Jerusalem: Old and New

Jerusalem, Israel,

old and new,

changing  and improving.

There is a mosaic tile on Emek Refaim Street

which reads on the right side at the bottom,

“Prutah of the Jewish War against the Romans (68-69 C.E.)”

and with a Q code on the left for your smartphone.

Emek Refaim Street has been in the news lately

as the light rail system is planning to expand and be built on the street.

That is a red and yellow protest sign.

Will there be tracks just like those on Jaffa Road?

The whole area in southern Jerusalem is changing.

Many buildings in the area are of poor quality,

put up quickly when Jews came in large numbers,

in 1948 and again in 1967.

Tama 38 is an incentive for builders to redo existing buildings,

adding elevators, penthouses, enlarging apartments,

and strengthening structures to withstand earthquakes.

Restaurants come and go,

 as do those ‘for rent’ signs.

Ten years ago,

this one building stood out,

tall and attractive and new above the Talpiot skyline.

Talpiot is an industrial area once known mostly for its garages.

This week another tech start-up initiative opened.

With music and a ribbon cutting,

places to sit and work,

with hi-fi and rechargers available – 24-7.

There is still much to work on with parking and driving,

but Talpiot is changing, as those garages of the past

are being replaced with modern office buildings and showrooms.

The Hadar Mall has expanded and improved.

 AACI,  the Association of Americans and Canadians in Israel,

moved to Talpiot six years ago.

Many people were upset that it was so far away.

Now Talpiot is another example,

 of the old and new in Jerusalem.