Tu Bishvat – The Real Jerusalem Streets

Tu Bishvat on the Jerusalem Streets

February 8, 2026February 8, 2026Sharon A

For over 15 years, The Real Jerusalem Streets has shared Tu Bishvat posts.

Of course, each time wondering how best to spell — Tu Beshvat or Tu B’Shvat.

Some years were the simple colors of Tu B’Shvat.

Some years were much more ambitious for Tu Bishvat.

Remember those Amygdalus Communis growing in Jerusalem?

This past week, I set out to find what was new for you.

Jerusalem, Israel, and the cranes rise higher and higher into the sky.

Mountains have to be moved to install new light rail tracks.

Buildings rise above the expanded highways.

And wow, the mess as new sidewalks and bike trails are being worked on – it seems – everywhere.

But the winter green has returned to the nature spots.

And the first almond blossoms were out in time for Tu Bishvat.

The protest sites near the Knesset are still there, though the last hostage has returned.

This Knesset building opened on Tu Bishvat 60 years ago.

I went to the 50th celebration.

I went to the Knesset for the 60th celebration last week.

On Tu Bishvat this year, I did not get in.

I contacted 4 people, and a Minister tried to help. After waiting an hour, I left.

I did get to chat for an hour with a reporter I had not seen in a long time; she also did not get in.

It was a beautiful day to be in Gan Sacher. The piano is no longer yellow for the hostage return.

Had time to walk through the National Library and see all the people.

Good to see the space that was filled with chairs and books for the hostages is back to normal.

‘There are Flowers’ was the Tu Bishvat theme in the library.

Flowers were coming from the stones, as every year, as winter ebbs.

New signs for Jerusalem events have been posted.

Buds have appeared on the lemon tree.

And on Tu Bishvat, new signs went up over the Jerusalem streets for Shushan Purim.

This year’s celebration is to be on Ruppin Street on Tuesday, March 3, 2026.

The seasons are changing, and it feels like spring on the Jerusalem streets.

Hope to see you here soon, this year in Jerusalem.

Jerusalem a City of Continuing Constant Contrasts

February 16, 2025February 17, 2025Sharon A

Another week in Jerusalem, Israel, filled with euphoric highs and painful lows.

Plus a few constants thrown in to keep us on track as we move forward.

During the third week of February, the week of US President’s Day, it’s time to share a Jerusalem street sign for George Washington Street near the other US President – Abraham Lincoln Street.

Tu Bishvat was this past week, in the US it was celebrated by receiving a buksor (carob) pod. In Jerusalem, hundreds of pods littered the ground under the carob trees.

Tu Bishvat and the almond blossoms were bursting out on trees along Jerusalem streets.

It was good to get to the Botanical Gardens and the Japanese Pagoda in time to see the cherry blossoms.

A favorite sign of spring is the wildflowers popping up in nature spots.

Even better to see them in the new growth in the area below the Israel Museum destroyed by fire.

Overcast windy days are good for getting photos of the flags at the Knesset. However, there were no big celebrations for the Tu Bishvat this year. The Knesset’s first session was on Tu Bishvat and a major celebration on the 50th year at this site was nine years ago.

This year an empty chair sits in the Knesset corridor waiting for the hostages to come home.

The anguished screams of relatives who come each day are too painful to share.

In contrast, the silence next to the Knesset is the Bird Observatory still empty during the day.

By the Memorial Candle in Gan Sacher, the wreaths for the end of January commemoration of the siege of Leningrad were wilting. The world is very different than it was 5 years ago when it was dedicated.

Though Tu Bishvat is thought to be a sign of spring, much of the Jerusalem weather was wet and cold.

However, this young man seemed to enjoy the pool of water at one construction site.

So many areas are under construction for the light rail, that it is hard to walk on the Jerusalem streets.

Most seats were reserved Thursday evening at Beit Hanasi, the Israeli President’s Residence.

Supreme Court Judges and the over-filled audience in the room rose as the President entered.

President Isaac Herzog signed the document appointing the new head of the Supreme Court Yitzhak Amit, as Amit looked on from the podium to the right side of the official table.

The previous heads of the Supreme Court posed for a photo after the speeches.

All judges are sworn in at Beit Hanasi, including Shariah Law Qadis.

The audience, filled with the judiciary, was warm and receptive, and the largest in my memory.

However, outside, the protesters were loud enough to be heard during the speeches. Not everyone was pleased with the Supreme Court selection, and the Prime Minister and Justice Minister did not attend.

Have you seen the Iron Swords War Memorial in Commemoration of Jerusalem and those fallen?

It’s a new monument near the Knesset across from the National Library and has their names engraved inside.

Next to the momument to the fallen is a new children’s park.

After Shabbat, people were walking and running to prepare for the Jerusalem Marathon on 4/4/25.

Most protests speeches and gatherings with singing are in Tel Aviv all these months. A night event for the return of hostages is planned for Kikar Safra, Safra Square, on Thursday night February 20, 2025.

Jerusalem is planning to celebrate Women’s Month in Jerusalem with a list of open houses.

The days and nights with highs and lows continue.

Life continues in Jerusalem, Israel.

Hope to see you soon on The Real Jerusalem Streets.

In Jerusalem, February got off to a Busy Start

February 5, 2023February 5, 2023Sharon A

What a week, this was an unusual week!

The weather went from sunny and spring-like to cold, wet, and rainy. Here are a few highlights for you of what happened on the Jerusalem streets as January ended and February began.

Monday

Monday at the Knesset there were clouds gathering – weather-wise.

Inside the Negev Meeting Room, a meeting was held to discuss the hot issue of the government report on antisemitism that was released to the public.

Convened by the Israeli Minister for Diaspora Affairs and Social Equality Amichai Chikli, the meeting included leaders of organizations involved in the field and personalities active in social media.

Various Members of Knesset arrived, spoke, and left. It was a busy day with meetings throughout the building. I liked seeing one tour for individuals in wheelchairs and another for young mothers with babies in strollers.

The bottom line, antisemitic attacks have increased.

Outside the Knesset orange tulips were open in the sunlight in Jerusalem.

But at night the rain began as we attended a wedding in Beit Shemesh.

Tuesday

The Montefiore Windmill was lit at night on my way to Yemin Moshe.

An interesting evening in Mishkenot Sha’ananim hosted by the Jerusalem Press Club was in memory of Yossi Nesher z”l. An Israel radio Arabic-language broadcaster, he spoke to the new immigrants from Arabic-speaking countries in a language they could understand.

Glad I took an umbrella. I walked home in the rain, pouring rain.

My boots were finally dry enough to wear again by Friday afternoon.

With the rain pouring down, it was a good time to stay home and zoom.

Wednesday

A CAMERA webinar highlighted a serious issue in US public education.

Ethnic study activists are promoting courses that are anti-Israel and support BDS, through Teacher Development training, community groups, and classroom materials. With no standards and no transparency, political activism is getting into schools. Too many are unaware that these courses vilify Jews and are meant to turn children against Israel.

Thursday

On Groundhog Day 2023 – Punxsutawney Phil predicted 6 more weeks of winter in the US, but in Jerusalem, Israel we had a little sunshine.

Here’s a view from a sixth-floor window at Hadassah Hospital on Mt Scopus in the late afternoon.

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How sad to see the memorials inside of Eli and Natali Mizrahi z”l, who were murdered in Neveh Yakov by a terrorist the week before. She had worked at the hospital.

Friday

On Friday I noticed this sign near the exit to the “Founders whose great generosity has made them Partners of Hadassah in Mount Scopus reborn.” Remember this Jewish hospital was not accessible from 1947-1967.

And sitting near the sign was an elderly Arab man in a Yad Sarah wheelchair. Oh, the not-so-simple Jerusalem streets!

Shabbat

The flowers were so colorful – perfect for a simple Shabbat greeting.

Tu Bishvat

It’s that fun time of year again! The almond trees bloomed early.

Remember it was all almonds last year? Now off to find something new to share next time from the multiple Tu Bishvat events.

February has only begun, just another week in Jerusalem with so much more happening soon! Come and see for yourself or host an online tour.