Re-dedicating the 16th century Jaffa Gate

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Lots of reporters and photographers were on the ground at noon today, just outside the Old City wall.

For several months Jaffa Gate has been shrouded in mystery, in a big black covering.

This morning a shiny clean and restored Jaffa Gate was revealed and re-dedicated.

(It was first dedicated in 1538 by the builder of the walls of the Old City, Sultan Suleiman, ruler of the Ottoman Empire. )

Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat asked questions about the conservation work and got answers from the Israel Antiquities Authority.

There were speeches given to the small crowd sitting on folding chairs.
Here IAA director Shuka Dorfman is speaking.

The mayor went on about making Jerusalem more attractive to pilgrims and visitors. In fact, he seemed to use that good -ahem- Hebrew word atraktivi in every sentence.

The ribbon-cutting was done with a golden scissors.

The officials and bosses (the three in the center) insisted on giving photo-ops and credit to the hard-working men who actually did the work on the stones with their hands, up on the scaffolds in all kinds of weather.

As an archaeology fieldworker, I appreciated that very much.

Thanks crew, the Jaffa Gate looks a lot cleaner and safer and stronger now!

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More on the dedication ceremony at the Jerusalem Post.

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