Jerusalem, Israel – what is really happening
While President Shimon Peres visits Jordan,
there was an ad in Israeli Hebrew newspapers.
I added a few words of translation on the top,
and ask an important question of the Home Front Command
on the bottom.
They really have confidence in the health and fitness
of the Israeli population.
Looks like the safest place to be is in the desert in the Negev,
a whole 3 minutes to find shelter..
Right.
The Shavuot holiday as celebrated in Jerusalem, Israel,
is so different from anywhere else in the world.
Tens of thousands of people went to the Kotel, the Western Wall,
to pray at sunrise, after a night-long marathon
of classes, lectures and programs that were
truly amazing and mind-boggling.
These posted ads are for only a few such learning events.
There was one thing very different this year – it rained at 8:30 am!
There have been protests against the new budget,
and new taxes have made for some very angry citizens.
New social protest signs can still be found in the city center
after last weekend’s demonstrations.
The Israeli Prime Minister is back from China
and a very quick visit to Russia to meet with Mr. Putin.
And I assume that most people have no idea that
the Foreign Minister of Finland Erkki Tuomioja and
Foreign Minister of Lithuania Lianas Linkevicius are in Jerusalem.
Also, who heard that at the Hebrew University
there is a conference being held called
Canada and Israel in a Changing World, New Trends and Directions?
When the Shavuot holiday is over,
on the real streets, it is wedding season.
Brides posing in parks for photos and decorated rental cars
are normal sights, though it will be hard to come close
to the traffic-stopping Belz wedding with 50,000 guests.
Wonder if any of their international guests will go into town?
If they do, they would see,
there is a sign for traffic changes on King George Street.
One big surprise, I found a moment with no buses or taxis.
For years, this large mural on Jaffa Street showed
the light rail train of the future.
Well the future is now,
and the train is running and people are returning to the city center.
The media always reports Arab and Haredi riots in great detail.
But there was no sign of trouble today or any sign of Apartheid
as this Muslim woman and Haredi Israeli man crossed Jaffa street,
and these women were sitting off Ben Yehuda Street in the afternoon sun.
Summer is finally here,
and it is time to head outside and to the parks.
It is also the time for the month-long Israel Festival Jerusalem,
with so many cultural programs, some in new exciting venues,
enough to keep everyone busy.
And my favorite festival, Light in Jerusalem is coming soon.
There is so much to see and do in Jerusalem,
but what did you hear about?
It is too hot to be outside.
The news of more terror attacks from Egypt are distressing.
The reports of the Egyptian presidential results are depressing.
The fourth Israeli Presidential Conference – Facing Tomorrow 2012,
opens at the International Convention Center in Jerusalem tomorrow.
So today seemed like a good time to remember last year’s conference.
At the opening press conference President Shimon Peres called Shakira
“Sharika”…I still have to stop and think, so as not to repeat the mistake.
On the opening night, Sarah Silverman stole the show,
showing that she was a comedian with brains.
Rabbi Jonathan Sacks called anti-Semitism a virus:
the oldest virus of hate that is spread today by the internet.
“Holocaust happens when language debases happenings,” he warned.
History shows hate begins with Jews, but it does not end with them.
A year later his words are even more insightful.
I spotted President Shimon Peres more than once
moving quickly from session to session.
Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales was a featured speaker.
It is still distressing to me that some Arabic entries found in Wikipedia,
are very different from the English ones.
In Arabic, the only connection of the Jews to the “Wailing Wall”
is that they tried to buy it twice and failed.
Popular ‘Dr Ruth’ Westheimer often got stopped in the halls.
She is on the schedule again this year.. and yes, she really is short.
A favorite of mine were the students from the Hebrew University labs.
Those doing studies on the blind loved to show
their sensor invention that makes a walking stick obsolete.
Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu was one
of the speakers at the conclusion of the conference.
At some popular sessions there were lines waiting to enter,
and once inside the room there was standing room only.
Lucky for me Mohammad Dajani got up and walked out
when Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat spoke of his vision for Jerusalem,
so I got a seat in the crowded room.
Facing Tomorrow… more on Tomorrow 2012 tomorrow.