Terror returns to Jerusalem
Photo from Ynet earlier today
At about 3:10 PM, my daughter Merav called me on my cell phone from school. Someone had said there was a bomb and did I know anything. I quickly checked the Internet. Nothing. But I already could tell that wasn’t the case. All the way from across town, I heard a boom. It could have been a firecracker or a garbage truck but it was followed by more simultaneous sirens than I’ve heard since the murderous days of the Second Intifada.
I kept pressing refresh on Haaretz and Ynet in Hebrew until eventually the story appeared (it was a good ten minutes more before the English language sites picked it up). I began reporting to Merav who, I could hear in the background, was forwarding the news to her classmates.
What’s the first thing you do when the news is bad? Tell your wife? I decided to spare her, at least until there were more details.
The phone rang. It was from the U.S. A friend had already heard the news. Soon Jody was calling to me. She couldn’t reach Merav on her cellphone. All the lines were down. I quickly calmed her: I’d already spoken to Merav, everything was fine.
Of the hundreds of thousands of people in Jerusalem, what are the chances that it would be one of our kids who’d be involved in a terror attack? That’s one reason why Israelis get on with their lives so quickly. But we have another experience. In 2002, our cousin Marla Bennett was killed in the Hebrew University cafeteria bombing. Every attack is personal now.
It’s been nearly 7 years since the last bus bombing in Jerusalem. And this wasn’t a bus attack per se, nor was it a suicide bomber. That doesn’t make it feel any better. Even worse, our son’s bus from Tel Aviv stops every night at that same kiosk near where the bomb was placed. He called and asked if I could pick him up tonight. Merav decided to walk home.
Will this be a return to the early 2000’s? I doubt it. But it’s a painful reminder that we are not at peace, and it may be a long time before the threats around us are gone.
From Boston to Jerusalem with love
Filed under: A New Reality, Business, General, Israeliness, Sports, Travel
Massachussetts Governor Deval Patrick and Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu share a laugh yesterday in Jerusalem. (The Boston Globe)
Over 30 New England business leaders led by Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick and frequent visitors New England Patriots owner and philanthropist Robert Kraft and his wife Myra are here this week on the governor’s Innovation Economy Mission.
The group has been taking part in industry forums, company visits and meetings with Israeli business leaders and government officials in Tel Aviv, Haifa, and Jerusalem.
Yesterday, Patrick met with Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and with Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon, who read a proclamation in the Knesset welcoming Patrick and the delegation to Israel, including “my very good friend, Robert “Bobby” Kraft.’’
“It’s amazing to be acknowledged from the floor of the Knesset,’’ Patrick told The Boston Globe.
It isn’t all business and politics for the delegation however. Today, Kraft and some of the group will be visiting the Kraft Family Stadium in Jerusalem to watch tackle football games of the Israel Football League.
Established nearly four years ago through the donations of the Kraft Family Foundation, the stadium has become a magnet for American sports in Jerusalem and the Kraft Family Israel Football League has recently expanded its grassroots efforts to offer a high school tackle football league to the Israeli public.
“We have been extremely fortunate to have the support of the Kraft Family as we continue to grow tackle football in Israel and any chance we get to have the Krafts attend a game is really special for us and for our players,” the IFL Commissioner Uriel Sturm told The Jerusalem Post.
In addition to their support of the stadium and tackle football the Krafts have also been highly supportive of the Israel women’s flag football national team, which this year placed fifth in the IFAF Flag World Championships and is currently training for this year’s EFAF European Championships, to be held in September.
“Myra Kraft has been such a tremendous supporter of our quest to make women’s flag football an international contender,” said Shana Sprung quarterback of the women’s national team.
So while the crafts and the rest of the downeast delegation might still be shaking off the loss in the NFL playoffs by their beloved Patriots, they can take solace in seeing this week how football is flourishing in Israel thanks to their help.
A revitalized downtown Jerusalem – with skyscrapers
Cool new skycraper proposed for downtown Jerusalem
An article in today’s Haaretz divulged previously unpublished plans to build skyscrapers in downtown Jerusalem. At least one of the new buildings looks quite spiffy – a 24-story tower designed by American Jewish architect Daniel Libeskind and local architect Yigal Levi that will include 180 luxury apartments, a boutique hotel, cinemas and a theater, a commercial area and an outdoor public plaza.
All told, there are 10 new projects on the books along two main corridors – Jaffa and King George Streets. The push for skyscrapers comes after the recent approval of a long awaited master plan for the city, which takes into account the cancellation of the Safdie Plan. That proposal would have built tens of thousands of apartments and low density homes in the hills west of Jerusalem. The plan was nixed due to vocal opposition by environmental groups and citizens alike, but the result is a need to build more densely in the city itself.
There was a time when I was against changing the “historic” look and feel of the city, where nothing was supposed to obscure the prominence of the Old City. Except for a few eyesores like the Clal Building and Crowne Plaza, most buildings were 5-6 stories max.
But that lack of density also gave the city a kind of backwards, country-bumpkin atmosphere. Downtown felt a bit pathetic compared with the “big city” Tel Aviv. And when the Malcha Mall opened years ago, the city center was decimated – all the best shops and all the movie theaters fled for the periphery. Indeed, one of the new skyscrapers will rise on the ashes of the old Eden Cinema.
If these skyscrapers live up to the promise reported by Haaretz – that they will have plenty of public space, shops, restaurants, and entertainment venues – they could help revitalize downtown. The light rail, a ten-year nightmare coming to an end this summer, will also contribute, turning Jaffa Street from a car, bus and taxi clogged artery to a European-style pedestrian and trolley walkway stretching all the way from the Central Bus Station to the upscale – and very successful – Mamilla Mall.
Couple all that with the fast train from Tel Aviv, and you could have the Ramat Aviv crowd zipping up the Holy City not for a trip to the Western Wall but a cappuccino at a trendy bar at Davidka Square.
Israel celebrates Oscar wins
Filed under: A New Reality, Entertainment, General, Movies, Pop Culture, Social Justice
Students at the Bialik-Rogozin School in Tel Aviv.
Of course, Jerusalem’s native daughter Natalie Portman walked away with the Best Actress award for her role in Black Swan. Portman, who was born here in 1981 and returned to study at Hebrew University in 2004, was congratulated by Culture Minister Limor Livnat, who said that Portman “brought pride to Israel.”
And while, not as high-profile as that award, but no less satisfying, was the Academy Award for Best Documentary Short going to US filmmakers Karen Goodman and Kirk Simon for Strangers No More, about the children of foreign workers and refugees at Tel Aviv’s Bialik-Rogozin school.
Goodman told The Jerusalem Post she hopes that following the Oscar win, “the spotlight will shine on the school and the world will see it as an example of hope and tolerance.”
The 40-minute film tells the story of the school’s educators, in particular principal Keren Tal and teacher Smadar Moeres, and shows the day-to-day lives of three students; Johannes from Ethiopia, Esther from South Africa, and Mohammed from Darfur. The film was shot over the course of a school year and depicts the turmoil and heartbreak faced by the children en route to Israel, and how the school has become a sort of safe haven for them in Israel.
Located in south Tel Aviv, Bialik-Rogozin teaches more than 800 students from 48 countries around the world, all of them learning in classes taught in Hebrew, which serves as a sort of unifier for the children from scattered backgrounds. While the issue isn’t covered in the movie, the school has become very famous in Israel over the past year, because 120 of its students face possible deportation in the wake of a cabinet decision last July. Bialik-Rogozin’s 120 students are among the around 400 students nationwide who are slated to be deported.
The school put that aside on Monday morning, hosting a celebration for teachers, students, and Tel Aviv Mayor Ron Huldai. Following his visit to the school Monday, Huldai issued a statement on Monday praising the film, saying “in a world of cynicism, alienation, and hatred, this movie proves in the most direct and convincing way that there is the chance for a better world.”
And President Shimon Peres called filmmaker Tal to tell her that Strangers No More had cast a beam of light on Israel’s humanity.
Not bad for a night on the red carpet.
Foto Friday – Viewing Israel with Rafael Ben-Ari
Filed under: Art, design, Foto Friday, General, History and Culture, Picture of the Week, Travel
Rafael Ben-Ari is a noted Israeli photographer and educator with over 20 years experience. He’s worked for Israeli and international newspapers and magazines, traveled extensively and his photographs has been presented at exhibitions and countries around the world.
Ben-Ari also runs Israel Photo Tours, which offers one-on-one private photography workshops and lessons in Israel. These are day tours, says Ben-Ari, “for photographers on all levels who are serious about their craft and wish to improve their skills while seeing Israel.”
Ben-Ari’s experience with cameras ranges from analog 35mm, digital, and SLR to panoramic and underwater cameras. Light is essential to his work and on location, he makes use of both artificial and available light and light. His students, he states, “learn the art of using light to capture the true essence of Israel”.
He suggests various tour itineraries, such as the ancient, sun-washed city of Acre for those who love the picturesque…
© Rafael Ben-Ari/Chameleons Eye
The dusty Negev desert for those interested in archeology and nature…
© Rafael Ben-Ari/Chameleons Eye
Jerusalem, the city central to Judaism…
© Rafael Ben-Ari/Chameleons Eye
The places holy to three monotheistic religions…
© Rafael Ben-Ari/Chameleons Eye
And for a change of pace, the beaches, sun and fun of Tel Aviv.
© Rafael Ben-Ari/Chameleons Eye
There are a lot more wonderful pictures to view on the Israel Photo Tours website, along with contact information, itineraries and testimonials.
Subscribe
Subscribe to Israelity via email:
Social Media
Categories
- A New Reality
- Art
- Blogging
- Business
- coexistence
- Crime
- design
- education
- Entertainment
- Environment
- Food
- Foto Friday
- General
- health
- History and Culture
- Holidays
- Immigrant Moments
- Israeliness
- Life
- Medical Breakthroughs
- Movies
- Music
- News
- Nostalgia Sunday
- Picture of the Week
- Politics
- Pop Culture
- Profiles
- Religion
- Science
- Social Justice
- Sports
- Technology
- Travel
- tv
- War
The Face of Israel Today
-
About Israelity
Free newsletter
Stories from ISRAEL21c.orgPopular Posts