, and now there is a sign to pull the pedestrian gate open.

A TV media crew was wandering around and taking a video. At one point in the recent past, there were five layers of security and a huge black curtain. Now, new security cameras have been installed instead.

I had to go back again to check if it was real. The last time I walked down this street was the summer Obama was running for US President (first time!) and Olmert was Prime Minister.

Here you can see what was blocked, under strict security and now is quiet.

Security officers dressed in black jackets on motorcycles were out along Jaffa Road. It was good to see them chatting rather than having serious work to do.

The annual Hanukkah decorations are gone and stowed away.

But Santa near Jaffa Gate in the Christian Quarter is still this month.

Reindeer have lit up the Jerusalem Botanical Gardens for the nighttime show since before Hanukkah.

The YMCA has more decorations and new lights this year.

At New Gate, a Christmas Market is open in the evenings until December 22nd, however, the sign says that it is limited to 500 people.

I am not sure I like it, but I am still amazed to see young children on the Jerusalem streets walking alone, like this little girl walking from New Gate,

or outside along the path by the Old City Walls going towards Jaffa Gate,

or little ones leading even younger ones in Nachlaot.

But for children, I just love the new lion in the Gan Sacher, Sacher Park play area.

This week the 11th Temech Conference was held at the Jerusalem Convention Center. Temech services Jewish businesswomen and entrepreneurs, and the conference is a popular annual networking event. I loved the various areas decorated for women to sit and talk.

The day-long programming was full of excellent speakers, so it was hard to catch up with friends you had not seen in too long. Plus recognizing new acquaintances from online meetings was a challenge. Did she seem so short or so tall, so thin?

When the Hebrew and the Anglo groups merged for a late lunch it was hard to get everyone in one photo, but safe to say most everyone was Energized.

In the Artist Colony across from the Old City walls is Kol HaOt, a studio for art with connections to Torah, and a venue for the Jerusalem Biennale.

During the corona lockdown last winter, 48 artists were able to use the space to create a piece based on one of the 48 ways Torah is acquired.

I loved many aspects of this 5th Jerusalem Biennale, but more another time.

Ready to walk home I heard music, the fountain was on at Teddy Park. The show went on and on – better to share a short video than a photo.

Winter music festivals are back! The 12th Hullegeb: Israeli-Ethiopian Arts Festival, Chaznut Performances, and more – I love the varied cultures.

Chagnival at HaMiffal is this week at The Miffal, however, not sure what it is.

I love what they did in the old abandoned building. Do people know about it?

I LOVE JLM, especially on a sunny winter day or a clear cool night.

I love to take a walk and see what’s happening on the Jerusalem streets.

Here’s hoping those millions of tourists that were expected before corona shut down the skies will be able to return –

and soon.

As November Ends in Jerusalem Photos of 9 Happenings

November 27, 2019Sharon A

Jerusalem, Israel, was warmer than usual this fall.

The usual complaints of bone-chilling cold winter weather have been missing.

My third growth of roses was impressive enough to share.

The Knesset entrance looked nicely kept with green landscaped welcome.

What’s happening–or not happening–inside appears to be a mess.

But, across the street from the Knesset, the Israel Museum entrance has a clean new look.

Do you think this time of year, from “after the holidays” until Hanukkah, it’s quiet on the Jerusalem, Israel, streets?

Not at all, some evenings there are multiple events at the same time!

At Beit Hanasi, President Rivlin hosted a press conference to launch an international conference on antisemitism at Yad Vashem at the end of January.

2. At the Jerusalem Post Diplomatic Conference, Chief strategist and Foreign Ministry PMO spokesperson Ben Moore, during an interview with Steve Linde, pointed to recently published antisemitic cartoons.

The results of his research have confirmed that the BDS movement has succeeded in mainstreaming and desensitizing the West to antisemitism in the Israel context.

Another international panel discussed antisemitism. Paul Packer from the US Commission for the Preservation of America’s Heritage Abroad expressed US support for Israel.

Ambassador Mario Bucaro of Guatemala (third from left) was one of the foreign dignitaries attending.

There was more than antisemitism, politicians, and journalists. Tourism was the topic of Ilanit Melchior’s TEDTalk.

With 2.5 million visitors to Jerusalem over the holiday season, sustainability and accessibility are important topics. The traffic from tourist buses and rental cars can be felt on the streets.

A very different conference that did not receive as much media attention was held in the Jerusalem International Convention Center.

3. The tenth Temech Conference for Israeli businesswomen and female entrepreneurs attracted 1000 women from the north and south to Jerusalem.

Networking is a very important feature of this event run by women for women.

The English track was smaller than in the past, but the Hebrew-speaking program has grown.

The theme ‘Unlock the Wealth’ had panels and speakers appreciated by women aspiring to grow their various endeavors.

4. The 2019 Elimination of Violence against Women’s Day was marked at Beit Hanasi.

It’s 50 days after Yom Kippur when the national holiday of Sigd is celebrated.

5. Sigd was a holiday in Ethiopia when prayers were offered for the return to Zion and Jerusalem.

Sigd means ‘prostration’ and marks a reaffirmation to Jewish heritage.

Here the religious leaders called Kessim in their white robes led services in Jerusalem.

Tens of thousands annually gather on the Tayelet with its view of the Old City.

6. Jerusalem Biennale ‘For Heaven’s Sake!‘ 2019 ends November 28, but the Street Art Festival pieces will be up longer at First Station, adding color to the tourist area.

7. Time to remember Kaf Tet November, the date the UN accepted the partition plan to establish the State of Israel.

8. With Rosh Chodesh Kislev, strawberry season is approaching.

With sufganiyot, donuts of all sizes, shapes, and flavors – everywhere –

9. Hannukkah or Hanuka or Chanukah will be here before we know it.

No. No downtime, something is always happening on these Jerusalem streets.

Jerusalem New Adventures with Urban Place Opening

March 5, 2019Sharon A

For years in Jerusalem, Israel, small business owners and entrepreneurs met in cafes to work on their laptop computers and meet with clients. With the high cost of Jerusalem rentals, businesses just starting up could not manage the expense of office rentals..

jerusalem Israel sharing work space PICO

The Jerusalem co-sharing work space PICO opened in the Talpiot neighborhood in 2012.

It was a novelty, a new concept in Jerusalem at the time, and acted as a center of the blossoming business start-up, entrepreneurial, and technology culture.

In the meantime, other business hubs have been established, including this one also in Talpiot.

Jerusalem Temech Hub for Jewish business women

Since 2013, the Temech Hub on Jaffa Road, is a center for business and entrepreneurial women.

WeWork Jerusalem King George 20 moved into the renovated building of the old Mashbir Department Store in the center of Jerusalem in October 2018.

Jerusalem Israel Main bus station at night outside on Jaffa Road

Now Urban Place Jerusalem has launched its new co-working space, located on Jaffa Road, on the fourth floor of the Central Bus Station building.

After entering the building, a special set of elevators goes to the floor which has been renovated and decorated with inspirational posters and signs.

There are 91 offices of various sizes, and styles,

People in one lounge area in Jerusalem Urban Place

plus multiple lounge spaces, event spaces, meeting rooms,

and this exercise room.

Opening event at Jerusalem Urban Place cowork space

Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Lion joined Urban Place initiators for the opening last week.

But you had to come early to get the good food, in only a few minutes all that was left were radishes and some fruit.

Hanan Brand, one of the founders of Made in Jerusalem, also spoke at the festive evening event, which attracted many curious people from outside Jerusalem.

Features of the Urban Place office space include 24/7 access, secured WiFi, socials, coffee, beer and happy hours, and personal AC. An office in the Central Bus Station has convenience to transportation as a business advantage. Also the new Navon fast train station is across the street.

“Adventure begins at the end of the road you know.”

With these and other new sharing work spaces, stay tuned for new adventures happening on the Jerusalem