Western Wall Heritage tours – The Real Jerusalem Streets

See if you Missed These 5 Things in Jerusalem

February 9, 2025February 9, 2025Sharon A

One thing Jerusalem, Israel, does not lack is a slow news day.

The cycle of events whirls by so quickly it is hard to keep up.

This week it seemed as if we were on fast speed with highs and lows.

Jerusalem streets were a mess from road construction closings. Then the spring-like weather came to an end. Winter rains pounded down and heavy winds slowed traffic to a crawl.

However, as always, more was happening on the Jerusalem streets.

Here is what you may have missed…

KNESSET at NIGHT

It had been a long time since I had been at the Knesset at night, the new blue lighting was impressive.

Across the road, the new entrance to the Wohl Rose Garden was also impressive.

“United we will win” plus yellow ribbons on the Knesset, and a list of no-nos greet you.

There was a special showing of the movie “CENTERED: Joe Lieberman” hosted by MK Ohad Tal.

Oh, how, we could use some politicians with his moral compass now, in the US and Israel.

WESTERN WALL NEW TOUR

It was a glorious day in the sunshine on the Jerusalem streets.

New soldiers were at Jaffa Gate and around the Old City. Always amazed how for many it is their first experience in Jerusalem and going to the Kotel, Western Wall, and learning the history.

The Western Wall Heritage Foundation has added new a audio-visual event for tourists.

It is fast-moving to capture the attention of young visitors, as the center changes with historical periods.

The visuals changed from the foundation stone to the Roman expulsion to modern times.

From the newest high tech, we went down to the oldest of levels of Jerusalem streets.

Not open to the public yet, these areas are being carefully excavated by archeologists, bit by bit.

The earliest levels are being exposed under the Western Wall Plaza.

Not under the Temple Mount, but in the areas near it, built over the millennia.

An old Ottoman area home is being exposed,

with interesting stones on the walls

and a place for a mezuzah on the doorpost.

When the tour opens it will be another fascinating look at the history of Jerusalem.

From the roof of the building, there was a clear view of the structural work being done on the plaza.

New supports must be laid to keep the current ground level stable with the underground excavations.

The Great Bridge Tour has been developed since my last visit in 2021 during Hanukkah.

The Roman theater and walkways improved,

but the draw and wonder of the ancient stones is eternal.

Near the end of the tour is a stop at the Western Wall Synagogue.

It is an impressive place to pray on Shabbat and holidays.

KOSOVO EMBASSY

The Kosovo Embassy hosted its annual International Holocaust Remembrance Day with the participation of Yad Vashem, marking 80 years since the liberation of Auschwitz. A survivor and her family were highlighted with the launch of their new biographical book.

SHAON HOREF

The Jerusalem streets near Kikar Safra, Jerusalem’s City Hall Plaza are usually deserted after dark on the winter cold nights. The Shaon Horef— Winter Noise Festival attempts to entice people to come to Jerusalem streets on Mondays nights during the winter.

Shushan Street was the first venue on the first February Monday night with lights and music playing.

There are 4 more Monday nights, the last on March 3, 2025, each based on a different Jerusalem street.

In the past I got a shot glass, this year colorful stickers were the giveaway.

The festival is aimed to draw young Israelis to explore lesser-known Jerusalem streets and eat and drink

However, on the Jerusalem streets, while you can tour, eat, drink, and celebrate, reminders of October 7 and the hostages are always a few steps away.

Next Year in Jerusalem for all.

Am Yisrael Chai!

Shabbat Shalom from the Jerusalem’s Western Wall Synagogue

February 7, 2025February 7, 2025Sharon A

The Real Jerusalem Streets has posted almost 100 Shabbat Shalom images and greetings,

flowers, scenes from north and south of Israel, and dozens from Jerusalem street scenes.

This past week, on a tour with the Western Wall Heritage Center,

one scene of the synagogue was impressive for a new Shabbat Shalom greeting.

שבת שלום

15 New Things Above and Below the Jerusalem Streets

January 29, 2023January 31, 2023Sharon A

It was another roller-coaster week on the Jerusalem streets.

The sounds of children playing and birds chirping resonated from the Jerusalem parks as one walked by on the spring-like Shabbat morning.

It was only at night, after Shabbat ended, that we heard the devastating news of death and terror not so far away from our tranquil neighborhood.

However, I have decided to focus on what you did not hear about, not the “conflict” which garners international media attention, but what’s new.

My week started at the Kotel, Western Wall, where as usual, various groups of people of all ages from around the world were gathered.

One Jerusalem scene was perfect for black and white.

This colorful group of international Lutheran clergy was entering the Old City by Jaffa Gate to attend the ordination of the first Arab woman. Notice the international media reported that it took place in Jerusalem, with no mention of Israel?

Media reports called her a “Palestinian,” but did not note how the numbers of Christians in the Palestinian-controlled territories have plummeted under PA rule, whereas they have increased in Israel.

Work on the Tower of David is still not completed.

Some of the Old City streets were still quiet in the morning hours though the tourists are noticeable back on the Jerusalem streets.

The work on the restoration of the Tiferet Israel Synagogue is covered up but rises tall above the street in the Jewish Quarter. The construction to replace the structure that was destroyed by the Jordanian Legions in 1948 has taken years to complete.

Here is a reminder of how it looked for decades before work began.

Finally, the work on the Kotel Plaza elevator was underway. Those steps never were convenient for disabled individuals or strollers, or anyone.

The Kotel Plaza is being dug up (again) for new infrastructure work.

This is how the work looks from above in the Western Wall Heritage Center.

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The work beneath the new Center building is not completed but is still an impressive look back centuries in time.

We were on our way to hear from the Rabbi of the Western Wall Rabbi Shmuel Rabinovitch. He gives his interviews in Hebrew and has them translated into English.

However, outside another famous rabbi not usually in the area was spotted. Rav Reuven Feinstein was leaving with a group as we arrived.

Also impressive is the newly enclosed Kotel Plaza area for women to pray quietly away from the elements. I have been watching the space for years and wondering what they were doing.

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But the main part of this visit was to see what was new under the Plaza.

Remember that I reported on a tour of Hanukkah 2021, that this area was not open to the public. Well, now it is, though excavation work is not ever complete, there is always something new to find going down.