Today's nationwide grass roots demonstrations

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Translation of the poster:

A 5-MINUTE DEMONSTRATION FOR

GILAD SCHALIT

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Just 5 minutes -- but ALL of us!!!

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On March 15 at 11:00 the whole country

will go out to the street for 5 minutes

to insist that the Government get the boy back!

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Citizen Kobi Sidi -- kobisidi@gmail.com

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Some said it was supposed to be a silent demonstration, one minute of silence for each of the almost five years that our young soldier has been held captive by Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
The Chief Rabbi recommended praying and reading Psalms, especially the 27th.
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But I got off the bus just before 11:00 next to a big school in Jerusalem.
All the kids and their teachers were out chanting slogans for Gilad, even with a bullhorn.

The banners say "GILAD IS STILL ALIVE -- http://www.gilad.org/"

The boys held the posters right up to the bus windows to remind the passengers what was happening.
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When the first bus driver thought he could keep driving through the busy Yad Sarah junction, the young people sat down on the street.

Good for them!

Traffic was backed up back to Mount Herzl, but no one beeped. Some drivers got out and stood to identify with the cause.
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Even private houses had the yellow ribbon and handmade signs to remind us, "Five minutes for Gilad Schalit."

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This whole idea for a popular demonstration was the initiative of one private citizen, Kobi Sidi.

Ynet has interesting details about how he started the idea on Facebook and how he was surprised how quickly support swelled.

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The Jerusalem Post has a video of Gilad's father (interviewed in English) at another demonstration gathering place, Jerusalem's Paris Square.

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My own blog has four earlier posts about the work being done by his parents and by the people to free Gilad.

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Wouldn't it be wonderful if Gilad could be home in time for THIS year's Passover seder . . . .

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Damascus Gate under wraps

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For today's That's My World walk, let's go see what's up with the Damascus Gate.

It's under wraps!
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The Old City wall and its gates were built in the 1530s by the Turkish sultan.

So from time to time they need some attention.

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We have seen how Zion Gate was refurbished recently and then how Jaffa Gate and Herod's Gate were fixed up and rededicated.
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It looks like it's now the turn of Damascus Gate, in my opinion the gate most beautiful.

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A tough question in Psalm 11

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כִּי הַשָּׁתֹות יֵהָרֵסוּן צַדִּיק מַה־פָּעָל׃

Verse 3 is concise in the Hebrew.

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It can be understood in three different ways:

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If the foundations are destroyed, what has the righteous one accomplished?

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For the foundations are destroyed; what has the Righteous One done?

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When the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous one do?

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Psalm 11 is a short psalm of confidence in God.

The Hebrew text and English translation can be read side by side at Mechon Mamre.

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See what fellow photo bloggers have to show and say about Psalm 11 at Robert's weekly Psalm Challenge at Daily Athens.

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Black bird + white bird discuss Mughrabi bridge

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You might have to enlarge the first shot to see that a white bird is looking at the black bird.

The birds are sitting on a ledge of an empty old 2nd-storey room over the women's prayer room at the Western Wall.

Here is the Western Wall (once called the Wailing Wall).

Behind and above it, the Temple Mount which is under the administration of the Wakf (Muslim Trust).

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The place the birds were sitting is under the top part of the big ramp.

It leads up to the Mughrabi Gate, the only entrance onto the Temple Mount for non-Muslims (as explained in a previous post).
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After years of legal battles the Jerusalem Municipality has now given final approval to plans for a replacement bridge.

(It turns out that the old ramp never did have approval. )

See the whole strange story here, in the March 8 Jerusalem Post.

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I'm relieved and happy to read that

"The new bridge is a scaled-down version of the original project, which proposed a massive 95-meter bridge leading from an archeological garden. The original plan prompted an outcry from archeologists worried that such a large structure would not only damage archeological findings, but also detract from the aesthetic nature of the site."

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The new bridge is meant to replace the temporary wooden bridge that has been in use since a 2003 earthquake and winter storm caused part of the original bridge to collapse, leading city engineers to deem it unsafe.

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The authorities have not coordinated this with the Wakf, so I imagine the new ramp will not be finished--or even started--any time soon.

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The sweet birds are for Camera-Critters and the "bridge" is for Sunday Bridges.

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Herod's Gate/Flower Gate in a van window

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For James' Weekend Reflections here is Jerusalem's Flower Gate (aka Herod's Gate) reflected in a van window.
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Funny how the glass makes the straight Old City wall curve on top, almost like the springing of an arch.
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The Flower Gate's metal outer staircase also makes a fancy shadow for this weekend's Shadow Shot Sunday.
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The gate was refurbished and rededicated last June.
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For the Japanese

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Our hearts and prayers are with the people of Japan on this day of disasters.
And for friends like Kay of Musings who wait for the tsunami to hit Hawaii as they wait for word from relatives in Sendai and Tokyo.

( If you wonder why a Japanese Zen Buddhist temple bell hangs in a Jerusalem park, please see here.)
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Rooftop sky watching

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Just two days ago the sky was still all happy blue and white, perfect for SkyWatch.
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If you climb up to the rooftops of Jerusalem's Old City, you may feel as if suspended between heaven and earth, between distant past and tenuous present.
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A few residents know how to traverse the whole walled city via the roofs, so I hear.
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From here where the four quarters of the Old City intersect, you look down to the Temple Mount and the golden roof of the Muslim Dome of the Rock and past it to the Mount of Olives in the east.
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Turn north and there are the two black domes and the belltower of the Holy Sepulchre, just behind the minaret of a mosque.
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Through a seriously-spikey fence, the belltower and dome of the Lutheran Church of the Redeemer and freely-floating white clouds are visible.

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Shalom, peace, to Jerusalem and shalom to you.

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Ice skating in a tent in Jerusalem!

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There, next to the date palm trees--can you guess what the blue machinery will be for?
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I walked by Safra Square (Jerusalem Municipality) last Thursday and saw lots of activity.

They are building an ice rink in a tent!

And apparently the hoses will create air cold enough to freeze water.

A crane set down a container
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and the men started transporting equipment into the long tent.

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There are already two cages full of ice skates! In Jerusalem!

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The rink will be open from tomorrow, March 10, until April 14.

Adults pay 40 shekels (about $11), kids up to age 16 pay 30 shekels (~ $8) for half an hour, skate rental included.
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I read here that "The opening will feature a skating display and Israel’s Ice Hockey League is planning a night hockey tournament on 4 nights during the short season."

More info about the Snow Festival at a Hebrew website.

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Just in time for opening day, real snow is predicted for Jerusalem tomorrow, something quite rare!

Let's hope it happens!

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UPDATE: No snow.
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His and hers

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Anatomically correct, in a basic sort of way, wouldn't you say?

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I found them hiding in a corner, in between a stack of chairs and some brooms, behind a partition, in Binyaney HaUma convention center, during the Book Fair.

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A cleaning lady was sitting back there, taking a break and gabbing on her cell phone, so I didn't want to intrude and go closer to look for an artist's name.

But for ABC Wednesday's H-Day, I'll just call the picture "his and hers."

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Celebrating 100 years of women's achievements

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(Logo from www.internationalwomensday.com/ )

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For our posts today we can change the meme's name to That's OUR World Tuesday because all over the world people are (or should be) celebrating this one special day: the centenary of International Women's Day.

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Every year each country chooses its own theme for the day.

The United Nations' 2011 theme is "Equal access to education, training and science and technology: Pathway to decent work for women."
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The U.N. website has good background information about the theme, including this startling fact:

Women make up nearly two thirds of the world’s 759 million illiterate adults.
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Fortunately my own daughter was in the right countries for getting the science education she wanted.
Naomi grew up in Israel. After her compulsory army service she worked to save money and soon married, and she and Guy went to California to study at San Jose State University.
Naomi graduated summa cum laude with a degree in Mechanical Engineering.
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They then migrated to Australia and, while starting a family, both Naomi and Guy got a Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering.
Today they are doing good work in academia and are raising three thinking and caring young children.

Not every woman has to study for a doctorate. But I hope and pray that more and more women around the world will someday soon enjoy "equal access to education, training and science and technology: pathway to decent work for women."
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Tel Aviv, the other world

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Louis la Vache's meme has reached week 50 already!
Having run out of Jerusalem bridges for his Sunday Bridges, I had to travel clear across the country to find a new one.
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OK, so you get off the train in Tel Aviv, go up the escalator, and turn right.

You will be entering this long pedestrian bridge that goes over the busy highway.

Inside it everyone is in a big hurry.

It looks like a big shiny tube.

It's so NOT Jerusalem . . . .

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Lurking like a lion

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For Daily Athens' Psalm Challenge, Psalm 10.
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1 Why, O Lord, do you stand far off? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?
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2 In arrogance the wicked persecute the poor— let them be caught in the schemes they have devised.
3 For the wicked boast of the desires of their heart, those greedy for gain curse and renounce the Lord.
4 In the pride of their countenance the wicked say, "God will not seek it out"; all their thoughts are, "There is no God."
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5 Their ways prosper at all times; your judgments are on high, out of their sight; as for their foes, they scoff at them.
6 They think in their heart, "We shall not be moved; throughout all generations we shall not meet adversity."
7 Their mouths are filled with cursing and deceit and oppression; under their tongues are mischief and iniquity.
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8 They sit in ambush in the villages; in hiding places they murder the innocent. Their eyes stealthily watch for the helpless;

9 they lurk in secret like a lion in its covert; they lurk that they may seize the poor; they seize the poor and drag them off in their net.

10 They stoop, they crouch, and the helpless fall by their might.
11 They think in their heart, "God has forgotten, he has hidden his face, he will never see it."
12 Rise up, O Lord; O God, lift up your hand; do not forget the oppressed.
13 Why do the wicked renounce God, and say in their hearts, "You will not call us to account"?
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14 But you do see! Indeed you note trouble and grief, that you may take it into your hands; the helpless commit themselves to you; you have been the helper of the orphan.
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15 Break the arm of the wicked and evildoers; seek out their wickedness until you find none.
16 The Lord is king forever and ever; the nations shall perish from his land.
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17 O Lord, you will hear the desire of the meek; you will strengthen their heart, you will incline your ear

18 to do justice for the orphan and the oppressed,

so that man who is of the earth may strike terror no more.

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Photos:
1. Lion at Beit HaChayal (the Soldier's House), Jerusalem.

2. Memorial naming victims of terrorism in Israel, grouped by years, from 1860 to present. On Mt. Herzl, the mount of remembrance.

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Life on the Cardo

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The Old City by night is very different from the daytime version.

The tall columns of the Byzantine Cardo cast spooky shadows.

As part of their training, soldiers learn about Israel and Jerusalem.

The guide is probably telling the young men and women that they stand on the 6th century Byzantine Cardo, which was the continuation of the Roman Cardo.

The Latin term cardo means pivot/"hinge"/axis, and by extension, the street around which city life revolves.
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I wonder if pagan Roman Jerusalem had as many cats as the Old City does today.

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The Romans were big on urban planning and almost every city they built throughout the Empire had a cardo crossing the city from north to south.

You can see Jerusalem's main cardo, secondary cardo, and the recently discovered decumanus on the old Madaba mosaic map.

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Jerusalem's Cardo Maximus was a wide stone-paved road with sidewalks, colonnades (a series of regularly spaced columns supporting an entablature and usually one side of a roof), and shops along its length.

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These wooden bits in the photo were reconstructed to show how a shop would have been covered to keep merchandise dry in the winter and to shield merchants from the blazing summer sun.

The pigeon up there thinks it's a perfect perch!

How do you say pigeon in Latin?

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With its animals and shadows, this post is for Camera-Critters and Shadow Shot Sunday memes.

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Pass the salt

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See what the Dead Sea is good for?
To make salt sculptures!
Read about Anat Eshed Goldberg's art project in the salty sea here and then click Previous to see her gallery.

This crystal couple stands in the Ahava cosmetics store in Jerusalem's Mamilla Mall.
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The window reflects a book store and the sun umbrellas of its outdoor cafe and people out strolling, enjoying yesterday's warm weather.
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The reflection is for James' Weekend Reflections.
Shabbat shalom!
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Remembering with flowers

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Today I saw bunches of flowers stuck into the plaque on the wall of the Generali Building on Jaffa Road.
I looked more closely and found the date 3.3.1996.
So, today is the 15th anniversary of the death of the 19 people named on the plaque.
A terrorist's bomb exploded on their bus.
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There are many such memorial signs all around Jerusalem that list victims' names and the number of the bus route.
Most are from the bad old days of suicide bombers during the first and second intifadas.
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Sweet n' sour notes

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See his tools on top and tool bag below?
Yes, it's a real piano tuner!
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He was tuning--Lord knows why--in a little side hall of last week's big Jerusalem International Book Fair.
But he couldn't get much work done. Just in the few minutes I stood there and photographed, one woman after another stopped him and asked some questions.
They must have out-of-tune pianos at home, because he gave them his card.
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Giftedness and genius, guidance and growth

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You can tell from the title that today is G-Day at ABC Wednesday.

"Gee, what a nice campus for 9th to 12th grade kids," I thought while waiting for a bus just outside the school's fence and seeing it more or less up close for the first time.
The sign said ISRAEL ARTS AND SCIENCE ACADEMY.
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Here's what I now learn from Googling:

"IASA is the most integrated high school in Israel.
Its 200 students and over 1000 graduates come from more than 100 communities across Israel.
They are religious and secular Jews; Israeli Arabs (Druze, Christian, Bedouin and Muslim); new immigrants and native-born Israelis.
They come from development towns and major cities, kibbutzim and moshavim.
They represent the full mosaic of Israeli society."

--from the Academy's website

Overlooking the southern Jerusalem Hills, the 19-acre Schusterman Campus is home to the students for three years. A real residential high school.
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IASA was founded in 1990 by the Society for Excellence through Education.
The carefully selected gifted students may major in either natural sciences , music, visual arts, or humanities.
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Listen to what Wikipedia says! --
"The studies in the Art Department consist of painting, sculpting, photography, and video art classes.
Students also study the history of modern art and classic art.
In their second year, students write their own academic paper about any art topic they choose. In their third year, students work on their final practical exhibit."
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Lucky kids, eh?
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More about Israel's various programs for the "gifted, talented, and very able" is here.
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Jerusalem of gold

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Morning's first rays as seen from the roof of Ecce Homo Convent -- what could be better?
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I love every part of Jerusalem, but the 0.9 square kilometer Old City circled by the 500 year old ramparts has to be my favorite.
Made up of the Muslim Quarter, Christian Quarter, Jewish Quarter, and Armenian Quarter, the Old City has a little bit of everything (and of everybody).
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City Daily Photo group is having first day of the month Theme Day about our favorite part of town.
Click here to view thumbnails for all participants .
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Happy Kalevala Day

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To our Finnish friends let me say, happy Kalevalan päivä, suomalaisen kulttuurin päivä.
February 28 is the day of the Finnish national epic and Finnish culture.

I just happen to own a copy of that national epic, the Kalevala. (Even though I don't know the language.)
The folk material was compiled by Dr. Elias Lönnrot and was written down, for the first time, in 1830.
The book was published for the first time on this day in 1835.
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Prior to that, it was all sung and kept active in the oral tradition.
Typically, two singers would link arms, face to face across a table, and sing to each other, challenging to see who knew more verses.

As explained in an earlier post, the Jerusalem Hills has a nice moshav (village) called Yad Hashmona that was founded by Finnish Christians.
The name means a memorial for the eight, in remembrance of the eight Finnish Jews who were surrendered to the Nazis.

It is very moving to read how the Yad Hashmona website explains that.
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They have built a wonderful Biblical Garden that Israelis and tourists can visit.

The sign you see is glass, with the sky and clouds NOT reflected but showing through.

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The view over the Jerusalem Hills (or Hills of Judea) goes on forever.

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BTW, both C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien drew from the Kalevala in their own works.

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And this was our tour for That's My World. Shalom!

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Praise, even on a van roof

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For these joyous photos I selected the "happier" verses of Psalm 9, as a contribution to Robert's Psalm Challenge.
The entire psalm can be enjoyed, in both English and Hebrew, at Mechon Mamre in a more classic translation than the one used below.



2. I acclaim You, LORD with all my heart; I tell all Your wonders.
3. I rejoice and exult in You, singing a hymn to Your name, O Most High.
. . .
11. Those who know Your name trust You, for You do not abandon those who seek You, O LORD,
12. Sing a hymn to the LORD, who stays in Zion; declare His deeds among the peoples.
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14. Have mercy on me, O LORD . . .
15. so that in the gates of the Daughter of Zion I might tell all Your praise, I might exult in Your deliverance.
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The minute I came out of the big blue Binyaney HaUma convention center (site of the Book Fair), I heard "spiritual" techno music blaring over on a major Jerusalem road.

Emerging from the pedestrian tunnel under the road, I was delighted to find two young Na Nachs!

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One was on the van roof trancing to trance music ("a type of electronic dance music with repetitive rhythms, aiming at a hypnotic effect").

The other was dancing around a table with Na Nach items: their signature tasseled white kipot, bracelets and amulets, stickers, books.

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This newest of the Hasidic sects, a subgroup of Breslover Hasidim colloquially known as the Na Nachs, believes in praising God with joy and making Judaism happy and fun.

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The mantra that you see on the van is written or stuck on every public place imaginable. See my collection and explanation of their graffiti at my post The Ubiquitous Nachman of Uman.

More at my label "Nachman."

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Wikipedia talks about Na Nach here and in more depth here.

France 24 gives photos and info in "Na Nach Jews: religion, tradition, and techno music."

Haaretz has "Rolling with the Na Nachs, the most high-spirited and newest Hasidic sect."

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Shalom and a happy Sunday to all!

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