Tower of David Jerusalem Museum – Page 2 – The Real Jerusalem Streets

Finding safety in shelters in time of war

June 22, 2025June 22, 2025Sharon A

The news cycle is changing so fast that it is hard to keep up today.

In Jerusalem and most of Israel, we woke to a warning notice followed by a siren to take shelter.

The US had bombed Fordow, the Iranian underground nuclear center.
Severe damage and injuries are reported as Iran’s regime aims powerful ballistic and cluster bombs at Israeli cities and civilians daily.

Underground of Gandel Rehabilitation Hospital

Israel has been preparing for attacks by building shelters in new buildings. Here the underground hospital section of Hadassah Hospital Gandel Rehabilitation Center was ready for a Hanukkah celebration.

Today it is full and operating efficiently.

Bomb-shelter-near-bus-stop-southern-Israel

Shelters have been placed along southern roads and bus stops for safety.

Sderot-bomb-shelter-decorated-near-school

In Sderot, shelters near schools are decorated to be welcoming to young children.

Hundreds of new shelters are being delivered to various vulnerable locations.

Following the Homefront Command updates is important, they change with the situation.

On Thursday, the Tower of David Jerusalem Museum reopened to the public in full coordination with the Home Front Command and the Ministry of Culture and Sport.

The Museum operated during its regular opening hours. All gallery spaces throughout the site serve as reinforced, secure areas, in full compliance with the latest security guidelines.

The Museum was the first cultural institution to reopen on October 9th in 2023.

Soon after, I was honored to be the first to take photos of a bat mitzvah girl who was evacuated from the south. Again, the Tower of David was a first to be reopened for the general public.

Tower of David sign for shelter in the courtyard

The new Tower of David Jerusalem Museum brings the rich history of Jerusalem to life in one of the city’s most iconic landmarks. Located at the Jaffa Gate just across from the Mamilla Mall, it offers new immersive exhibitions in beautifully restored spaces, and a unique blend of archaeology, innovation, and storytelling. The newly accessible Museum works for children, adults, and senior citizens.

Tower of David Jerusalem Museum entrance

With the allowed 30 in a room at any one time, they followed the regulations.

Today, businesses and museums are again closed due to an increased threat

So sharing here a video with some of the new technology displayed on the stone wall.

Whether you’re a first-time visitor or a lifelong Jerusalemite, the Tower of David Jerusalem Museum offers a meaningful and inspiring gateway to the city’s past, present, and future.

A video of David’s wars has more views. But with plenty of war around us, it seemed a more tranquil section of the Tower of David Night Show would be appreciated.

The National Library of Israel in Jerusalem has been closed since October 13, 2025.

National Library of Israel main area from above

The main reading room is open with lots of light and glass.

National Library of Israel automated stacks

However, the stacks are well below ground and designed to be protected.

National Library of Israel new technology for ancient volumes

Once again, the most valuable items were stored way for safety.

Following the IDF Homefront Command’s country-wide siren announcing the IDF strikes on Iranian targets at 3:30 am on Friday, June 13, the Library’s security, conservation, and logistics teams, together with CEO Oren Weinberg and Board Chair Sallai Meridor, arrived at the Library to dismantle the treasures housed in the William Davidson Permanent Exhibition Gallery, the Helen Diller Family Rotating Exhibition Gallery, and the David Berg Foundation Rotunda Gallery.

Carefully, manuscripts, rare books, musical scores, archives, and were moved underground into climate-controlled vaults.

As in previous serious attacks, April 13 and October 1, 2024, and mainly on October 7, 2023, when staff rushed to the building despite unknown unfolding danger — the Library demonstrated its steadfast commitment to safeguarding the treasures of Jewish, Israeli, and world heritage, preserving and protecting these invaluable resources for generations to come.

UPDATED to clarify:

With schools closed due to the war, the NLI building is closed, and content and activities for all ages are available online. English-language content is available at www.nli.org.il/en

So there you have it, a brief review from the real Jerusalem streets.

Before we too have to go again to a shelter for safety.

Hoping for better news next time.

Amy Yisrael Chai!

November ending in Jerusalem with ups and downs

December 1, 2024December 1, 2024Sharon A

It was another busy week of ups and downs on the Jerusalem streets.

A favorite Jerusalem, Israel, the site is the Tower of David. The changes over the years have been fascinating to watch and admire.

I am not the only fan. One family went to the trouble to build temporary protection for a wedding ceremony. It was up during the day and then down after a night.

However, years of preparation have gone into making the fortress accessible. I remember how hard those old steps were to climb and go down. The new walkways are so much easier.

Eilat Lieber explained the upcoming International Day of People with Disabilities on Tuesday, Dec. 3rd. An online conference will be hosted by the Tower of David Jerusalem Museum with free registration.

The conference aims to share knowledge gained from archeology and innovation in Jerusalem with the world. This initiative is intended to enhance mobility and also enable accessibility for those with vision and hearing impairment.

A sign is up for the Mamilla Pool Project. How many knew it was there was such a thing?

First Station is struggling with few tourists but is ready for winter by putting up weather enclosures for people to sit and eat protected from the cold.

The Menachem Begin Heritage Center auditorium was filled for Douglas Murray. He received a standing ovation, and as he entered people stood up and applauded before he uttered a word.

During a conversation with Dr. Gerald Steinberg and Olga Deutsch, his wit and timing were impressive.

The old home of the Hebrew University Library at 44 Jabotinsky Street is in a sad state.

However, the new National Library of Israel has become a popular research and busy tourist site.

The main area has its research spaces filled daily by students and scholars of all types.

The landscaped outside space, with its autumn colors, is also worth seeing.

Inside the chairs, await the hostages, with their favorite books – still after too long.

The signs are up for the opening of the new temporary exhibition on Kafka.

More on that next time. I went on the preview tour and will share.

But this is getting too long and I want to end with one more event.

A special Thanksgiving dinner was held for Lone Soldiers and Bnot Sherut at the Nefesh B’Nefesh Jerusalem Campus on Thursday night.

Hundreds of young men and women from around the world (for a good meal you did not need to be from a place that celebrates Thanksgiving) gathered to eat, meet, and enjoy themselves.

On the way home we passed two women standing on a street corner, in the dark and cold.

Their sign is “Together we will be victorious!”

That sums up a week of ups and downs and in between on the Jerusalem streets.

Jerusalem a Week of Color, Culture, and Contrasts

September 22, 2024September 22, 2024Sharon A

Another week in Jerusalem, Israel filled with contrasts.

This photo essay will focus on culture and color in Jerusalem, not crises.

The white autumn clouds drift in the blue skies over the Jerusalem streets.

Construction continues blocking the streets as buildings rise higher and higher.

A special movie screening was held at Jerusalem Cinema City on Monday night.

Tragic Awakening premiered in Israel with a private screening. Rabbi Raphel Shore, the director, was in the US promoting the film and his new book. However, others involved with the documentary exploring antisemitism were on hand to participate and share their ideas.

Rabbi Shalom Schwartz, one of the producers, and Rawan Osman, the star, spoke with Fleur Hassan Nahoum after the screening. Rawan’s journey from antisemite to finding Judaism is a fascinating story.

Tourism is down. This large souvenir store inside Jaffa Gate has closed.

But Mamilla Mall is often as busy as ever with no vacant stores.

The Tower of David’s new cafeteria was open and busy. But a tour of the newest exhibit was the reason to come back again to see what was new in the Tower of David Museum. Please notice the new trees.

A tour of “On the Other Side” led by Zadok Ben-David was a highlight of the week.

His two-minute video in the temporary gallery features bright flowers.

This Is – Same Place Other Times was created in January 2023.

It goes to blackened fields, but circles back around to the new growth. Almost prophetic?

In the same darkened gallery, is this astounding work, where he explores acute transitions in the natural world with butterflies. Did you notice the human form as the center of each colorful creature?

On the reverse side of this large circular piece under blue UV light – roaches. Zadok discussed the beauty of the butterfly in contrast to the creepy caterpillar.

Exploring transitions in the natural world, there is a site-specific piece of a male form in 15 poses outside.

The exhibit ends bright, colorful, and hopeful with three flowers at the new exit onto the street inside Jaffa Gate (where the old entrance was located).

When I first arrived at the Tower of David entrance, with the sun shining. I thought these figures were newly planted cypress trees. How wrong I was!

With Zadok Ben-David’s work, you have to take time and look at the details. Those were not leaves. They were human shapes. Each of the seven trees shows growth from the first sparse tree to a full one at the other end.

The exhibit goes until April.

Design Week also opened at Hansen House this year titled “The Ark.”

Hundreds of visitors filled the spaces outside for the opening event where the Mayor came to speak.

The inner courtyard had pieces of art and displays filled the buildings and campus.

In one room Bezalel students made colorful videos.

Fascinating fashions filled another room.

Entering “The Factory” felt like a scene from Willy Wonka. So much fun, I should go back. Design Week runs until September 26, 2024. Something for everyone, so much to see, this is barely a taste.