Author: rjstreets

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?

Occupied on Sukkot

rjstreets

At present, hundreds of cities around the world are being occupied,

as “Occupy” protesters take to the streets and people are living in tents.

This week in Jerusalem, as they do every year for the Sukkot holiday,

thousands of people leave their homes to occupy… sukkot.

Sukkot can have one of the best views of the Kotel, the Western Wall,

or be on the back of a truck,

or even on the back of a camel.

 With or without a welcoming sign… all around Jerusalem this week,

 thousands of sukkot are being occupied.

At night when the lights go on

they stand out

inviting,

bright against the dark sky.

Some are long with simple white walls,

others with patterned fabric.

Some are tucked away off the street

and some are large and imposing on a roof top,

while others appear small and alone.

Some sukkot are public

and some very private.

There is one sukkah that is now dark and unoccupied.

It is the enlarged sukkah built in the Shalit protest area,

near the Prime Minister’s residence.  The Shalit family has left Jerusalem,

they and their supporters went home before the holiday began.

Also, it seems… not occupied on Sukkot

are the new light rail trains.

Their drivers have barely started to work,

but are already on strike and the trains are not running today,

one of the busiest tourist days of the year.

Moadim L’Simcha from Jerusalem!

10 Sukkot Favorites

rjstreets

Signs of the Sukkot holiday can be found before Yom Kippur,

but as the fast day ends serious holiday preparations begin.

Here are the ten best ways to tell the Sukkot holiday is approaching:

1. Sukkot begin to fill outdoor porches,

open spaces,

  any 3 walls not under a tree or overhang is covered with schach, becomes a sukkah.

2. Stands selling colorful decorations for the sukkah pop up all over.

3. Number three is lulav shopping.

It can be done in a supermarket,

but for serious consumers

there are special markets for the arba minim.

Rows of etrogim

and piles of hadasim and aravot.

Each item is carefully

examined and studied

for perfect specimens.

4. Finding the right holiday clothing is a must.

5. Family reunions for the holiday are a good reason to smile.

6. Shopping and cooking for all those guests becomes a major task.

7. Police security check in Machane Yehuda market, the shuk goes to the dogs.

8. With thousands of extra visitors and shoppers, traffic jams are a regular sight.

9. An Elvis impersonator singing on a shopping strip is not a regular sight,

just a sign that you never know what to expect in Jerusalem.

10. Recently, this sign had been at another intersection, then reappeared here,

“To all!

The holy Jewish people have a responsibility of unity

and unconditional love

please!”

  I do not know who posted it, but the message is an interesting one.

Random acts of violence have increased over the last week.

However, for most people it is hard not to notice that the holiday season is here.

Chag Sameach

Happy holidays!