The Old City – Page 38 – The Real Jerusalem Streets

Charity, Saving a Life or Scam?

September 11, 2012rjstreets

It’s that time of year again.

Rosh Hashanah, the New Year, approaches, and it is time for

tefilah, and teshuvah and zedakah: prayer and repentance

and appeals to give money for charity.

Appeals are blasted on the radio, printed in the papers and sent by email.

Small charity collection boxes and

large collection boxes line many Jerusalem, Israel streets.

Does 100% really go to Zedakah, to the poor?

In The 7 habits of highly effective schnorrers

a friend discusses the sites of successful Jerusalem beggars

from a business marketing perspective.

Techniques are varied,

from a casual stance using a loud-speaker to get attention,

to sitting passively, appearing down and out.

And there is always the traditional plastic cup collection approach.

Israeli VAT, the value added tax, has gone up 1%,

so already high prices are certain to rise as is the cost of living.

Money is tight for most everyone,

so how does one decide where to give one’s charity money?

Hundreds of riders do Wheels of Love to raise money for Alyn Hospital.

Then there is this bike rider who seems to regularly need money for

bus fare to her daughter in Bet Shemesh or a few shekels to buy water.

A few hours after I saw her ride by,

this young woman on the right with a small child slung over her shoulder,

was approaching English speakers on King George Street

asking for 35 shekel to get back to Haifa.

I recognized her from last year with the same story

and suggested she go to the synagogue for help.

I am always impressed how many people walking on Jerusalem, Israel

streets will stop, take out money and give to those out-stretched hands.

What are true opportunities to help strangers or what are scams?

I wish I had an answer to the questions, what do you think?

As the year 5772 comes to an end,

it is time for the new year’s greeting to be back on the buses,

Shanah tovah, Happy New Year.

May 5773 be a prosperous and healthy one for all.

Apartheid, Segregation and now: Oppressive Occupation

August 13, 2012rjstreets

Here we go again.

First Israeli Apartheid was the rage,

then segregation became a popular ‘hot’ slur.

Now the Deputy Foreign Minister from South Africa calls on his people

not to visit “occupier” Israel.

Too bad, for if his people were in Jerusalem, Israel,

they could see the “oppression” for themselves.

Syrians are being killed daily by the hundreds,

in Egypt military leaders are being purged after Muslim terrorists

killed 16 fellow Muslims while they were breaking their Ramadan fast,

and violence in Myanmar is spreading to Jakarta and Mumbai.

As the month of Ramadan fasting comes to an end in Jerusalem,

Muslim women were in Mamilla Mall shopping as usual.

On Friday mid-day prayer time, this was the scene outside Jaffa Gate

and inside Jaffa Gate.

At the entrance to the Muslim shuk,

South African Deputy Minister Ebrahim Ismail Ebrahim,

would have seen the security of the oppressive “occupation”.

Yes, a security blimp was hovering near Damascus Gate,

but all appeared normal on a regular Friday near the Kotel, the Western Wall.

There was no violence or stone throwing,

so there were no restrictions or barriers as people were leaving, though

several men covered their heads with prayer rugs for protection from the sun.

There were no military vehicles on the street below

and people freely went up and down the steps to

and through Mamilla Mall.

Because of past suicide bombers, there is always a security check

to enter Jerusalem malls, but security checks are for everyone.

Suddenly, police closed off Agron Street with red tape,

even Egged bus drivers were stopped and had trouble getting through.

I did not stay around long enough to find out why the street was closed,

but it was not a restriction of Muslims oppressed under “occupation” .

Tisha B’Av in Jerusalem

August 1, 2012July 13, 2020rjstreets

Did you hear about Tisha B’Av in Jerusalem, Israel?

By now you must have heard that Mitt Romney was in Jerusalem

on the fast day of Tisha B’Av.

I had no details on the Romney press conference when I posted last week,

but an hour later I had all the information I wanted.

What a wonder, the internet!

Even no food or water for 24 hours could not keep me away.

The Old City Walls were in the background as

Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat waited to welcome Romney to the stage.

Flags and a line of security lined the entrance route.

Already there have been hundreds of reports

and millions of words written about the speech,

which was given in the plaza near the Montefiore Windmill.

Only a small select crowd attended the Romney events.

However, what else did you hear about Tisha B’Av?

Did you hear that the night before, hundreds of people

were out on the Jerusalem streets walking around the walls of

The Old City, passing first by the New Gate, new from 1887?

The new addition this year were the active Jerusalem light rail trains.

As last year, Tisha B’av and Ramadan coincided,

so Damascus Gate at midnight was still celebrating.

I only got one chance to take a photo, as security moved me away.

Cameras and security were ready for trouble.

But the most shocking scene I could find was of all the garbage on the street.

The Women in Green had to petition the court to be allowed to walk,

though this was the 18th year for this event.

Like last year, I was impressed with the number of people

and the variety of the crowd that stayed

so late at night for the closing speeches at the Lion’s Gate.

At 1:00am some marchers headed home while the buses were still running.

Others walked to the Dung Gate entrance to The Kotel, The Western Wall,

where many people stayed all night.

Tens of thousands of people,

peacefully celebrated Tisha B’Av in Jerusalem.

There was no violence, therefore it was not news.

This one minute video may help you feel the mood of the night.

As I walked home at 2:00 am, the closed Mamilla Mall was full of people.

I noticed that it was decorated with strings of colorful lights

for the Muslim holy time of Ramadan.

Another sign of Israeli oppression?

For more on Romney visit click here.

More photos from the Walk around the Walls.