Jerusalem for the Rich ?

B"H 

Jerusalem's Mayor Nir Barkat would love to turn our city into a second Tel Aviv. Action, hightech and lots of tourists spending all their money only in Jerusalem. However, the Kotel (Western Wall), anything religious, local museum as well as the unique Jerusalem atmosphere don't seem to be too attractive to the hightech enterpreneur Barkat. Instead he wants more, as he is concentrating too much on Tel Aviv. The problem is that Tel Aviv and Jerusalem are two different cities with unique characters. And instead of accepting reality, Barkat wants a Jerusalem for rich outsiders spending money. 

Jerusalem has a lot to offer and those who do need a beach can still travel to Tel Aviv or other places. It has been going on for a couple of years now: Although the capital is suffering from a lack of apartments, only luxury apartments are being built. 

I was walking around downtown a few days ago and noticed more luxury being built. For the wealthy foreigner but not for an ordinary inhabitant of Jerusalem. 

 Here we are in Jaffa Road / Downtown Jerusalem

Photo: Miriam Woelke

Just look at all the new building complexes being built. However, it says LUXURY on the signs. And LUXURY doesn't mean for me and for you but for rich investors.

The latest view from Jaffa Road to Rabbi Kook Street

And a few meters further away:

The luxury apartment complex in the background hasn't found too many investors yet and mostly remains empty.

Photos: Miriam Woelke

Most Jerusalemites are ordinary people with an ordinary income. Hardly anyone is able to afford any expensive kind of housing. On the contrary, as most of us are already happy when they can pay the bills and buy groceries.

Photos from the Jerusalem LIGHT FESTIVAL 2012, Part 1

B"H

Last Thursday I went to see this year's LIGHT FESTIVAL taking place in the Old City of Jerusalem. To make a long story short, I was quite disappointed. There were plenty of visitors but less and less light statures or instellations. However, the festival itself has caused lots of criticism from the Jewish population living in the Jewish Quarter. Too many naked statues would be standing around. Statues as part of the festival. Furthermore, the light symbols consist of too many Christian symbols. Whether this is true or not ... Let us take a look at the entrance to the Old City. The Jaffa Gate Plaza. There we find a huge dome or maybe is it a mosque ? From far away, the object looks like a church but when you get closer, it rather looks like the Dome of the Rock. When you read the explanation of the artist, you may be surprised: He intented to show a dome from Venice (Italy). So, it is a church. 


As long as this is taking place outside the Jewish Quarter, it doesn't bother me that much. On the other hand, Jerusalem's Mayor Nir Barkat, wants to turn Jerusalem into a second Tel Aviv. in order to draw more and more tourists into the city, he chose a very dangerous path. Pleasing Christians and trying to be too friendly with them is a big mistake. Is it worth getting more donations and investments when you are willing to accept more and more Christian symbols all over town ? Jerusalem has been and always will be a JEWISH city. There are other religions acting in the holy city but there is no doubt that Jerusalem is Jewish. By turning Jerusalem into something more cosmapolitan in order to please Gentile visitors, Barkat is putting himself into a very dangerous position, as he is making himself too dependent on Christian money. Jerusalem will only be successful as a Jewish place and as soon as idol - worship is involved, the city will, again, find its desaster.


But have a look for yourself !

By the way, the LIGHT FESTIVAL can be visited until 14 June. Free of Charge !!! The daily event starts at about 7.30pm but not on Shabbat !

Going up to Jaffa Gate

The dome from far away. Then it actually looks quite nice.

Before the international leftist press is going to start complaining and spreading rumours: Jerusalem's Municipality is not just organizing parts of the festival also in the Arab and Arab - run Christian quarter. The Palestinians have discovered their business time and set up food and souvenir stands wherever they could.

A further Christian symbol near Jaffa Gate ? Could be.

A dragon at the Jaffa Gate as fun for the kids.

Photos: Miriam Woelke

Yeshiva Students have to go to bed early

B”H 

Jerusalem's Municipality is planning a new law and when you take a quick look, you may get the wrong impression. The haredi council member Yossi Deutsch suggested that local restaurants and shops must close at 11pm.

Sounds like Jerusalem is going to turn into a village !

However, the snag is that Deutsch is only talking about restaurants and shops in or near haredi areas and NOT about the secular parts of town. His intention is to get all those young haredi Yeshiva guys out of bars and restaurants where they sit for hours watching TV. 

Yossi Deutsch is right and for many years, plenty of young Yeshiva students (Israelis as well as those from abroad) have been looking for entertainment in the evening hours. For instance, in downtown Jerusalem, Jaffa Road. Boreka bars or further snack bars. Every place with a TV is highly welcomed. The Yeshiva guys watch the news, soccer or movies of all kinds. They don't really bother but the Municipality claims to received hundreds of letters complaining about the noise. The neighbours of those places freak. Especially when those neighbours are haredi.

On the other hand, I don't think that a person's life should be limited in such a way !

I don't really understand the story, as many Yeshiva guys find their TV set at places in and around Jaffa Road. A secular area which is not supposed to shut its gates at 11pm. How is Yossi Deutsch going to interfere in this particular area ? Even if places near haredi areas have to close earlier, the students will search for other places with a TV. Internet Cafes or elsewhere in town.

In the haredi Ge'ulah neighbourhood in Jerusalem. I took the picture randomly and it has nothing to do with the above subject !

Photo: Miriam Woelke

Prizut (Immodest Behaviour) at Jerusalem's Machane Yehudah Market ?

B"H

The EDAH HACHAREDIT is really making a fuss about the latest festivals at the Machane Yehudah Market. Musicians and any further kind of culture are leading to Prizut (immodest behaviour). To make it clear: The Edah doesn't mean ordinary people but they worry about their own kind.

Jerusalem's Municipality had been organizing a monthly summer festival at the Machane Yehudah Market. The market is for everyone and not located in any haredi area. Every Monday in June, a cultural festival took place but I am not sure whether it is still going on. The festival was supposed to help the sales people in the market. Increasing traffic and customers. Although the festival is rather boring and just the same as last year, I cannot see any Prizut. Okay, musicians have been singing. Men and women together and the Machane Yehudah wouldn't introduce a Mechitzah (gender separation). On the other hand, I didn't notice any masses from Mea Shearim streaming to the festivals. And even if, it is not the fault of the organizers but every religious Jew has to watch his behaviour. Why stop the events because of some people who cannot overcome their desires ?

Here are some pictures I made two weeks ago when my desire overcame me and I went to the festival:

Copyright / Photos: Miriam Woelke

Police and Tax Authorities storming Mea Shearim

B”H

This morning, hundreds of policemen were storming into the Mea Shearim neighbourhood (Jerusalem). Not only cops but also investigators from the local tax authorities. Apparently four people got arrested, among them Yoelish Kroisz, the head of one of the two Mea Shearim Neturei Karta branches. 

Throwing stones in Mea Shearim this morning.

According to the tax authorities, Mea Shearim inhabitants (including Yoelish Kroisz) have been running their own businesses for many years without paying any taxes or even having a permit from the municipality. It goes without saying that many people in Mea Shearim aren’t interested in asking the “Zionist” state for permission or paying taxes. On the other hand, everyone else in Israel has to pay taxes and why not Mea Shearim. 

Yoelish Kroisz getting arrested today. Business documents from his office and his home were confiscated.

Article + Photo: Kikar.net

Although haredi sites claim the brutal behaviour of the YASSAM police unit, Haredim were throwing stones and this cannot happen unpunished. Moreover, Mea Shearim is not the only neighbourhood being investigated by the tax authorities. Some months ago, police and tax authorities were storming the Carmel Market in Tel Aviv because half of the vendors don’t have a permission from the municipality either. 

See VIDEO and PHOTOS HERE !

July Events at the Machane Yehuda Market in Jerusalem

B”H

Last year, Jerusalem's municipality started some summer events at the local Machane Yehudah Market. Basically music events and games for the kids. Suddenly, the whole area and Agrippas Street were busy until late at night and packed with people. 

This June, the municipality wants to repeat the huge success from last year. This Monday, I walked over the market and saw some of the events. However, I was disappointed, as there were less attractions than last time.

Music from the roof

Balloons for the Kiddies

Music in the Backyard

Pictures made from fruit gum

Copyright / Photos: Miriam Woelke

Photos from the "Jerusalem Light Festival" 2011, Part 3

B"H

A few more photos from the "Jerusalem Light Festival" 2011 which I was visiting on 20th June.

See Part 1

See Part 2

 

At the Churvah Synagogue in the Jewish Quarter

The festival has become a real business. Just look at all the stands at the square in the Jewish Quarter.

The CARDO in the Jewish Quarter. The CARDO is an ancient Roman shopping mall from Damascus Gate (today: East Jerusalem) leading into the Jewish Quarter. 

Excavations in the  Cardo

Copyright / Photos: Miriam Woelke

Photos from the "Jerusalem Light Festival" 2011, Part 2

B"H

To the Photos from the "Jerusalemer Light Festival", Part 1

Some further photos from the light festival in Jerusalem 2011. The festival itself closed its gates on Wednesday night.

Palestinians selling drinks and snacks at Jaffa Gate.

At the "Archeaology Park" next to the Kotel (Western Wall).

A bit hard to recognize: An old building inside the Jewish Quarter whose outer wall became a cinema screen.

Photos: Miriam Woelke

Jerusalem Light Festival 2011

B”H

As I am in Jerusalem today, I am seriously taking a brief visit at the famous “Light Festival” into consideration. The “Jerusalem Light Festival” is taking place in the Old City and the shows are going to start at 8pm.

"OR YERUSHALAIM - JERUSALEM LIGHT FESTIVAL 2011"

 

Jerusalem Light Festival 2010

Photo: Miriam Woelke

B"H

From 15 June - 22 June 2011, Jerusalem is going to celebrate its annual Light Festival. The Old City will be full of light effects and special attractions.

Last year I went but found out that only certain attractions were for free. Others cost a lot of entrance fee and even when you were ready to pay, all events had already been sold out long before.

I won't make it this week but I may next week. Otherwise I am staying in Tel Aviv and have a look at our own lights.:-)

All Light Festival Details HERE !

The UNKOSHER Jerusalem Food Festival

B”H

Festival posters published by Jerusalem's Municipality

Source: 2424.co.il

Jerusalem's mayor Nir Barkat seems to be dreaming of a multicultural Jerusalem. A Jerusalem just like Tel Aviv or New York in order to ship in more tourists. No matter how, as the municipality needs money. And thus the mayor doesn't care about Jerusalem's history and about Judaism as a whole. 

Last week, from Sunday until Thursday night (31st March 2011), the municipality ran an Treifeh (not kosher) food festival in the Old City. Just a few meters away from the Temple Mount, in the Jewish Quarter, various stands were offering unkosher food. 

Barkat is turning Jerusalem into a Disneyland and extreme Christian sects, as the Evangelical Christians or Pentacostas, keep on looking for their advantages.

Jewish Orthodox organizations, on the other hand, were demonstrating against the Treifeh festival :

 

 Haredim hung up Pashkevilim and warned against participation. Not all stands offered unkosher food and there was some kosher food. However, who would be able to see the difference ?

Source: Ladaat

Moreover, certain Christian groups were so happy (clappy) about the Treife festival that they started lighting candles in the Jewish Quarter. Local Jewish shopkeepers were almost freaking out and said that those Christians have nothing to do in the Jewish Quarter.

 

The Chief Rabbinate (Rabbanut) Jerusalem warning the population of participating in the festival.

Source: Chadrei HaCharedim

The Protests

Photos: Chadrei HaCharedim

Haredim against Buddha statue in Jerusalem

B"H

Thanks to haredi protests, the planned Buddha statue is not being put up in Jerusalem. Jerusalem's Mayor Nir Barkat was planning to put a Buddha statue in the Talpiot neighbourhood. Not due to idol - worship but because a certain Buddhist direction is very friendly towards the State of Israel. Now it looks like Jerusalem's Municipality has cancelled the project due to the massive protests from haredi Rabbis.

Buddhism is considered as pure idol - worship, as people bow down before a statue, pray to it and sacrifizing incense. I read a justification article on a Buddhist site where the followers claim that Chabad is setting up its Chanukkah candles all over the world and if anyone went against their procedure, this would be called anti - Semitism.

Of course, Buddhists don't see their religion as pure idol - worship but Judaism does. When this particular Buddhist direction wants to be so friendly with Israel, it should respect its religion and not insist on setting up an idol - worship statue, as the Romans used to do.

Downtown Jerusalem and the new Tram

B"H

Jerusalem, Downtown:
 Jaffa Road now with tracks for the new tram.

After at least four years of traffic chaos and enormous investments, Jerusalem's tram is still not running. Now the official opening date is suppose to be in spring or summer 2011. Nobody knows when the tram will be running but everyone is very much aware of the fact the the immense costs almost ruined the city.

A few photos of Jerusalem's future tram "Made in France":

Photos: Miriam Woelke