Foto Friday – Papal Visit

May 15, 2009 - 9:20 PM by · 1 Comment
Filed under: Foto Friday, General, Religion, Travel 

I’m in London this week and so can vouch for the fact that Pope Benedict XVI’s visit to Israel did not go unnoticed by the international press. As always though, the message got muddled. For example, this meeting with the chief Asheknazi and Sephardi rabbis of Israel — see the sharp shadow on the wall? A British paper here ran a photo from the same session. But their photo showed His Holiness sitting all lonely and overshadowed by a giant black hat.
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In fact, the true message of the Pope’s visit — interfaith and tolerance — was better represented by this photo, a meeting in the Galilee between the Pope and leaders of different religious communities in Israel, including Christians, Muslims, Jews, Druze and others…
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…the visit to Yad VaShem…
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…and a prayer at the Western Wall.
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And yes, he left a note…
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…and drove around in a Pope-mobile.
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For the faithful, the visit was an important one. The itinerary included several outdoor masses, such as the afternoon Mass at the Garden of Gethsemane.
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This week’s photos courtesy of the Government Press Office. Visit the Ministry of Tourism website for more information about about Christian holy sites and pilgrimage itineraries.

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A police escort in Israel for the pope

May 11, 2009 - 8:26 AM by · Leave a Comment
Filed under: A New Reality, General, History and Culture, Life, Religion 

Jerusalem police stand by as the motorcade of president George W. Bush drives by - expect a similar scene on Monday when the pope arrives.

Jerusalem police stand by as the motorcade of president George W. Bush drives by - expect a similar scene on Monday when the pope arrives.

I don’t consider myself a particularly grouchy person, but this visit by Pope Benedict XVI has got me fuming. Not the visit per se, it’s a great honor for Israel to host the pope, and he’s going to see the the country at its finest.

But, just as whenever someone of his stature visits – such as the president of the United States – the authorities invoke a police state over its citizens. From Monday afternoon, when the pope arrives, until his departure on Friday, the lives of many Jerusalem residents and those Israelis that work in Jerusalem will be disrupted beyond belief.

Just take a look at what Monday afternoon has in store for us – which is a facsmile of the coming days – as provided by the Jerusalem Municipality web site.

- Traffic axes that will be closed
The streets leading to the Presidential Residence, Yad Vashem, and the Notre Dame Hotel will all be closed to traffic.

The roads leading to and from the visit sites will alternately be closed: Yasky, Savyon, University Blvd., Katzir, Churchill, Mount of Olives, Mount Scopus landing pad, Derech Ma’aleh Adumim, Yitzhak Hanadiv, Buber, Ben Adiya, Mukdasi, Wadi Joz, Derech Jericho, Ha’ofal, Ma’aleh Hashalom, City of David, Batei Machseh, Hativat Yerushalayim, Jaffa Gate, IDF Tunnel, Yitzhak Kariv, Shlomo Hamelech, Shlomzion, David Hamelech, Agron, Ben Yisrael, Hamelech George, Keren Hayesod, Ramban, Ben Maimon, Azza, Arlozorov, Bartanora, Hanassi, Molcho,
Radak, Ha’ari, Ben Avi, Metudela, Harav Berlin, Hatibonim, Hazaz, Tchernikovsky, Shimoni, Burla, Bezek, Bate, Shachal, Shachrai, Tusia Cohen, Avi Zohar, Herzl Blvd., Ish Shalom, Hapisga, Uziel, Ein Kerem, Ya’ar Yerushalayim, Yanai, Koresh, Shivtei Yisrael, Jaffa, Hatzanchanim, Ben Menashe, Tzir Hamusica, Sultan Suleiman.

There aren’t many more streets in Jerusalem, folks. They may have been better off listing those roads that will remain open.

I can understand why the utmost precaution needs to be taken, but with all due respect to the Pontiff, wouldn’t it be a better idea for him to helicopter everywhere? I know it’s Spring and renewal and all that, but I think I’m going to spend the next four days hibernating. And when I do need to get on the bus to get to work, I’m going to take a nice, thick book – but not the New Testament.

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