Around Town

Around Town

A corner of the Mahane Yehuda market. A chair hung on its side, a poster, cauliflowers, and so on...

A palm tree with dates:

The Russian Compound downtown:

Look What They’ve Done to My Street, Ma

Look What They’ve Done to My Street, Ma

(with apologies to Melanie)

The Great Jaffa Street Dig in preparation for Jerusalem’s light rail system, which is already several years behind schedule. Looking in the direction of the main post office at one end...

... and toward the Clal Building and the Central Bus Station on the other:

Maybe, once the light rail is up and running, we’ll say it was worth it. For now, getting downtown is a challenge (read: nightmare). I’m very grateful for the new bus lines that go from the Central Bus Station area to southern Jerusalem without going there. (At the same time, I’m thinking of the owners of businesses on Jaffa Street. They have had it pretty tough for quite some time: first terrorists, and now, le-havdil, construction.)

Check out the map of the new traffic routes. Even though it’s in Hebrew, it should be pretty clear.

Here’s another map, from the Jerusalem Municipality, that includes bus routes.

(I looked for maps in English but didn’t find any. It’s pretty interesting that the English version of the municipality’s website links to a map in Hebrew....)

Some Pictures of Jerusalem, Just Because

Some Pictures of Jerusalem, Just Because

Here, for no particular reason, are some pictures of Jerusalem. Click on each image to see a larger version.

The bridge going over the road leading to Mt. Zion, with the Old City walls in the background:

Glass ceiling panes at the Begin Heritage Center:

Three stages of fennel: blossom, seed-in-the-making, ripe seed:

Shabbat shalom!

Some Thoughts on the JBloggers Conference

Some Thoughts on the JBloggers Conference

I enjoyed it for the most part, though if it had been up to me, I would have made it a little longer, if only to make more time for mingling. To me, that is the main purpose of such a conference, right up there with the sessions and panels: to talk with the other participants, especially with those whom we don’t usually get to see. We’re bloggers, after all. We talk. So we need more time to talk to each other face to face!

In my opinion, that is also why the Internet is such a miracle: it provides us with the opportunity to meet people whom we would not have met otherwise and to reconnect with old friends and acquaintances. (Yes, today’s generation would probably roll their collective eyes at me for that and say “Duh.” But I remember when moving meant losing touch with your friends for good. Not so simple.)

Binyamin Netanyahu spoke at length. He seems to have a good grasp on Jewish history and, as we all know, he is an excellent speaker. His political performance aside, I lived in his building for a year some time ago... and let’s just say that you can learn a lot about some neighbors just by living in close proximity to them, even if you hardly ever see them. It was, however, the most secure place I’ve ever lived in. ’Nuff said.

The food was excellent, the speakers were interesting—and no, Gila, I don’t think you’re self-centered at all for wanting to keep your blog your own, rather than turning it into a public-relations effort for the country. What you said made perfect sense to me. (Regarding good PR for Israel by bloggers—did anyone mention Israel21c at the conference? I don’t remember, but if they didn’t, then they should have.)

I do hope that there will be another conference next year—maybe even a full-day one, since there were quite a few people I would have liked to hear. Plus, of course, more mingling. Lots of mingling.

One of the friends I met at the conference was Yehuda. I really got a kick out of his t-shirt. (Click on the images to read what is written on each side.)

Front:

Back:

Of course, he’s just kidding. Tongue in cheek. Right, Yehuda? Right?

Friday Cats

Friday Cats

Some tuxxie belly:

A friendly, skritchable tabby and white (with tipped ear):

Finally, if you need some help with your peripherals, Her Ladyship will be happy to pitch in.

The Friday Ark. The Carnival of the Cats.

Haveil Havalim #178: The Tu be-Av Edition

Haveil Havalim #178: The Tu be-Av Edition

The 178th edition of Haveil Havalim is up at The Rebbetzin’s Husband.

Fly on Leaf

Fly on Leaf

A fly on a leaf. Note the upraised leg. (Click for larger version.)

For more pictures of local Jerusalem scenes, head on over here.

Shabbat shalom!

Prayers amid the Bustle

Prayers amid the Bustle

In the midst of the Mahane Yehuda shuk (open-air market) is a small synagogue known as Bet Zevul. If you happen to be doing your shopping and need to recite minha (the afternoon prayer), here’s your chance!

Prayer is an informal event here, a part of life rather than apart from it.

The worshippers have reached the modim (thanksgiving) section of the afternoon service. The prayer leader is bowing, while the congregants are standing:

Yes, the synagogue is right in the midst of the market, with all its activity:

The Skritch Monster Stalks Her Ladyship

The Skritch Monster Stalks Her Ladyship

The Skritch Monster is on the prowl, looking for a kitty to skritch.

Oh! What have we here?

Her Ladyship, I do believe. Carefully, carefully... ah, yes! Right into the trap. Gotcha!

The Skritch Monster is ready to move on. But what’s this? Her Ladyship has turned the tables and is lying down on her skirt. Oh noes! The Skritch Monster is trapped! What will she do?

Guess she’ll just have to make the best of it.

The Friday Ark. The Carnival of the Cats.

Woodpeckers

Woodpeckers

Two of ’em! (Click on the photo to see a larger version.)

I do wish I could have gotten closer. Unfortunately, that wasn’t possible. Woodpeckers are skittish critters. Try to get closer for a better picture and they take off.

A Post for Tisha be-Av: The Western Wall Tunnels

A Post for Tisha be-Av: The Western Wall Tunnels

Several weeks ago, I visited the Western Wall Tunnels. Here are some of the photos I took there, with explanations.

First, here is the view of the outside portion of the Western Wall (actually only a very small part of the entire wall, which runs the entire length of the Temple Mount). Notice that the women’s section is particularly crowded, while the men’s section seems sparsely populated. As we will see later on, this is because the men are taking advantage of the abundant indoor space available to them inside the Western Wall Tunnels.

Here is the new women’s gallery located inside the tunnels. Years ago, it was completely open. Now it is enclosed in wooden paneling and one-way glass. (Since it is one-way glass, I don’t understand the need for curtains. Nevertheless, there they are.)

Here is one view of the indoor men’s section from the women’s gallery, taken through the glass. Note the beautiful Ark for the Torah. There are quite a few of them in the men’s section, indoors and out, and hundreds of Torah scrolls for the men’s use.

Here is another view, from a slightly different angle.

Here is the gate to the women’s gallery, seen from the inside. It opens to the stairs that lead down into the men’s section. To the best of my knowledge, it is usually kept locked, as it was when I was there.

Here is a view of the men’s section downstairs, taken through one of the squares in the top section of the wooden gate shown above. The rear of the small women’s gallery, with its wooden paneling and one-way glass, can be seen clearly in the photo.

Fortunately, this small, enclosed women’s gallery is not the only indoor space in the Western Wall complex where women may worship. There are at least two others. One is a small, well-appointed synagogue, known as the Rabbi Getz Synagogue, which is located at Warren’s Gate. The synagogue’s interior is shown in the photo below. When I was there, the only other people inside were two women. (Since the synagogue has no separate section for women, at least as far as I could tell, I assume that women are welcome there as long as no scheduled services are in progress. If any readers know differently, they are welcome to leave a message in the comments.)

The place shown in the following photograph is opposite a sealed gate that, according to Jewish tradition, leads to the location of the Holy of Holies. As in the synagogue above, when I was there the only worshippers there were women. On my way there....

... and opposite the gate:

On the Ninth of Av, we mourn the destruction of our Temples and the exile of our people. Yet I cannot help wondering—and I know other religiously observant women who are troubled by this question—whenever the Temple is rebuilt, what will be the place of women there? Who will decide? Will the unprecedented access to high-level religious study that Jewish women enjoy today have any effect on the decision? And, as some traditional teachings hint (Pirke de-Rabbi Eliezer 45, for example), could this high-level learning by women indicate that the time of the Redemption is near?

Throughout our history, we Jews—men and women alike, together and separately—have suffered various kinds of exile, which have yet to end. A thought to ponder this sad day of Tisha be-Av.

(See all the photos I took in the Western Wall Tunnels, with explanations, here.)

Historical Find in the City of David

Historical Find in the City of David

About that bulla...

Meryl.

Imshin.

Tabbies

Tabbies

Unfortunately, this photo is a bit blurry. My camera is not very fond of low light and I didn’t want to use my flash. Nevertheless, the mixture of tabby and Siamese on this cat can be seen clearly enough:

Here’s a cool tabby cat on a rock wall:

Finally, a story with no picture. One evening a few days ago, a friend of mine found her tabby cat lying on his side in the yard, looking like he didn’t want to move. On closer inspection, she saw the reason why: he had just eaten a hoopoe.

That’s right. His after-dinner snack was our national bird!

The Friday Ark. The Carnival of the Cats.

Symmetricats!

Symmetricats!

Her Ladyship and Missy in symmetrical pose:

The Friday Ark. The Carnival of the Cats.

A Word to Those Seeking Free Advertising on My Blog

A Word to Those Seeking Free Advertising on My Blog

A few minutes ago, I deleted an ad that was left in a comment on a recent post. It was for a product I’ve seen before and that appealed to me, but I deleted the ad anyway. It looks as though whoever left it had simply looked up a certain word on the Internet and found it in the post, probably did not bother to read said post, and left the ad thinking something along the lines of: well, it couldn’t hurt.

Well, hey, guys, I put out this CD a few years ago, and it’s really good. It even won a prize. If I were to ask you to advertise it on your website for free, would you agree?

I didn’t think so.

OK, look. Don’t sneak ads into my comments section without permission. It’s not polite, to say the least. You might try asking me nicely for a link, and if I like your product and I’m in a good mood, I may agree. But don’t try to hijack my comments section. It won’t work. I will only delete the ad as soon as I see it. If you’re stupid enough to try a second time, you will be banned from leaving comments here at all.

Clear?

Women Knesset Members Silenced—in the Knesset

Women Knesset Members Silenced—in the Knesset

While the Israeli Knesset is the perfect place for power plays, this particular kind of power play was inappropriate even there.

When the Knesset choir sang “Hatikva” in honor of British Prime Minister Gordon Brown’s visit last Monday, women members of the Knesset choir were deliberately excluded so as not to offend Haredi Knesset members.

Female MKs joined forces Tuesday in protesting what MK Marina Solodkin (Kadima) described as an anti-democratic decision to exclude women from the choir that sang “Hatikva” at the conclusion of British Premier Gordon Brown's Knesset appearance on Monday.

The choir in question was the official Knesset Choir, in which Solodkin, as well as MKs Zevulun Orlev (NU/NRP), Orit Noked (Labor) and Colette Avital (Labor) are active members.

On Tuesday, Avital collected the signatures of all 17 women MKs on a letter protesting the decision to exclude women from singing to avoid offending the sensibilities of haredi MKs.

“At the time, in the plenum, I didn't even understand what had happened,” Solodkin said Tuesday. “We began to sing ‘Hatikva,’ and I heard only men’s voices in the choir. I looked and saw our choir director leading all of our male choir members... When I heard how it sounded, I understood. Without women, the ‘Hatikva’ is different.”

Solodkin said she then asked some of the men in the choir what had happened, and they told her that they had been given a briefing before the performance, informing them that women were excluded from singing in the plenum because of the presence of haredi MKs.

I admit I don’t understand the logistics of this at all. The women MKs are members of the choir, so why didn’t they just join in when the singing started? Did someone turn off their microphones? Were they told to stay in their seats when the men went up to the platform to sing (if the men indeed did so)? Did they not know that the national anthem was going to be sung on this occasion? Something is missing in the article, but one thing is clear: there is a despicable power play going on here.

The Knesset is not a Haredi synagogue any more than the Western Wall plaza is. And the Western Wall plaza has been turned, for all practical purposes, into a Haredi synagogue rather than a place of prayer for all Jews. (Witness the modesty ushers in the ever-shrinking women’s section, the unchallenged presence there of male workers while no female workers are ever permitted to set foot in the men’s section, and the fact that the new indoor space for women provides them no access whatsoever to the Western Wall itself, but rather keeps them behind the men, separated by a partition of one-way glass.) The Knesset, the governing body for all Israelis, religious or not, Jewish or not, must not follow this disgraceful example.

Funny, but I don’t recall the Haredi MKs being so concerned with Knesset decorum before. What exactly is their problem? Are they concerned that the singing of the national anthem by women MKs at an official ceremony is going to make them think lewd thoughts? Do they really think that the next step after a mixed choir in the Knesset is a visit from the Vice Squad? Well, then, what’s next? An official dress code for women MKs? Requiring them to participate in sessions from a separate room, via closed-circuit television, because their presence in the plenum is considered a violation of modesty? Not having women MKs at all? Unfortunately, in the current climate those possibilities don’t seem all that ridiculous, even though they should.

But of course, this is not about modesty, just as the shameful political muscle-flexing at the Chords Bridge had nothing to do with modesty. It has never been about modesty. It is about power, and those who say otherwise are either deceiving others or deceiving themselves.

Praying in Her Own Voice: Update

Praying in Her Own Voice: Update

I just found out about the trailer to Yael Katzir’s excellent film about Women of the Wall, Praying in Her Own Voice, two nights ago. I am proud to link to it here:

In my post about the film back in March 2007, I promised to post again when I had more information. Now I do.

Dan Katzir, Yael’s son and a producer and director himself, has provided the information in a comment he just left. I am happy to reproduce it here (edited slightly to incorporate the links into the text):

Thanks for the warm words about the film.
We recut it and you can see the new trailer.
People can read about the film and also contact us about it on our website, Newlovefilms.com.
If someone would like more info they can contact us directly:
dan [at] newlovefilms [dot] com.

I understand that the film is really starting to take off. Yasher koah, Yael and Dan! I look forward to hearing more good news.

UPDATE: Praying in Her Own Voice is going to be screened at the San Francisco Jewish Film Festival! Click here for details.

Once It’s Out There...

Once It’s Out There...

Out of my life I fashioned a fistful of words.
When I opened my hand, they flew away.
– Hyam Plutzik (1911–1962), American poet

In other words, once you get your text out there, you have precious little control over where it ends up.

Some time ago, I put up a post, together with pictures, about the tzitzit that I made for a friend’s small daughter. Recently, I found a site dedicated to issues of women and tzitzit. On quick investigation, I found that most of my blog post had been copied and pasted there (with proper credit, so I don’t mind on that score). On further investigation, I found that the site is run by so-called Messianics. I won’t even get into the inaccuracies about the wearing of tzitzit that I found there. Suffice it to say: it ain’t the real thing, folks.

I haven’t done anything about it and don’t intend to. People are free to believe what they choose. I just want to make it clear that I have nothing whatsoever to do with that site, nor do I support any so-called Messianic endeavors in any way, since the “Messianic” movement is really nothing more than a thinly-disguised attempt to persuade Jews to convert to Christianity (usually an evangelical branch).

(See Elisson’s excellent comment to this post for more clarification on why so-called Messianism is completely incompatible with Judaism.)

(In reference to the above epigraph: Many years ago, I kept a poster of the poem that contains these words on my wall. Its title is “On Hearing That My Poems Were Being Studied in a Distant Place,” and its full text may be found here.)

Some Thoughts for Saturday Night

Some Thoughts for Saturday Night

(Since the Israeli work-week starts on Sunday rather than on Monday, Saturday night is a “work night.” That goes double for me, since on most Sundays, I have to be at work at six o’clock in the morning.)

It’s been a tough couple of weeks, and there is other stuff going on right now that is difficult to deal with but that I don’t feel free to write about at the moment. (I sometimes joke that my biggest blogging category is “Things I Do Not Blog About.”) Let me clarify a little: there is no cause for alarm. I’m fine and in good health, work is fine, things are stable and OK here. Nevertheless, it’s not an easy time right now, and I’d appreciate some good thoughts and prayers.

Of course, I miss the Lady in Red a lot. This afternoon, I was going to go to the park for a while. Then I remembered how, several years ago, Lady came out in the rain to comfort me in the park after a close friend of mine had died. True, Lady had not lived in the park for almost the last year and a half of her life, but the memories were just too strong. So I didn’t go.

On the brighter side, I have started a project that I hope to complete fairly soon. It’s a counted cross-stitch sampler, and when it is done I intend to include a picture of it here, together with a post about where it’s going and why. Working with my hands gives me a lot of comfort, and I can surely use some of that now.

Another bright spot is that I got an order for more soap. The man in the open-air market who sells my soaps asked for a specific kind, and I hope to make it sometime this week.

Then there is another project that I have in the works. The raw materials are completed (whew! It was quite a lot of work), and it only remains to finish its physical production and get it out into the world. I hope to make that happen within the next few months.

The Three Weeks begin tomorrow. May they soon be transformed from a time of mourning to one of rejoicing, which will happen one day, according to Jewish tradition. “He will swallow up death forever. God will wipe away tears from every face and remove His people’s disgrace from all the earth, for God has spoken it” (Isaiah 25:8).