Jerusalem, Israel – what is really happening
Recent rains have not produced any rainbows to photograph,
but in honor of the holiday of Tu B’Shvat, the fifteen day of the month Shevat,
the New Year of Trees…
we present a rainbow of colors in Jerusalem.
Red,
orange,
yellow,
green,
blue,
indigo,
violet,
purple,
more purple,
so many shades of purple–
all can be found on the streets of Jerusalem.
May it be a good year for the trees and for all.
Happy Tu B’shvat!
With the start of 2011, the frequency of
kassams, missiles and kaytushas coming from Gaza is increasing;
ten fell in the first week of the new year, with more each day.
There have been injuries and one Israeli soldier was killed.
As many Israelis do not visit Jerusalem,
after induction into the army new recruits are brought to the Old City
and to the Kotel, the Western Wall
which has been so important to the Jewish people for centuries.
For some, it is a time to pray;
for others, a time to write a note.
They learn about their history,
visit the sites,
Hundreds of young women,
armed with a rifle,
or at rest
are proud to be Israeli soldiers.
Recently three women completed their pilot training
and were qualified as pilots in the Air Force.
It was announced that religious women with children are to be drafted.
From now on, it will be even harder to stereotype the new IDF soldier.
A young woman lies in a medically induced coma following surgery.
Last week she was injured by a speeding car, hit and thrown so hard her aorta was ruptured.
She is not a famous professor, so as long as she lives… it is not ‘news’.
Driving in Jerusalem
is not easy.
Car accidents are daily occurrences, drivers trading information at a “fender bender” is a common sight.
Even in well-marked cross walks, danger lurks every time one tries to cross a street,
many cars do not stop for pedestrians.
This driver sped through too fast to take a good photograph.
The traffic situation in Jerusalem is a serious problem.
Student crossing guards are on duty during the time children come and go from school.
The sign at this corner had to be replaced, as it was hit so many times.
Illegal parking often creates an obstacle for pedestrians.
The speed limit is posted on Chaim Hazaz Boulevard, but when traffic is light
many cars slow down only after they see their excessive speeds displayed.
These new bollards are already smashed–it takes a lot of force to cause this much damage.
And soon the traffic situation in the city center is going to get much worse.
Many bus routes go through the city center on Jaffa Street.
For trial runs of the the light rail system, Jaffa Street is to be closed to bus traffic.
Those large buses and thousands of passengers will be diverted to adjacent streets,
such as Hanevim Street, recently the scene of a deadly accident.
As the UN Global Plan for Decade of Action for Road Safety 2011-2020 begins,
we could benefit from improved road safety.
Meanwhile, it seems all we can do is be careful out there
and pray for Royza Mindel Bas Rochel
who met with the real danger of the Jerusalem streets.