Western Wall – The Real Jerusalem Streets

It’s August vacation time, but never downtime in Jerusalem

August 16, 2026August 16, 2026Sharon A

The news cycle in Jerusalem, Israel, seems to run fast even in the summer heat.

August, though a popular time to visit, does not have as many large conferences.

It is more of a family time with school out and daycare hard to find.

Started our week with a drive out to a special family simcha in Nokdim.

The view of the sunset over Herodium was as beautiful as anticipated.

Remember when the area was empty and barren.

Now the way is lined with new Arab construction.

Glad to see family together to celebrate. It was a special bar mitzvah.

During the week, I was back at the National Library of Israel.

They were posting the new exhibit to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the United States.

Posters from the NLI collections were highlighted in light boxes.

The topics were related to early populations in New York.

A 1915 map of Brooklyn divided into areas according to residents’ countries of origin captured my attention.

Jewish neighborhoods are colored in pink.

In the 1920s, one quarter of New York City residents were Jewish.

We lived in Brooklyn for four years before September 11, 2001.

However, I never considered myself a New Yorker, always an “out-of-towner.”

A letter signed by President Harry Truman is on display.

“The United States recognizes the provisional government as the de facto authority of the State of Israel,” wrote Truman.

The Promised City is having its troubles.

In 1916, they printed a Ladino handbook for learning English and Yiddish. It was used to integrate the new immigrants with practical knowledge of life in America. The Ladino-speaking community numbered in the tens of thousands, but there were 1.5 million Yiddish speakers.

There is also a small alcove to sit and catch up on US literature. Books to read, not to take.

Signs are up outside the building for “Quest of Questions,” which is open until April 2027.

Also, the annual Docu.Text Festival begins on August 16, 2026, at the NLI.

It has become a popular spot to visit.

Good air conditioning and good food add to the experience.

Coming outside and seeing all the protest tents removed from the area was even better.

The Puppet Festival begins its 35th year at the Train Theater in Liberty Bell Park.

August festivals have become less international, but still attract crowds of Israelis who did not fly away for a holiday.

Street closings for the light rail construction are announced daily.

It feels like there is construction everywhere.

However, it’s Elul, and Rosh Hashanah and the new year are approaching.

So in Jerusalem, tens of thousands filled the Kotel Western Wall last night for the first Selihot.

The next major Selihot gathering at the Western Wall Plaza is planned for Thursday | 7 Elul | August 20 at 12:15 a.m. Tens of thousands of worshippers are expected to attend.

Plus, various Selichot tours of the Old City are starting.

Will you be here this year in Jerusalem?

Tisha B’Av in Jerusalem 5785

August 3, 2025August 3, 2025Sharon 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

October 21, 2024October 21, 2024Sharon 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