Mamilla Mall – Page 11 – The Real Jerusalem Streets

Mamilla Mall

February 21, 2012rjstreets

While Mamilla Mall was under construction

there were many who doubted its potential.

It was a convenient route to the Jaffa Gate and the Old City,

but who would shop in the expensive stores along Mamilla Avenue?

Stores have closed,

but new businesses open immediately.

The crowds keep coming…Israelis, both Jewish and Arab, and lots of tourists.

Brides favor the location for wedding photos.

Street actors and mimes often perform on the avenue

and colorful balloons are a common sight.

Every night as the lights go on, it is the place to visit.

Often tourists can be found posing with the works of art on display.

Music is the current theme of the art exhibitions

and the pieces are varied.

The original stones were numbered, taken apart, and put back up.

The results can be seen behind this piece of art.

And people come to eat…

often there are lines to get in to the most popular places.

Most days you will find the “United Jerusalem” guy,

but you will not find any signs of BDS: boycott, divest and sanction

or Israeli apartheid in Mamilla Mall,

located in Jerusalem,

next to the walls of the Old City.

8 Things that Won’t Make Headlines

January 12, 2012rjstreets

Everyone loves pictures of Jerusalem covered in white,

but there was no snow today, even though

it was cold enough to use a refrigerator thermometer inside.

When the sun shines…it is time to go outside and warm up.

While walking around Jerusalem today, I found 8 things

that won’t make the headlines.

1. Bikur Cholim Hospital did not close as was threatened

and babies are delivered there by the thousands.

2. On Mea Shearim Street,

there were puddles on the sidewalks, but buses were running in the streets.

3. Traffic backed up on this side street long enough

for people to stop honking and get out of their cars to look.

The problem…a delivery of toilet paper around the corner.

Perhaps the guys on the Segway have a good idea?

4. There was no sign of separate

sidewalks,

for anyone,

but some signs were gone.

5. Pink laundry was hanging out to dry,

demonstrating that not all Mea Shearim clothing is black.

However, long black clothing can be attention grabbing too.

Arab women

6. It’s sale time in Mamilla Mall

and as always…Muslim women shop.

7. Small children still walk home from school alone.

8. Flocks of birds enjoy Jerusalem everyday.

But one thing sure to make headlines…

the new bus routes that begin on Friday the 13th.

Women in the News

December 6, 2011rjstreets

Many recent headlines feature women, one of the most prominent

is Dorit Beinisch, President (Chief Justice) of the Israeli Supreme Court.

As President of the Supreme Court, she is the head of the Israeli judiciary,

responsible for managing the court system

and directly involved in selection of all new Supreme Court judges.

On the real streets there are hundreds of women judges and lawyers,

who work in their profession and raise a family without making any headlines.

Recently, photos of women used in advertising drew negative attention

resulting in protest signs…with women in them.

While in Mamilla Mall there are photos showing women’s bodies

and famous faces in advertising campaigns,

this sign for lingerie caught my attention…for what it did not show.

A small protest against the opening of this dance studio got a lot of coverage,

but a protest against domestic violence against women was ignored by the media.

I walked with the protesters until Mamilla Mall,

as it was on my way to a Jerusalem Web Professionals Meetup.

Women and men getting together to network, share ideas and help each other.

There are thousands of women in hi-tech and science doing great work,

many volunteer their expertise, but only a rare few make headlines.

It took until today for religious women to get positive headlines

for serving in the army, some are proud to wear long, modest skirts.

There are women who after making aliya as lone soldiers, volunteer to help others.

These young women worked hard to help feed over 300 lone soldiers in Tel Aviv

at Thanksgiving dinner sponsored by the Lone Soldier Center in memory of M. Levin.

Over two dozen women olim volunteered to make side dishes and desserts,

preparing everything from traditional cranberry relish to fresh pumpkin pies.

Thousands of women volunteer in educational support organizations such as

AMIT, Emunah, Hadassah, and WIZO, but they do not make headlines.

On International Volunteer Day a few special cases are honored.

The unseen faces, quiet and hard-working, the unsung heroes

are those who enrich everyone around them…

but they are not news.

Today might be a good time to say, thank you volunteers.