Western Wall

Tisha B’Av in Jerusalem 5785

Sharon A

Tisha B’Av.

Tisha B’Av in Jerusalem, Israel, is like nowhere else in the world.

At night, as the sky grows dark, the Jerusalem streets near the Old City swell with people walking towards the Kotel, Western Wall. Tens of thousands went last night, but I wasn’t able to walk this year as usual.

Model of Jewish Temple on Aish roof top with view to Dome of the Rock in the distance

A model of the Temple was lit one night from the Aish World Center rooftop. The Golden Dome of the Rock, which was built over the site of its destruction, can be seen at the top of this image.

For those who have not been to Jerusalem and toured the areas being rediscovered, here is a 2-minute video to give you an idea of what it was before the Roman destruction.

Stones fallen from Temple Mount at base of Old City Western wall

These stones were left where they fell so many centuries ago along the base of the Western Wall.

View of Absalom's Tomb from above at night

I missed walking around the walls last night and the views on the eastern side of the Old City Walls.

Mercy Gate on the eastern wall of Jerusalem Old City walls

Last year, I got a photo of Mercy Gate as we walked by on the way to Lion’s Gate and back to the Kotel.



Ten years ago, on the night of Tisha B’Av, as every year, tens of thousands came and sang slow songs.

The Western Wall Heritage Foundation shared photos from last night of the annual scene.

Bible Lands Museum Jerusalem video from a favorite exhibit on Babylon.

And there on the rivers of Babylon told their story,

for generation after generation.

Many Jews returned to Zion with the prophets Ezra and Nehemiah,

But many wealthy families remained.

Now 2500 years later,

Many have returned to Jerusalem, Israel, and others have not.

This has been an especially hard Tisha B’Av on a personal and national level.

The situation in Gaza, with 50 hostages, and world support growing for the terrorists, is hard to see.

Next year in Jerusalem!

In Jerusalem, Sukkot Begins with Blessings and Crowds

Sharon A

The holiday of Sukkot is a popular time for tourists from around the world to arrive in Jerusalem, Israel, to celebrate the holiday which originated in Biblical times. This year, with limited air travel, the numbers may be down, but visitors appear no less enthusiastic.

Tens of thousands of people walked to Jerusalem’s Old City to the Kotel, the Western Wall for the morning prayers of Birkat Cohanim, Priestly Blessings, on Sukkot on Sunday, October 20, 2024.

Thousands are coming and going all day, during the week of Sukkot – and late into the night.

The official rabbis and dignitaries stood in a secluded area above the Western Wall Plaza.

However, it was impressive to see Israeli flags flying overhead

and people lining the rooftops at every available vantage point.

A sukkah is a temporary structure for holiday meals. I finally got one quick photo of ours ready for Shabbat dinner before lighting candles and welcoming guests.

Lining the Jerusalem streets, you will see many sukkot on outside porches,

and of varied colors, sizes, and materials for the walls.

The First Station has a large sukkah for use by restaurant customers.

The Train Theater has a simple white sukkah in the courtyard.

The local pizza shop has had a sukkah on this street corner for many years.

All week leading up to the start of the holiday on Wednesday night, October 16th, people were assembling the materials to build the frame and walls.

On Jerusalem streets youngsters were selling schach, palm branches, to cover the sukkah.

While the major market is located near Machane Yehuda Market on Jaffa Street, on many of the Jerusalem streets, young men were selling everything needed for Sukkot, from an etrog to tinsel decorations.

With a good spot on the Aish rooftop, I recorded Birkat Cohahim this year. You can see people walking up the ramp to Temple Mount during the prayer.

More of Birkat Cohanim – HERE

Celebrating Sukkot this year while remembering the lives of the fallen in the past year

and the hostages is the norm, both in private and public spaces.

More of the highlights of Sukkot 5785/2024 next time!

It’s time to go to Gan Sacher, Sacher Park, and check out the Jerusalem Parade family activities.

Moadim l’Simcha is the traditional greeting for the intermediate days of Sukkot.

However, I will also close with this young woman’s shirt – Am Yisrael is Very Chai.

Chag Samaech.

One Week into October 2024 – Looking Back from Jerusalem

Sharon A

Some weeks are harder than others.

Each week the goal of The Real Jerusalem Streets is to share real things you may not hear about in the mainstream media. There are many such events and usually hundreds of photos to select from.

This week even more so than usual, it was hard to get started – oh what a week it was.

As I sat down at the computer after grabbing a quick photo out the window of impressive clouds at sunset, my phone on the desk blasted a Homefront Alert to seek shelter. This was the first-ever mass warning of incoming ballistic missiles from Iran.

I may be the only person who does not have a dramatic story or a selfie to share from Tuesday night.

Much of Israel was affected, and it was a miracle that the only people killed were a Gazan in Jericho, 5 Iranians on a backfire mishap in Iran, and possibly one person in Jordan.

It was sad to see the Kotel, Western Wall empty on a night it should have been filled for prayers before Rosh Hashana. A small service was held inside Wilson’s Arch instead.

However, after Shabbat which followed the two-day Rosh Hashana holiday, the crowds were back.

A simple photo from before the holiday, with the 72-hour candle, will have to do.

It was both a long holiday and a short week.

But, how can we complain about too much holiday, when those held hostage in Gaza for a year have had so little food and no freedom?

Cleaning my desk last night I found this 1982 cartoon.

Except for Castro, it is the same as today. “I move to condemn Israel!”

Today this warning from the Homefront command for northern communities flashed on the computer screen. There have been hundreds of missiles in the past week, and over 10,000 in the past year. Over 63,000 people have been forced from their homes – Shlomi is the last on this list.

Check out Israel’s Northern Exposure from 4 years ago.

Buildings near Lebanon border Blue LIne

Look at those “houses” on the Israeli border in Lebanon – some of the thousands of above-ground shelters for missiles.

The sounds of shofars for Rosh Hashana filled the Jerusalem streets, and planes flew overhead day and night. However, our friends and families in the north were under the constant stream of rocket fire interrupting their holiday and trying to take their lives.

“Falling in open spaces” means more miracles, when under persistent attack.

Tomorrow is October 7, 2024, with a list of commemorative events for the murdered and hostages.

Before I could publish, a terrorist stabbing in the Beer Sheva bus station with casualties.

These messages are no longer seen on buses, but the message has become more significant – Hatima Tova, “May you be sealed for good!”