Month: October 2011

Not this year in Jerusalem

rjstreets

 Jerusalem turned pink for the Komen Race for the Cure in 2010,

 in many places it is an annual event to raise money for breast cancer research.

Last year’s race took place on a beautiful day in Jerusalem.

Thousands of people came from around the world,

hundreds of Arab women came from all over Israel to participate.

This year the race was not run, but last year was nice enough to see again.

Click on Archive on the right for October 2010,

then click Race for the Cure.

Not this year…

but maybe next year in Jerusalem,

or better yet a cure.

A Different Perspective

rjstreets

Those who predicted that Gaddafi would be overthrown by his own people

were correct…only it took 42 years for those predictions to be fulfilled.

One has to wonder about what will happen to Libya,

a society where children are taken to view a dead dictator’s body,

now that Sharia Law will become the law of the land.

Turkey has another earthquake and turns down offers of help.

Headlines are of knife attacks and a new security alert in Jerusalem.

The holiday season is finally over and before the November events begin,

it seems like a good time to share some of the art and beauty

that you can find on the Jerusalem streets.

On a path near a main road is this sculpture, one of many around the city.

On the sides of  buildings

 large murals can be seen.

While there is a new initiative to decorate the Machane Yehuda market, the shuk,

 noncommissioned street art or graffiti

can be found

in many locations around Jerusalem.

Brightly painted and decorated

boxes for electrical and phone wires

 are scattered throughout the city.

Some of the art displayed in Mamilla Mall is colorful and whimsical,

and Biblical themes are common… Noah is timely for this week.

Sculptures have included the large and holy

and the small and mundane.

However, it is the interaction of the public with these works of art

that makes them more

than just something to view

and appreciate from afar.

The pieces are constantly being changed

and then photographed by visitors.

Some request to have their picture taken with a piece of art,

while others may not be aware they are being photographed.

Wonder if these people realized they were sitting on an art project?

One of many city benches painted with a gold lion by two local artists.

This was probably not meant to be a work of art,

but on the streets of Jerusalem you can never be quite sure…

things often are seen from a different perspective.

Gilad Shalit Home

rjstreets

During Chol Hamoed Sukkot, the intermediate days of  Sukkot in Jerusalem,

 huge crowds gather at the Kotel, the Western Wall,

for Birchat Kohanim, the Priestly Blessing.

They stand in long lines to greet the President at his annual sukkah open house.

However, this year all media attention has been on the return of Gilad Shalit.

1000 days after he was kidnapped on June 25, 2006,

 a night-time rally was held by a tent in Jerusalem

that was erected near the Prime Minister’s official residence.

At first

it was a simple affair,

staffed with one or two volunteers

and some banners.

Then July 2010,

 the Shalit family walked to Jerusalem from their home in Mitzpe Hila

and took up “residence” in the tent and a small food area was added.

Real floors were installed on top of the sidewalks

 and the kitchen was upgraded.

Deliveries to feed the growing numbers of workers were increased.

The numbers of yellow ribbons, flags and photographers increased.

Being photographed inside the tent with the Shalits

or broadcasting outside became a media priority.

Tee shirt sales were booming.

Runners in the Jerusalem marathon carried Gilad Shalit flags.

  Additional signs were installed across the street.

Schools from around the world posted signs of support

and were among the hundreds of busloads of visitors.

The tent was insulated for winter.

In the summer, sitting outside was often more comfortable to receive visitors.

With the “5 minutes of silence for 5 years of  captivity” campaign,  Noam Shalit

received extensive media attention for the Free Gilad Shalit campaign.

Dozens of photographers looked for a winning shot.

TV news did live broadcast as the busy intersection came to a stop.

The next day the Shalits checked the papers to see how the event was reported.

Then on day 1934 of captivity,

it was announced that a prisoner exchange had been agreed upon.

 Gilad Shalit was coming home.

The family returned to their home, the tent was emptied and closed.

Today the Shalit family and much of the country is euphoric.

Everyone wanted Gilad Shalit home, after his 1941 days held in isolation in Gaza..

But there is another side of the street… at what price?

The counter protests were small, but sincere.

Many family members of victims of terror feel betrayed as their loved ones’

killers are set free.

Is a deal that releases multiple mass murderers who are determined to kill again,

really good for the country?