rjstreets – Page 165 – The Real Jerusalem Streets

Tweets from Jerusalem

January 17, 2012rjstreets

While once again on Sunday haredim in Mea Shearim were rioting,

across town these people were tweeting.

No riots at SMX Israel, the Search Marketing Expo in Jerusalem,

but some of this “techie” crowd may have their work cut for them.

Afraid of cyber terror attacks,

Israeli banks are blocking internet access from abroad,

new business ideas are bound to come from this situation.

On my way to the conference I went by Beit Hanasi,

the President of Israel’s official residence.

There seemed to be a lot of garbage outside, since the president

is reported to be staying in temporarily in David’s Village

during renovations to the living quarters at Beit Hanasi.

Maybe they had inside information…

as the next morning was the beginning of a municipal services strike.

No more cute garbage photos;

on the first day of the strike the bins were overflowing onto the streets.

As people try to figure out where to put their trash and rubbish,

the birds

and the cats are loving it.

A good thing is that temperatures are low,

not cold enough for snow, so it’s raining again.

Since the real streets are not a pretty sight right now,

why not see what went on inside at SMX Israel this week:

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.309086095800869.71226.152997821409698&type=1

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.309402689102543.71295.152997821409698&type=1

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.309432352432910.71300.152997821409698&type=1

8 Things that Won’t Make Headlines

January 12, 2012rjstreets

Everyone loves pictures of Jerusalem covered in white,

but there was no snow today, even though

it was cold enough to use a refrigerator thermometer inside.

When the sun shines…it is time to go outside and warm up.

While walking around Jerusalem today, I found 8 things

that won’t make the headlines.

1. Bikur Cholim Hospital did not close as was threatened

and babies are delivered there by the thousands.

2. On Mea Shearim Street,

there were puddles on the sidewalks, but buses were running in the streets.

3. Traffic backed up on this side street long enough

for people to stop honking and get out of their cars to look.

The problem…a delivery of toilet paper around the corner.

Perhaps the guys on the Segway have a good idea?

4. There was no sign of separate

sidewalks,

for anyone,

but some signs were gone.

5. Pink laundry was hanging out to dry,

demonstrating that not all Mea Shearim clothing is black.

However, long black clothing can be attention grabbing too.

Arab women

6. It’s sale time in Mamilla Mall

and as always…Muslim women shop.

7. Small children still walk home from school alone.

8. Flocks of birds enjoy Jerusalem everyday.

But one thing sure to make headlines…

the new bus routes that begin on Friday the 13th.

Two Different Worlds

January 10, 2012rjstreets

In many parts of the world books may be going out of style,

but in Jerusalem book launches happen all the time.

People come to buy the book,

hear the author talk about it and stand in line to have it autographed.

One such event–of exceptional proportions–took place this week,

when former Chief Rabbi Yisroel Meir Lau came to Jerusalem

to introduce the English translation of his autobiography,

entitled, “Out of the Depths.”

A long line formed as people waited for an hour to have

Rabbi Lau sign their book before the 8:00pm lecture was to begin.

Rabbi Lau spoke in English in the main sanctuary of The Great Synagogue,

where he pointed to the spot where in 1993 he was sworn in as chief rabbi.

He told the audience of his childhood during World War II:

how as a small five-year old, he lost family and home.

A thousand people listened as he told of the trauma of his mother

pushing him away from her, off the train and to certain death,

towards his older brother and a chance to live.

From the depths of the Buchenwald concentration camp,

he arrived in Eretz Yisroel after the war, an eight-year old with no education,

but was able to continue the long line of his family’s rabbinic dynasty.

As Rabbi Lau spoke I was thinking of a different world.

We were travelling in and out of Jerusalem a few times this week

and each time we had to wait as cars were searched.

Sometimes the person at the front of the line had his papers examined.

Today an Arab woman was found trying to get in a 30 cm knife,

yesterday 19 pipe bombs were found before they could be used.

Dozens of medical cases came into Israel this week and

88,000 flowers from Gaza were exported through Israel.

Leaving the building,

if you look to the right you will see this sign.

The survivors of the Holocaust lived through the worst of times,

from less than nothing, they went on to build new lives and families.

The world has given millions and millions of dollars to the PA,

what have they built?

More photos from the book signing:

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.306051199437692.70628.152997821409698&type=1