Progress…The Jerusalem light rail system now has power for the entire length of its track.
It’s much easier to cross the intersection of Jaffa and Strauss Streets in the center of town.
A short walk from that intersection is the Bikur Cholim Hospital,
which has provided medical care in Jerusalem for over 140 years.
The privately owned buildings are threatened with closure.
There is a serious shortage of hospital beds and neonatal units in Jerusalem, 6000 babies are born here every year; where will the mothers go?
Bikur Cholim Hospital was critical in saving many lives when suicide bombers targeted the city center, now 30 million shekel is needed to keep the hospital running.
Signs to rally residents’ support are plastered along the street.
Doctors and staff who are faced with losing their jobs and pensions have recently organized protests.
Knesset Member Ahmed Tibi, who trained as a obstetrician, did part of his residency at Bikur Cholim, publicly supports keeping it open, as do many residents and patients.
There will be a four-hour strike, and non-essential personnel will be on the streets in a protest.
All around hospital buildings there is new construction. Signs of progress?
The old stone buildings next door have been razed and
the area between the hospital and
and Ticho House on Rav Kook Street is being excavated for development.
Last week, if one took a short walk along Jaffa Street to the walls of the Old City,
Jaffa Gate Square was once again the place where the city is distributing free Christmas trees.
Last year these bins were quickly emptied.
Again this year Santa was available to pose with a tree for photographers.
The free trees provided by the Municipality and the Jewish National Fund were given to those who showed proper identification.
Organized distribution…a sign of progress!
While we think of those in the northeastern United States dealing with too much snow.
No snow or much-needed rain here, just sunshine and warm temperatures perfect for jogging,
walking or sitting in the park,
and for thousands of holiday visitors. As 2010, comes to an end, there are no visible signs of progress on the release of Gilad Shalit,
each morning the numbers on the sign change as the days of captivity increase.
