Jerusalem, Israel – what is really happening
I was having trouble finding something positive to share,
as the clock ticked to the end of 2013 in Jerusalem, Israel.
Everyone has heard enough kvetching about the snow
and the massive clean up which is still going on.
The protest against prisoner releases was sad enough,
but the “March with Umbrellas” in the cold, wet dark night,
found many depressed by this “gesture of good will.”
The next morning the sun was shining,
and the fresh blue paint in the Liberty Bell Park looked good.
It was interesting to see how 100 years after
Rabbi Dr. Yitzchak Halevi Herzog z”l wrote on his dissertation
about Tekhelet, that maybe a “student of chemistry may be interested”
that a conference filled the auditorium at The Begin Heritage Center.
But it was still not what I wanted for an inspiring blog to end the year.
However, I was back at The Begin Center the next day,
for another conference with another long list of impressive speakers.
And then,
Noam Gershony stood at the podium and started to tell his story.
How he was so close to death the doctors held little hope for him.
How he lost his leg and almost his life in Second Lebanon War.
How his friend Dov next to him was killed.
How he slowly came back to life,
to play tennis,
to ski on Mount Hermon,
and to ride a bike.
By the time he finished his story of winning a gold medal
at the 2012 Olympics in London with the music of Hatikvah playing,
there was hardly a dry eye in the room.
After he finished and received a standing ovation,
Noam walked to the elevator surrounded by admirers.
That was it,
what I want to share,
what the world must see.
Certainly not everyone can win a gold medal in the Olympics,
but Noam Gershony exemplifies the Israeli spirit.
After what happened to him,
he did not become a suicide bomber,
but he does blow people away.
He inspires them to get up and get going,
no more excuses, too tired, too busy.
Now let’s make 2014 a good and positive year for all.
Stabbing attack, bomb on a bus, and a murder near the Gaza Border,
terror against Israelis is increasing.
But in Jerusalem this past week it was all about the weather.
The sun is shining and sky is blue,
and people are walking again along Jaffa Road,
and eating and shopping in the Shuk, the Machane Yehuda Market.
For some in Jerusalem, Israel, the snow storm of December 2013 is history.
Meanwhile,
many street corners still look like this with heaps of ice and debris.
Nothing in Jerusalem is flat, so there are many steps,
including this 99-step stairway that was icy this week.
But this fallen tree was blocking them at the top making them useless.
They are off one of the hardest hit streets,
where many were without power for a week because of the storm.
Now new wires are being buried underground.
I had to go around out of my way,
but I had a chance to meet two of the hasmal electric company guys,
who wanted me to to take their their photo.
It is a miracle that with blocked icy sidewalks and people walking
on dark slippery streets in traffic that no one was killed or seriously injured.
This week, a corner where many children cross
near a busy school was still covered with ice.
You cannot really understand Jerusalem streets from looking at a map
or even at photos, as it can rain on one street and be dry on the next.
This week you really feel and see the differences.
While some are out in the sun,
others are still trying to get around the mess!
I almost fell today on an ice patch near the Windmill.
The tree cutters are busy with lots more work to do.
People and buses are sharing same spaces,
but even with the snow in the background,
the last rose bud was still looking good.
First it was pretty, then it was clean-up time,
now if they can just get the mess cleaned up before it rains…
