Kotel – Page 9 – The Real Jerusalem Streets

Rosh Chodesh Av at the Western Wall

July 9, 2013rjstreets

In Jerusalem, Israel, on Rosh Chodesh Av,

thousands of people had a very early start to their day.

Arriving near the Kotel, the Western Wall Plaza at 7:00 am, this was the scene.

A group of young men,

and boys,

one woman with a whistle and one with signs

were protesting against the Women of the Wall’s Rosh Chodesh prayer service.

Not all the WOW were praying–

some were talking to the press, as there were plenty of cameras again.

The regular men’s section was not crowded,

Deputy Mayor of Jerusalem Yitzhak Pindrus was there.

It was the women’s section that was full.

Women for the Wall had brought out thousands of religious women and girls.

They continued to pray silently, in stark contrast to the noisy protesters,

though there was not enough space for all of them

and the group extended well into the Western Wall Plaza.

While the Women of the Wall and Women for the Wall were the center of attention,

I liked these scenes.

At least a few of the security people found time to pray.

And in the middle of it all there was a Bar Mitzvah celebration.

Wonder if someone thought that with an early start it would be less crowded?

The Women of the Wall were not happy with their site and the police.

After their service had ended, and after singing Hatikvah,

the Women of Wall group continued singing before going to their buses.

There has been lots of chatter on Facebook about both groups,

with some good, some bad and some ugly comments.

The two sides do not seem to be getting closer

and many people do not want to hear or think about this conflict any more.

But I would really like to know,

what the Deputy Mayor was thinking at this moment?

Real Colors of Jerusalem, Israel

January 25, 2013rjstreets

Much of the world is experiencing freezing temperatures,

but yesterday it was so warm here, that is hard to believe

that snow covered the city just two weeks ago.

The palm trees against the blue sky made for a great photo.

Some Cypress trees are still bent from the weight of the snow,

but the YMCA tower stands straight as usual.

A new exhibit on satire and humor (humour) opened in Mamilla Mall,

making it hard to get through there quickly to meet friends.

So many tourists were out enjoying the day and the weather.

The regular Thursday Bar Mitzvah crowds included many

that came from overseas to celebrate at the Kotel, the Western Wall.

While yesterday the topic of discussion for some

was the meaning of the Israeli election results,

what was truly impressive was the color and diversity on the streets.

Was this woman with green herbs getting ready for Tu Beshvat?

In the Old City I saw nuns dressed in blue,

monks in brown passing Arab women dressed in pink,

and groups os Christian tourists following a red and white flag.

People were eating outside and walking around.

Not everyone was smiling the entire time,

and these boys were riding golden lions?

There were lots of soldiers in green uniforms,

they came for a special swearing-in ceremony in the evening.

At least one soldier took the time to pray at the Kotel, the Western Wall.

On the way home I saw a sign announcing that the Kaiser

is coming to the Tower of David Museum.

Would the Kaiser in 1898 or anyone else imagine that Jews

and friends from all over the world would come to Jerusalem, Israel.

And who a few years could ago imagine that at the Kotel

people would Sykpe on an iPhone to families back home?

Jerusalem Day – 45 Years United

May 22, 2012rjstreets

The list of events that took place in Jerusalem

on Yom Yerushalayim, Jerusalem Day, is too long to print.

Thousands of people traveled by bus,

hundreds rode bikes in from Gush Eztion

and tens of thousands marched in the annual Flag Dance parade.

Jerusalem was a traffic nightmare with many sudden street closings.

A Segway was one way to get through the sidewalk traffic.

With so many lectures, tours and varied activities available now,

people tend to forget that from 1948-1967,

the Old City and the Kotel, the Western Wall, were under Jordanian rule.

Jerusalem was a small, sleepy town divided by a wall and barbed wire,

a place where some Jews could not even see their former homes.

Jordanian snipers no longer shoot down over No Man’s-Land,

now Israeli soldiers watch out from the walls of the Old City.

Distances are not so great,

and on a clear day Jordan is visible from the promenade of the Tayelet,

located in an area once mostly agricultural and under British control,

but now famous for its view of the Old City Walls.

On Yom Yerushalayim I went on a walking tour of the area.

We saw the United Nations headquarters

and a Monument of Tolerance.

How ironic that it was dedicated rather quietly,

around the time that 8 Mercaz Harav students were murdered.

To get to the center of Jerusalem,

where thousands of boys

and girls filled the streets singing and dancing,

I passed through the Liberty Bell Park.

Arab women and families who ignored PA-issued warnings

were there as usual enjoying the pleasant weather.

Tens of thousands of people filled the Jerusalem streets.

Not all were religious, not all were teens, not all had Israeli flags,

and not one fired a weapon.

While I do not condone their bad behavior,

a statistically insignificant number of trouble-makers at Damascus Gate

got the mainstream media attention.

I would like to share with you a few scenes you may not have seen.

Mamilla Mall was packed with crowds coming and going to Jaffa Gate.

Music and dancing filled the Rova, The Jewish Quarter plaza,

in front of the Hurva Synagogue, which in 1948

was completely destroyed by the Jordanians and recently rebuilt.

The Plaza near the Kotel, the Western Wall,

was full of people even before the Flag Parade arrived.

Remember

from 1948-1967

the plaza outside Jaffa Gate was not a safe place.

Families did not stroll in the Yemin Moshe neighborhood.

Walking around The Old City Walls was impossible.

Jordanian east Jerusalem was off-limits.

The sun was setting after a beautiful Jerusalem spring day.

Then the party moved to Gan Sacher, Sacher Park

where live music blared all night for a crowd of thousands,

oh…and what a Sleepless Night it was:

Jerusalem Day #45

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