culture – Page 87 – The Real Jerusalem Streets

Jerusalem: More than Riots

May 21, 2013rjstreets

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.

Remember last year?

There is so much to see and do in Jerusalem,

but what did you hear about?

Jerusalem Railway Station Grand Opening

May 6, 2013rjstreets

Threats from Syria and Iran prevail in the headlines.

The Iron Dome has been moved to the north.

Civilian air space in northern Israel has been closed.

In the days before aviation,

it was the railway that connected to Jerusalem to the north.

With the advance of air travel and opening of the modern Malha Station,

the historic Jerusalem Railway Station was closed

and for years, at best,

it was a showcase for colorful graffiti on boarded windows.

But this week in Jerusalem, Israel, the old railway station has reopened,

along with Milton’s Way, a walking and biking path

that finally emerged from behind the construction fences.

There is still more work to be done,

but the 8 kilometer trail is coming to completion.

First station is already a new site for wedding photos,

even as it is getting ready to roll.

The new Old Jerusalem Railway Station was lit up last week,

for a grand opening party.

After years

of neglect,

and construction

that seemed endless at times,

at last

the end of the railway and trail renovation is in sight.

Some interiors still have to be renovated,

but the main plaza is looking good

and the bike racks are ready.

It will be some time until walkers have any shade from the sun,

but even at mid-day the trails are already in use.

The Jerusalem Railway Station is to be open on Shabbat

with mostly non-kosher restaurants.

After this major face lift,

First Station is set to be the new major tourist attraction in Jerusalem.

Jerusalem Green and Accessible

April 25, 2013rjstreets

Wow, did I make a mistake;

I thought this was going to be a quiet week.

It began as the extra Israeli flags were taken down.

(Make sure you did not miss all blue and white photos

from Yom Ha’atzmaut, Israeli Independence Day in Jerusalem.)

Then came unseasonable, heavy rains and cold temperatures,

it felt more like winter than spring.

The doormen of the Citadel Hotel had out their large umbrella stand,

it was not an easy time to stay either dry or warm.

Then the rain finally stopped on Sunday evening and the sun came out,

and everything in Jerusalem turned green.

First, I went to see the Cool Globes on exhibit near Jaffa Gate.

These 18 large globes, each a unique work by a different artist, were

installed for Earth Day and will remain in place through the summer.

Then I walked over to the YMCA for the opening of the first

International Jerusalem Symposium on Green & Accessible Pilgrimage.

There were way too many events and speakers to list here, but

Forsan Hussein, CEO of the Jerusalem International YMCA

welcomed the many international visitors to the city of Jerusalem.

Deputy Mayor Naomi Tsur, who started the green and accessible initiative,

posed with Dr Jose Bernal-Stoop from Mexico on the left

and Count Phillippe Piccapiertra,

the Grand Chancellor of the Order of Saint Lazarus of Jerusalem.

While there are always thousands of international visitors

who arrive in Jerusalem, Israel, daily, this

gentleman is the only one who I know who walked here from Sweden,

and I have to add that

Nilsson Jorden, a Brother of the Military and Hospitaller Order

of Saint Lazarus of Jerusalem, has a great sense of humor too.

When I told him what I had written about him on the opening night

I was very relieved when he laughed.

I had not heard of this Order before, but their plan to make

The Old City accessible to all by way of special scooters sounds amazing.

Many Interfaith sessions and discussions were held,

Imam Farid Ansari of the Muslim America Dawah Center of Rhode Island,

seen here with Rabbi Amy Levin, came in specially for this symposium.

There was such an ambitious program with so many initiatives and

progressive ideas to improve use of natural resources for the future,

that I will have to share more on this another time.

But now on the Jerusalem streets, it is that time of year,

when young people have started gathering every bit of wood, old trees,

or beware, even watch out for your outdoor furniture,

and anything else that that will burn for the Lag B’Omer bonfires.

Safed Mayor Ilan Shochat, in his excellent presentation,

did mention what the four ancient Israeli cities have been known

for centuries for four elements,

Tiberias = water, Safed = wind, Hebron = land

and

Jerusalem = the city of “fire.”

Watch out for those fires this weekend!

Let’s hope we can keep Jerusalem green and accessible to all.

More photos from conference HERE