Tragedy Beyond Words

 While “Days of Rage” are making headlines and Grad rockets keep coming from Gaza,

the new Trophy defense system destroyed a rocket-propelled grenade before it hit a tank.

If we could only successfully disarm the deadly weapons lurking on the Jerusalem streets.

 Road deaths in Israel increased by 11% in 2010.

 Drivers talking on cell phones, not yielding to pedestrians, speeding, running red lights,

and just plain aggressive and careless driving

not only knock down signs and cause property damage,

    but also cause serious injury and death.

One year after Brian Atinsky’s family was wiped by a reckless driver,  he is in the Knesset fighting for reforms.

Tragedy after tragedy, and now

MK Robert Tibayev is chairing a new subcommittee for the War on Traffic Accidents. 

Sadly, it is all too little to late for Nachum Eliezer Raanan ben Yosef  haKohen,

 a man of poise and wisdom, advisor and dear friend to many;

 a husband, father and grandfather who gave much to his family and communities around the world,

and had so much more to live for.

However, his life was cut short by a bus while crossing Emek Refaim Street in the Germany Colony.

It doesn’t have to be that way.

In Eilat, there are no traffic lights–only traffic circles or roundabouts,

and drivers are careful to stop for pedestrians at the cross walks.

 

Thousands of new cars are off-loaded daily in the port in Eilat and

huge carriers take them north where demand grows in spite of the ever-rising price of gas.

Some Jerusalem streets are old, narrow and crowded, but

90-95% of traffic accidents are caused by careless or negligent drivers.

Where are the days of rage against this outrage?

No more excuses… we must have safer streets… and now.

Books, More Books and Authors

While eulogies for volumes with paper pages are being composed,

and Borders goes chapter 11,

 the 25th Jerusalem International Book Fair opened on Sunday night

 at Binyanei Ha’uma, the Jerusalem International Convention Center.

Very strong rains with thunder and lightning, a rarity in Jerusalem, 

  welcomed author Ian McEwan who was awarded the Jerusalem Prize

at an invitation-only event.

Monday morning the convention center doors opened to the public,

where one exhibition hall

after another

and another 

and another 

were filled with over 100,000 books from more than 30 countries.

Along with Hebrew and English, there is plenty of Russian

and Esperanto. 

 There are university publications

to children’s books,

and a chance for everyone to find

something interesting–

even Obama’s Secrets.

Tuesday at a symposium on E-publishing, Google books was one topic

presented to a large crowd by an international panel led by Yossi Vardi.

All week a Literary Cafe featuring Israeli and foreign writers is featured.

All day long there are varied discussions in a variety of languages.

One impressive example of the dynamic of the presentations:

after a well attended panel discussion led by Israeli editor Noa Manheim,

 Czech Republic author, Tomas Zmeskal of “Love Letter in Cuneiform Script”

speaks with an audience member.

Some people will stay inside at the fair from 10:00am to 10:00pm all week, but

it is doubtful that the Chilean miners who were trapped under ground

and arrive in Israel today for a visit

will be taken to a book fair, no matter how large or popular.

Hope they are used to the sunshine by now,

as spring temperatures and sun are here, at least for a short time,

and the scene of the Old City walls is also not to be missed.

Attire to Inspire for Purim in Jerusalem

As 3 potential US presidential candidates ended their visits in Jerusalem,

  the Conference of Presidents of  Major American Jewish Organizations 

arrived for their annual meeting, but with increased security precautions,

there are often no public displays announcing such visitors.

However, the president of East Timor has flags lining his route.

In a week with every kind of weather,

the flags add color on a drab, cold rainy day,

 President Ramos-Horta’s visits Beit Hanasi,

the official residence of President Shimon Peres.

Official visitors do not affect most people , they are much more concerned

about the price of gasoline,

and, of course, the situation in Egypt, Iran, and the rest of the  Middle East.

With all the political unrest, the IDF has a new leader, 

Lt-General Benny Gantz,

and his first stop as the 20th chief officer was at the Kotel, Western Wall.

Thousands of others visited the Kotel the same day,

and some of their outfits might help solve the dilemma…

what to wear on Purim?

Mordechai

and Shushan are names found all year around in Jerusalem.

This being a leap year,

there is an extra month of Adar, more time to prepare for the holiday.

From the amazingly diverse Jerusalem streets,

some ‘everyday’ attire to inspire.

  There are female visitors

and male visitors in colorful clothes.

There are those dressed in all white,

or of course, in basic black.

These men on their way to Beit Hanasi, walking near

the Jerusalem Theater, prefer black and white.

Colorful hats are now on display.

 

Wigs are always popular.

Can’t wait to see what people will look like

when they actually dress up in Purim costumes next month!