The Old City

Jerusalem: Signs of Progress

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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.

‘Jerusalem Knights’ First Night

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Who could imagine that the Crusades could be so much fun?

Actors and musicians were dressed in medieval costumes.

The weather was perfect Thursday evening, October 7 in the Old City.

People had gathered in the plaza near Jaffa Gate, the unimaginable happened–

the Jerusalem Knights program started ten minutes early.

A map of 21 street performances in the Christian Quarter

was projected on a large screen near Jaffa Gate.

Visitors received a paper copy of the map with explanations in Hebrew and English.

The first performance, the Royal Reception, took place outside the walls

and just inside the walls, The Leper, was a scary sight.

The Greek Muse, hard to believe she was a real person.

It was hard to see the Fire Knight with such a large crowd around him.

The Wishing Fountain was easy to photograph, as like the Muse, she did not move.

In the Slave Market, even the slaves seemed to be having a good time.

Musicians performed in many locations along the route.

While some of the market was open,

near the end of the route, most of the shops were closed,

providing a perfect setting for peddlers

beggars,

and be careful.. more peddlers and beggars.

At the end, Muristan Square was filled with color and dancers.

Jerusalem Knights  was held October 7, 14, 21 & 28.

The Jerusalem Development Authority, along with a list of other groups,

is sponsoring the performances;  there is no charge.

It takes about an hour to walk the route.

It is not good for the handicapped or baby strollers.

Two Holidays: Ramadan and Rosh Hashannah

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Sitting in the pre-holiday traffic that seem to be everywhere  in Jerusalem,

 it is hard to believe that anyone is home cooking or cleaning for the holidays.

With the long school holiday over and children now in a full day of school,

 working parents are finally a bit less stressed,

unless they were late for pick up time because their car was not moving.

Rosh Hashana, the New Year begins Wednesday at sundown,

 and preparations for the three-day holiday fill the streets.

  Meanwhile, the Ramadan holiday is nearing its end,

for some it was difficult working in the heat and  fasting until sundown.

 For Friday prayers,

 Muslim worshippers

came by way of Mamilla Mall

and from all directions outside the walls of the Old City:

 by way of the Jaffa Gate,

towards the Arab market, the old shuk

some went thru the Jewish Quarter.

Others came alone,

 in groups,

women and children,

young men

and old.

 Over the four Fridays of Ramadan,

hundreds of thousands of Muslims came to pray in Jerusalem.

 A blimp hovered overhead

and extra police were on hand.

   The month of Elul, which precedes Rosh Hashana, the New Year,

is also coming to an end, thousands of Jewish worshipers came to the Kotel,

the Western Wall for selichot, special prayers.

 Thousands and thousands of people were in the Old City for the holidays.

May this example of peaceful co-existence continue

throughout the new year and beyond.

Shana Tova,

a good  New Year

and

 Happy Holidays to all!