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From the news this week one would think that all of Jerusalem is divided; religious or secular, right or left, east or west.  However, on  many Jerusalem streets people do come together and not just in traffic accidents.

 

Outside the walls of the Old City…thousands of people gather and pass peacefully day after day.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At the Kotel, the Western Wall on Monday or Thursday and certain holidays when 13 year old boys are celebrating their Bar Mitzvahs, invited guests and strangers from all over the world can be found enjoying the celebrations.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shopping in the Machane Yehuda Market, shuk has for years been a important part of life in Jerusalem.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ben Yehuda Street

is alive again.

King George and Strauss Streets

in the center of town

 and its shops are also busy.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 But the modern malls are real competition.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Many buses cross the Jerusalem streets,  often riders come together  like sardines.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Great Synagogue attracts many visitors.

Bus loads of tourists come, 

Jews, left, right and center  attend

the services.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  

 

                                                            And finally,

                                                            one thing everyone

                                                            agrees on…

                                                            Yaffo Street 

                                                             is still a mess…….

Security issues are the hot topics of discussion, from Moscow to Texas, from Berlin to Florida, from Washington to Jerusalem.

 

The Israeli navy’s seizure of the Francop, a ship loaded with hundreds of tons of weapons, should be a positive thing for our security.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For major events security forces fill the Jerusalem streets.

However, on an average day, if you want one,

just try and find a uniformed policeman on the streets of Jerusalem. 

 

 

During the Pope’s visit in  May 2009,

there were major street closings.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The resulting traffic back ups are still the talk of the real Jerusalem streets.

 

When the Pope visited the  President’s House bystanders were disappointed that he did not use the Popemobile, but arrived by regular limousine.

 

 

Security going into the new Gap clothing store

 is stronger than the security leaving the store.

 

 

 

Searching of all bags on entering a mall

or public venue is routine all over Israel.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

However, in stark contrast, on a regular afternoon small children can be seen going home from school alone,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

and in most neighborhoods

women walk alone safely,

 day and night.

 It is a shame that U. S. Secretary of State Hilary Clinton          

was in and out of Jerusalem so quickly this week.

If she had taken a few minutes to visit a local hospital,

 she would have seen the real Jerusalem streets.

 In Jerusalem, there are two Hadassah Hospitals,

one at Mount Scopus and the other location, Ein Kerem…

home of the Chagall Windows.

 

The best photos I did not take…privacy reigns over sensationalism.  The two great grandmothers sitting so close that the flimsy hospital curtain would not fit between their chairs, and both with their husbands stretched out on beds next to them waiting for surgery, both with their hair covered, one Arab and one Jewish…

Put everyone in hospital gowns, and no one could correctly identify the doctors, the nurses, the Jews, the non Jews, the religious, and the non religious. Patients of many nationalities and religions fly to Israel to have procedures done in Jerusalem.  It is reported that 30% of the doctors speak Arabic. Israeli doctors have marvelous, well deserved reputations.

With 5 patients crowded into a room meant for 4, and  only one two prong electric outlet for a side of the room, everyone shares. Secretary Clinton could witness real negotiations. Some patients were sleeping in the hallway, the hospital was so crowded. A new building is under construction, let’s hope that Hadassah gets the funds to get this much needed facility up and running soon.

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Full disclosure my mother was a member of Hadassah.)

 

 

The weather, as usual,  was the focus of most conversations.

Heat wave last week,

then enough rain to make the streets slippery and dangerous.

A few real rain storms and

everyone is hoping for a wet winter…

just not when they have to be outside.

                                                                                                              

 

         

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   Cold, sunny, rain…                                                  

  even the sun could not figure…in or out.

Rains came and winter is here.