Foto Friday – David Shankbone’s Jerusalem
Filed under: Art, Blogging, Foto Friday, General, History and Culture
David Shankbone is a photographer, writer and vice-president of non-profit organization Wikimedia New York City, Inc. He has also, for the last three years, engaged in a public art project on Wikipedia, in which he has released all his photography on topics ranging from landscapes and cityscapes to celebrity portraits, for the public to use. As Shankbone puts it, “I set out on a project to create a body of high-resolution work whose copyright allowed the public to reproduce it, even alter it, without my permission. Even for commercial purposes, as long as nobody’s personality rights are violated.”
“The totality of the work is a documentation of human existence” states Shankbone, who has photographed everything “from subway stations to Kanye West; from Madison Avenue to Madonna; from the Rocky Mountains of Colorado to the hills of southern Lebanon.” And, as of this past March, Israel, where he was invited as a guest of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. For his project, Shankbone snapped pictures of Jerusalem that are illustrative…
and poetic…
…ranging from the Old City…
…to the New…
…the past — and possibly the future!
Shankbone’s Wikipedia work is an amazing resource, giving users the benefit of being able to use work from a photographer who is both skilled technically, and an artist in terms of effect and composition.
They can also benefit from his news-savvy. On Wikinews, which is Wikipedia’s news arm, Shankbone has posted over 40 interviews with global cultural leaders. A story about the project entitled, “Why Shimon Peres sat down with David Shankbone” is definitely worth a read as it explains a bit about his history and the project.
Holy notes
Filed under: General, History and Culture, Holidays, Israeliness, Religion
This is one’ll be short, as we’re neck-deep inside the fridge, cleaning out moldy jars of salsa and unidentifiable containers of food, making room for all the kosher-for-Passover items.
But it seems that Western Wall workers on doing some of their own spring cleaning in preparation for Passover, removing the thousands of notes left by visitors in the cracks of the walls.
According to news accounts, the notes are removed using wooden sticks first dipped in a mikveh — ritual bath — as supervised by the Kotel rabbi, Shmuel Rabinovitch. They are then buried — like any holy writing — in the Mount of Olives, in order to make room for another year of notes to God.
So that means that even President Barack Obama’s note is heading to the ground; but it seems that his wishes were already answered.
Here’s where you can head to place your own note.
Papal baggage
Filed under: History and Culture, Politics, Religion, coexistence
Only two popes have ever visited Israel. In 1964, which was a good 29 years prior to the Vatican’s eventual recognition of Israel as a sovereign state, Pope Paul VI set foot in the Holy Land.
And in 2000, when a pre-intifada Israel seemed poised to position herself as the venue for ushering in a new Millennium of peace and tolerance, Pope John Paul II went on an inspirational whirlwind tour of the land. He held a mass for tens of thousands on the shores of the Sea of Galilee, met with dignitaries and religious leaders from many sectors and even made appearances at the Yad Vashem Holocaust museum and the Western Wall (pictured).
The Polish-bred, relatively reconciliatory and dovish pontiff made quite an impression, and many felt that the visit represented a landmark in global healing. As John Paul II said in a statement in Jerusalem,
“We know that real peace in the Middle East will come only as a result of mutual understanding and respect between all the peoples of the region: Jews, Christians and Muslims. In this perspective, my pilgrimage is a journey of hope, the hope that the twenty-first century will lead to a new solidarity among the peoples of the world, in the conviction that development, justice and peace will not be attained unless they are attained for all.”
Our Ministry of Foreign Affairs launched a highly comprehensive mini-site aimed at commemorating the occasion, with resources including an extended streaming commemorative video (link towards the top of the main page).
Ha’aretz recently announced that it had discovered plans for the current pontiff, Benedict XVI, to come to Israel this coming May (just a few weeks prior to Bob Dylan’s expected arrival), thanks to an invitation issued by President Shimon Peres.
Apparently the Vatican has yet to confirm Ha’aretz’s announcement, prompting many to wonder what the full story here may be. It might just be a case of bureaucracy needing to work itself out, but the complex context and baggage surrounding the controversial Benedict and his relationship with the Jews and their homeland are undeniable. In the meantime, news site eFluxMedia has done an impressive job of enumerating some of these factors….
[There's] an ongoing controversy over Vatican moves to elevate to sainthood the World War II-era pontiff Pius, who many Jews accuse of failing to speak out against the Nazi mass-murder of Jews, the Holocaust.
The German-born Benedict defended Pius when commemorating the 50th anniversary of his death this year. However, he has put Pius’ beatification – an important step towards sainthood – on hold.
Late last year the Vatican turned down an invitation by Peres to visit the Holy Land in 2008, citing a stall in long-standing negotiations with Israel.
The talks focus on taxation of church property and visas for Catholic clergy – issues that have marred Israel’s relations with the Holy See for decades.
Image courtesy escapedtowisconsin from Flickr under a Creative Commons license.
Jerusalem Election Diary: Haaretz gets it so wrong
I don’t usually write about the same topic two weeks in a row, but, with less than a week to go, the upcoming Jerusalem mayoral elections is so important that I feel compelled to post again.
Last Friday, Haaretz published an editorial slamming mayoral candidate Nir Barkat and endorsing “a responsible haredi” (a code word for Meir Porush, the only ultra Orthodox candidate running for the position). Many Jerusalemites like me were outraged.
The reason for Haaretz’s position is that Barkat has come out in support of building a Jewish neighborhood near the Arab village of Anata, at the foot of the Jerusalem neighborhood of French Hill. The area has long been a thorn in the Palestinian’s side: building there would help connect Jerusalem to the satellite city of Ma’aleh Adumim in the West Bank, but it would also have the effect of preventing territorial contiguity for a new Palestinian state.
Barkat says that building this new Jewish neighborhood will help solve the city’s “shortage of housing for students and young people.” But it’s also a clear ploy to help win over Jerusalem’s “swing vote” – the Modern Orthodox residents who, according to recent polls, are split between Barkat and rival Porush. Given that most of the city’s voters, whether religious or secular, tend to be right wing, it’s not a bad campaign tactic.
Whether you agree or disagree with Barkat’s position, Haaretz – by coming out against the current front-runner in the race – is saying something far more disturbing about Israel’s attitude towards Jerusalem.
Haaretz is, in effect, giving up on Jerusalem. Or perhaps they already have. In the eyes of the Tel Aviv-based newspaper, Jerusalem is already all religious; there’s nothing to do here; no nightlife; it’s too far away; too dangerous; too tense; and ultimately not even worth a visit. The Western Wall, the Old City, the quaint alleyways and gourmet restaurants, the cool summer air, the unique architecture, the spirituality, the Knesset and center of government – all of these are unimportant to the enlightened readers of Haaretz where the heaviness and tension that are part and parcel of Israel’s capital might, God forbid, impede the never ending pursuit of next party.
Indeed, to Haaretz, Jerusalem is not a city at all. It’s a metaphor, a bargaining chip on the geo-political stage to be divided in an eventual peace. Anything getting in the way of that end must be resisted, fought, denigrated. Haaretz couldn’t care less about the problems the city faces, from transportation gridlock to cleanliness and jobs, reverse emigration, religiously-mandated unemployment, and a rapidly deteriorating education system, all areas for which Barkat – in contrast to the other mayoral hopefuls – has clear, step-by-step plans for rapid execution. The quality of life in Jerusalem can go to hell, Haaretz is saying, as long as the next mayor doesn’t stoop to interfere with the inevitable outcome of Oslo and Annapolis.
Foto Friday – Holy Land
Filed under: Art, Foto Friday, General, Religion, coexistence
Photographer Guy Raivitz recently announced a new work in progress, “Holy Land”, in which he explores the three major religions that put Jerusalem and the land of Israel at their center. Each one of these photos is part of a larger series.
A Coptic nun at the door of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Jerusalem. Photo: Guy Raivitz
Ravitz is interested in the internal process of worship and how it is exernalized.
‘Lag Ba’omer’ celebrations, Mt. Meron northern Israel. Photo: Guy Raivitz
Muslim man praying near Temple mount, Jerusalem. Photo: Guy Raivitz
He is respectful of his subjects, always bearing in mind that what they are doing is not for show. To see more of “Holy Land”, visit Guy’s website.
Nostalgia Sunday
Filed under: General, History and Culture, Israeliness, War
Jerusalem on Yom Kippur of 1973. I am 12 years old and fairly confident I’ll be able to make it through the day – it is already the second or third time I’ve fasted. My Israeli mother has decided, despite the heat, that she and I will walk to the Kotel and has assured me that on Yom Kippur you can walk in the middle of the street without fear, because no one in Israel would dare drive on Yom Kippur. This sounds like fun.
The Western Wall glares an unmerciful white in the mid-morning heat and after a short while, we begin trekking down to Emek Refaim and Masaryk Street, where my Aunt Mary and Uncle Mac live. My sisters and I are still a bit skittish of traffic, having been in a bad car accident the week before, so it’s a bit unnerving that there do seem to be cars on the road, each with a few guys inside, and going pretty fast. We can’t walk in the middle of the street, which is disappointing. Perhaps my mother has been out of the country too long? She too, is wondering what’s up.
Aunt Mary opens the door and we can hear the radio is on. Why is she listening on this, the holiest of holy days? “The BBC is reporting tanks are moving on the Egyptian border,” she tells my mother. Cousin Jerry – a star naval commando – is already in uniform and rapidly wolfing down some nice chopped liver. Breaking his fast in the middle of Yom Kippur? He has to go join his unit, Mary tells me. I’m an awkward, pudgy pre-teen, eager for attention from my tall, handsome cousin, so I try to make conversation but he’s in brusque, monosyllabic mode. He finishes eating and dashes out.
We hang out around the living room for a long time, playing and reading. My mother dozes off in an armchair, a magazine on her lap. All of a sudden, I hear a sound that I’ve never heard before – a long loud tone that fills the entire neighborhood. Half-asleep, my mother mumbles, “We have to get down to the bomb shelters.” I have no idea what she’s talking about.
My mother wakes up, completely weirded out by her pre-State WWII flashback, after which there’s some discussion among the adults about why there was all-clear signal instead of an rising and falling siren. Only later do I come to understand what this means. Israel Radio finally breaks its Yom Kippur silence and resumes broadcasting. It’s official: Israel has been attacked and even though it doesn’t feel like it here in placid Emek Refaim, there’s a war on.
Subscribe
Subscribe to Israelity via email:
Social Media
Tag Cloud
Israel Sderot photo photographers Politics Food Waltz with Bashir Art succot coexistence israeli nostalgia photograhy Paul McCartney Music Dead Sea Foto Friday Tel Aviv race Yom Kippur Israelis War israeli photography Nostalgia Sunday Environment shopping Religion tourism festival holiday Kadima vote Green Prophet Rosh Hashana nostalgia IDF photo exhibition Gaza Operation Cast Lead election hamas photography Travel knesset photographer jerusalemCategories
- A New Reality
- Art
- Blogging
- Business
- coexistence
- Crime
- design
- Environment
- Food
- Foto Friday
- General
- health
- History and Culture
- Holidays
- Immigrant Moments
- Israeliness
- Life
- Medical Breakthroughs
- Movies
- Music
- Nostalgia Sunday
- Picture of the Week
- Politics
- Pop Culture
- Profiles
- Religion
- Sports
- Technology
- Travel
- War
The Face of Israel Today
-
About Israelity
Free newsletter
Stories from ISRAEL21c.orgPopular Posts