real politics – Page 8 – The Real Jerusalem Streets

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.

Apartheid, Segregation and now: Oppressive Occupation

August 13, 2012rjstreets

Here we go again.

First Israeli Apartheid was the rage,

then segregation became a popular ‘hot’ slur.

Now the Deputy Foreign Minister from South Africa calls on his people

not to visit “occupier” Israel.

Too bad, for if his people were in Jerusalem, Israel,

they could see the “oppression” for themselves.

Syrians are being killed daily by the hundreds,

in Egypt military leaders are being purged after Muslim terrorists

killed 16 fellow Muslims while they were breaking their Ramadan fast,

and violence in Myanmar is spreading to Jakarta and Mumbai.

As the month of Ramadan fasting comes to an end in Jerusalem,

Muslim women were in Mamilla Mall shopping as usual.

On Friday mid-day prayer time, this was the scene outside Jaffa Gate

and inside Jaffa Gate.

At the entrance to the Muslim shuk,

South African Deputy Minister Ebrahim Ismail Ebrahim,

would have seen the security of the oppressive “occupation”.

Yes, a security blimp was hovering near Damascus Gate,

but all appeared normal on a regular Friday near the Kotel, the Western Wall.

There was no violence or stone throwing,

so there were no restrictions or barriers as people were leaving, though

several men covered their heads with prayer rugs for protection from the sun.

There were no military vehicles on the street below

and people freely went up and down the steps to

and through Mamilla Mall.

Because of past suicide bombers, there is always a security check

to enter Jerusalem malls, but security checks are for everyone.

Suddenly, police closed off Agron Street with red tape,

even Egged bus drivers were stopped and had trouble getting through.

I did not stay around long enough to find out why the street was closed,

but it was not a restriction of Muslims oppressed under “occupation” .

New Warnings in Jerusalem Shuk

August 12, 2012rjstreets

In 1997, 16 people were killed by suicide bombers and

over 175 wounded at the Machane Yehuda Market, the Shuk.

Ten years ago another 7 people were killed in a terrorist attack at the Shuk.

Six years ago during the Second Lebanon War,

I made aliyah and moved a short distance from the Shuk.

At first, every time I ventured out to the center of town or to the Shuk,

it felt like a big deal, with fear of it being my last trip.

What if today another suicide bomber was out for a midday murder mission?

However, what I found in the Shuk was very different from what I expected;

Arab women strolling freely and shopping,

mountains of garlic before it is dried,

and Natan Sharansky buying fresh pita.

This month’s Balabasta Festival has brought more people to the Shuk.

There is security at the entrance, but now a new warning is needed:

the crowds have returned, so hold on to your kids!

The Mystorin Theater Group has some of the most clever performers.

They performed two nights last week near the Shuk.

It is hard to describe what they do with costume, light and color.

This scene in the amphitheater was projected on to a large screen

and was created by hand with sand sprinkled on a light table

The ‘Sea in Jerusalem’ show also had several dance performances.

People walking by also stopped to look at the larger-than-life actors.

However, be warned:

this show was not appreciated by everyone as it was way ‘out of the box.’

These new warnings for the Jerusalem Shuk may be amusing,

however,

this caterpillar, constructed of cement pipes, is located in a park in Sderot

to provide immediate shelter for children who play in the park.

When Hamas decides to send a kassam rocket from Gaza,

the children of Sderot do not always get a warning.

Last night another rocket landed in southern Israel.

No one was killed.

How can there be any excuse for trying to blow up children,

with or without warning?