middle east current events – Page 128 – The Real Jerusalem Streets

10 Favorite Signs of Erev Yom Kippur in Jerusalem

September 24, 2012rjstreets

In the fall holiday season,

Yom Kippur quickly follows Rosh Hashanah and then comes Sukkot.

The signs of the season are everywhere, but here are 10 of my favorites.

1. It seems almost everywhere one can see

mountains of pomegranates,

the seeds can be eaten plain or in my favorite – a chocolate-almond tart.

2. Cars are loaded with food, as there are many meals to prepare.

3. Cars decorated before a wedding are common sights.

With all he holidays, the days for weddings are limited, but not the

enthusiasm of these young men driving to the Kotel, the Western Wall.

4. Crowds of tourists mingle with bar mitzvah celebrants at the Kotel.

5. It is hard to find a spot to place a note this time of year,

where they are overflowing before being cleaned out.

6. Strange looking structures start to appear,

even in the fanciest of neighborhoods, as plain wood sukkot fill balconies.

‘Tis the season to get in shape.

7. This man was spotted trying to carry two heavy bags,

each containing long bamboo poles to top a sukkah.

8. White is the color of choice for Yom Kippur – this kippah a new favorite.

9. The United Jerusalem guy is back in Mamilla Mall with a new shirt.

10. And finally, I loved seeing this sign.

Tonight there are special Erev Yom Kippur prayers

in Kikar Safra, Safra Square. Where else

will you hear the songs of the Yom Kippur service on the radio

and in the courtyard of City Hall?

The country will come to a standstill as public transportation

and all traffic stops on Yom Kippur,

but the decorations for Sukkot

have been out on the Jerusalem, Israel streets for weeks.

As soon as break-the-fast meal is over, the sound of hammers will be heard

and it’s time to get ready for the Sukkot holiday week.

Gmar Chatimah tovah

May all be sealed for a good year.

Muslim Rage and Yom Kippur in Jerusalem

September 21, 2012rjstreets

Tens of thousands of Muslims have been killed in Syria,

and thousands more rioted around the world “about a movie.”

I wasted 13 minutes of my life watching this awful thing,

please save your time, I am being very generous to call it a movie.

A judge in Jerusalem, Israel ruled that Google does not have to take it down.

Too bad that over 11,000,000 people have viewed this poorly acted,

badly dubbed, lowest-budget piece of vulgar junk.

It is sad to think about how many better ways to use all that time.

If so many people did not die and so much damage wasn’t caused,

it might be considered funny.

In Jerusalem, Israel it is a time of feasting, fasting and food shopping,

so what about Muslim rage?

Supermarkets are usually crowded, crazy places at this time of year.

I hate going shopping, but big meals have to be prepared for the holidays.

While I was trying to decide on what kind of canned olives to buy,

two Muslim women dressed in hijab and one with niqab

covering her face were in the same aisle.

Arab women regularly shop in stores in many areas of the city,

no surprise about that.

However, the young woman in niqab was also wearing long black gloves.

Often Muslim women cover their arms and wrists, but fingers too?

This was the first time I had seen such a thing, not only did it get

my attention, but also that of an Arab man working in the store.

Stores have lots of security checks for bags and people,

but what was happening on the streets?

In Mamilla Mall, Muslim couples were strolling about as usual.

These Arab girls had a big crisis: deciding where to eat lunch,

but these Muslim women picked a different restaurant.

Going to the Old City, near the entrance for The Kotel, the Western Wall,

this was the scene, an Arab woman and boys walking freely.

Meanwhile, in Syria near Damascus, 400 Palestinians

have been murdered in the Yarmouk refugee camp by Syrians,

with another 18 killed yesterday, including 4 women & 3 children.

And in Mamilla Mall, more Arab visitors arrived and went on their way.

The most shocking thing that I saw was in the Jewish Quarter,

it seems barbed wire is being put up in some Jewish areas of The Old City.

On the way home I passed by Gan Ha’atzmaut, Independence Park,

where two Muslim men were bowing on their prayer rug.

I did spot an Israeli soldier standing with an Arab man at a traffic light.

Holding his lunch, not a rock or Molotov cocktail,

my taking a photo seemed to be the only thing annoying him.

Yom Kippur, the Jewish holy fast day will be in a few days.

39 years ago on Yom Kippur most Israelis were fasting and praying,

when the surrounding Arab countries attacked.

This year there is a new threat of a nuclear Iran

and growing Islamic extremism.

Muslim calls have been to prayer and not rage in Jerusalem until now.

We hope and pray that rational minds will prevail, in 5773 and in the future.

Bus signs have changed from a happy new year greeting to Yom Kippur one.

May we all be sealed for a good year.

Jerusalem as August Ends

August 28, 2012rjstreets

Did you hear a loud noise on Monday morning?

It was the collective sighs of relief filling the streets –

the long summer holiday was over

and over 2 million Israeli children went back to school.

Trips to museums for water play were replaced with starting Kita alef,

which in Israel is a more exciting event than many university graduations.

The school children living in the southern Israel town of Sderot

had another rocket fired at them from Gaza as they started to go to class.

More than 440 rockets have been fired into Israel from Gaza

since the year began, averaging around two a day!

Last week Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing,

was performed in English in Jerusalem, Israel’s Bloomfield Park.

The shows were free and open to the public.

Shakespeare, widely agreed to be perhaps the most clever writer ever,

could he have imagined what is happening now?

Arab families were seated on the grass to watch.

A few meters away on the plaza, Muslim women sat on a bench

and then followed to see the photos of a beautiful bride in white,

as a Jewish couple were preparing to get married.

While hundreds are killed each day in Syria,

this was the scene in the Jerusalem park.

School has started, however university does not begin until October.

Arab girls in Israel will be attending classes,

not banned from an education like in Iran.

And of course, they can drive themselves to the park or to school,

not like the women living in Saudi Arabia.

Kikar Zion, Zion Square, is still a safe place to walk during the day.

It was a long hot summer,

but the evenings are now cool for the late night summer music programs.

Last week the music and lights were at the Jerusalem Theater,

and this week Gan Sacher, Sacher Park, will showcase Reggae Music

and Safra Square will host the last August free public concert.

First there was the Wine Festival, then Beer Festival,

and now this week for the first time an Ice Cream Festival.

Always something happening on the Jerusalem streets.