Occupied on Sukkot

At present, hundreds of cities around the world are being occupied,

as “Occupy” protesters take to the streets and people are living in tents.

This week in Jerusalem, as they do every year for the Sukkot holiday,

thousands of people leave their homes to occupy… sukkot.

Sukkot can have one of the best views of the Kotel, the Western Wall,

or be on the back of a truck,

or even on the back of a camel.

 With or without a welcoming sign… all around Jerusalem this week,

 thousands of sukkot are being occupied.

At night when the lights go on

they stand out

inviting,

bright against the dark sky.

Some are long with simple white walls,

others with patterned fabric.

Some are tucked away off the street

and some are large and imposing on a roof top,

while others appear small and alone.

Some sukkot are public

and some very private.

There is one sukkah that is now dark and unoccupied.

It is the enlarged sukkah built in the Shalit protest area,

near the Prime Minister’s residence.  The Shalit family has left Jerusalem,

they and their supporters went home before the holiday began.

Also, it seems… not occupied on Sukkot

are the new light rail trains.

Their drivers have barely started to work,

but are already on strike and the trains are not running today,

one of the busiest tourist days of the year.

Moadim L’Simcha from Jerusalem!

End of the Year

As the year 5771 ends and Rosh Hashanah quickly approaches,

for many it is out with the old

and in with the new.

Gan Hasoos, the Horse Park, cleaned of its tents and mess looks bigger and

you can see the horse again… now it looks and feels like a new park.

It is clean up time for the overflowing notes at the Kotel, the Western Wall.

King George Street was not a good site for a non-Kosher restaurant… it is out too.

May the new year be one of unity,

color and beauty,

age and wisdom,

faith and security,

safety and life,

a good year  for all.

The year ends once again with Gilad Shalit not home for the holidays

and buses in holiday mode,

Shanah tovah!  

A very good and healthy new year to all.

Shalom

  The Real Jerusalem Streets

This is Apartheid?

 Israel Apartheid Week is reported to be growing on college campuses;

its participants must  have never spent any time in Jerusalem.

Arab families often visit Gan Sacher and other Jerusalem parks.

 This is apartheid?

"Arab women", "Palestinian women"

 Hospitals are fully integrated; staff, patients, and visitors.

This is apartheid?

"Arab women", "Palestinian women"

 Shopping malls are open to all customers.

"Arab women", "picture Arab women" "Palestinian women"

These ladies hailed a taxi on King George Street

after a successful shopping day at Ben Yehudah Mall.

"arab women" , "Female shopper", "Palestinian woman"

Arab women shop on Jaffa Street on a regular basis, 

often shopping alone.

This is apartheid?

"arab women", "Israel abusing rights"

 Arab women walk freely in old neighborhoods, 

and in new areas. This is apartheid?

"arab woman and child","Palestinian boy".

However, with small children in hand,

women may not be able to move around quite so easily.

It is not simple for anyone to get a driver’s license in Jerusalem,

but the option is available to all.

  Arab girls wait to ride on a regular public city bus. 

"Palestinian family", "Israeli occupation",

As the world media focused on stone throwers,

this family was walking in nearby Baka. 

There are fewer photos of Arab men,

"arab man", Palesinian man", "Israeli oppresion"

 because unless they are with women dressed in traditional clothes

it is often hard to pick them out in a crowd. 

"racism in Israel", "racist Israel"

Yes there are serious problems, but

no legislation exists that discriminates against blacks.

Holy sites are open to people of all faiths.

"Palestinian woman", "abuse in Israel"

Democratically elected Arab members in the Knesset speak,

vote and can propose laws.

Jerusalem may have plenty of problems,

but this is not apartheid.