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Endings and Beginnings

rjstreets

 

Sadly, this week Jerusalem saw the passing and funeral of the Bostoner Rebbe, Rabbi Levi Yitzhak Horowitz. Having lived in the Boston, MA area when “The Bostoner” was in his prime, we witnessed how he related to some of the thousands of students who came through his Brookline Center.  Hundreds of people seeking medical treatment  in the Boston area would come for extended stays and find help with everything from getting a car to language translation. When the Bostoner moved to the Har Nof area of Jerusalem, many of his American congregation followed and made aliyah. “The Bostoner” may have looked like many a religious rabbi with a hat and beard, but when he got up to speak he sounded  like President John F. Kennedy.  The Bostoner Rebbe’s  good nature and good works should be a role model to all.

Changing foliage in Jerusalem no way compares

 to the Bostoner Rebbe’s former home

 in the Northeastern United States,

but look hard and you could see that a

few autumn colors

remained this week.

 

 

 Hamshuslim, the three weekend

 Jerusalem festival with special rates

on hotel rooms, food and events

came to an end.

Farmers from the Arava ended their long trip by arriving in Jerusalem to protest the lack of Thai workers they need to harvest their crops. The announced building freeze has brought construction in many areas to an end, a large rally is planned for Wednesday evening in Paris Square to protest.

Beginning a new era and energy,

Kisufim, the Jewish writer’s international

conference is meeting for the second

time in Jerusalem.

For the physically disabled getting around Jerusalem is often a nightmare. The streets and many public and private buildings are difficult or impossible to access.

Hopefully, the celebration of the International Day for People with Disabilities this week will be the beginning of a new era of awareness.

 

                                                                                                                                                                            

The real Jerusalem streets are  beginning to get into holiday mode as  gift ideas, parties and children are  the focus, the  Hanukah holiday  sesaon rapidly approaches.

Large trays of suffganiot,

large jelly donuts,

are everywhere,

                                                                                                                                                    gloves and coats

                                                                                                                                                    and hats are  beginning                                                

                                               to appear

                                               and  there was finally

                                               a day with rain.

Coming together

rjstreets

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

rjstreets

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.

 

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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, IMG_0962

there were major street closings.

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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.

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Security going into the new Gap clothing storeIMG_1538

 is stronger than the security leaving the store.

 

 

 

Searching of all bags on entering a mall

or public venue is routine all over Israel.

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

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and in most neighborhoodsIMG_2021

women walk alone safely,

 day and night.