Category — Facts about Israel

The following article is the second in a series about the Old City of Jerusalem, Israel.

A street in the Jewish Quarter

The Jewish Quarter is the second from smallest quarter, located in the southern part of the Old City, Jerusalem. 

It’s cartographic boundaries include the Western Wall (HaKotel in Hebrew), Zion Gate, located on Mount Zion, and the Dung Gate, just outside of the Western Wall Plaza. The Jewish Quarter is the cleanest and safest area with the stone walls built by the Ottomans.

The Western Wall Plaza and Temple Mount

Start your day off early and head to the Temple Mount (Haram al-Sharif or Al Quds in Arabic, Har HaBayit in Hebrew). While it is under control of the Muslim Waqf, the only entrance through which non-Muslims are allowed to enter is just inside the Dung Gate (on the right side of the entrance to HaKotel plaza). The hours vary, but you generally can enter in the morning on every day of the week, aside from Friday (only Muslims are allowed on Fridays). Hours are also subject to change based upon the security situation. The Temple Mount is flourishing with beautiful trees and has great examples of Islamic architecture. If you are Jewish, you may want to take into consideration that Jewish law prohibits Jews from walking on the majority of the Har HaBayit, so consult your rabbi before visiting. The east side of the main plaza area has, unfortunately, a large mound of litter, near the Golden Gate… but offers great views of the Mount of Olives.

If you’re hungry and could use a bite to eat, grab breakfast at Bonker’s Bagels and watch the assortment of folks as you enjoy your bagel. Afterward, just take (literally) a couple steps over to visit the Burnt House. It is the residence of a Jewish family from the time of the Second Temple Period (approximately 70 c.e.) that was discovered during excavations. If you’re intrigued by archaeology and find this taster doesn’t satiate your desire to learn and see more, go check out the Jerusalem Archaeological Park, located outside of the Southern wall of the Temple Mount. There are plenty of excavations that you can climb through, including mikvaot (ritual baths) that were used to purify the worshippers before ascending to the Temple. For more information, visit their website at http://www.archpark.org.il/.

A view of the top of the Jewish Quarter and the rebuilt Hurva Synagogue

Trek back up the stairs to hit the Moriah Bookstore and Giftshop for beautiful Judaica and good-quality souvenirs.  For lunch, you can head over to the main plaza’s mini-market, where they also sell delicious Israeli shwarma in a pita (try it with ’schug’ if you like it spicy). Eat in the square on one of the benches facing the Hurva Synagogue, which is currently being rebuilt.

Shwarma

If you’re about ready to shell out the big bucks, then you’ll want to head over to the Cardo. There you’ll find some of the most beautiful jewellry, artwork, silvercraft, and other handicrafts. These shops only sell high-quality items, so expect to pay a few shekels more than you might for a cheap replica in the shuk.

The Women’s Section of the Western Wall

The place I prefer to visit last, usually at night, is the Western Wall. It is the only remaining, accessible, part of the original Temple Mount, surviving many wars, fires, and regimes. You’ll enter through one of four security points, each have their own x-ray scanner and metal detector, and at least two security guards. People of any faith may enter the Western Wall Plaza, including the area for prayer. No matter what you believe, it is a tranquil place to sit, think, and linger in the feeling of great spirituality.  Write a note and slip it between the crevices of the Wall, don’t worry, only you and God will know what it says. Before entering, it is important to remember that you should be dressed modestly (for women, this means covered knees, shoulders, and cleavage), photography/smoking/cellphone usage is forbidden on the Jewish Sabbath and Holy Days, and generally have respect for the worshipers. If you are Jewish, you may want to consider hanging around for Shabbath. Meet Jeff Seidel (http://www.jeffseidel.com/) outside of the men’s prayer area at the Kotel after sunset on Friday to be setup for dinner with a local family.

Please note before planning a day in the Jewish Quarter that every business and the ATM within it are closed from Friday at sunset until Saturday at sundown. English is as commonly spoken in the Jewish Quarter as Hebrew, plus many people speak Arabic, Spanish, and French. Enjoy your time!

Images courtesy of Ariela Ross and Mark B

Check out the other quarters of the Old City:

• Armenian Quarter
• Christian Quarter
• Muslim Quarter

Jews, Muslims, and Christians alike all stake a claim in this beautiful, walled city as one of their religion’s holiest sites. Is the Old City the center of the world? Perhaps. Is it one of the most amazing places to be on the planet? For sure!

There are four “quarters” of the Old City. Each are free to explore and get lost (and found, spiritually) in. The largest of the four is the Muslim Quarter. It takes up about one-third of the area, in the northeast, and includes the Lion’s Gate to the east, Herod’s Gate to the northeast, and Damascus Gate in the north.  It is abound with energy, vibrancy, and color during the day. The ‘shuk’ (or ’souq’; an open-air market) is full of everything from sandals to Christian trinkets to Islamic prayer rugs, incense, and so much more. 

Everyone is very friendly and hospitable. Don’t be shocked if a shop owner invites you in for a look at his merchandise and a cup of the famous Turkish coffee, on the house. They speak your language, and will try to get the highest price no matter what language you speak (besides, perhaps, Arabic), so don’t be shy to speak your native tongue, and also be aware that they may understand any side comments you make. Drive a hard bargain, even start to walk away if the price isn’t reasonable enough. Their ‘cost’ of merchandise is usually half of what they tell you, so don’t feel bad at all if they give it to you at that price. The first price they tell you is always (no matter what they say) double as much as they are hoping to get. Near the entrance to the Western Wall is a shop owner named Ramadan, he or his son will usually give you some of the best prices. Oh, and ladies, please be sure you are modest in both dress and action – Middle Eastern men are *very* flirtatious.

If you get hungry, there are plenty of places to stop in for a bite. Try Jafar Sweets for traditional Arabic desserts (especially Kadifah, made from sweet cheese and crispy orange noodles on top), Abu Shukri for some of the best hummus out there (be aware, they essentially only offer this, along with various toppings), or a great, unnamed falafel stand at the bottom of the stairs inside Damascus Gate for the most amazing, always fresh, and very cheap, falafel in pita you will ever taste. There are plenty of scattered hookah bars, but most are male-only.

While walking along the way, you will see soldiers and police stationed, usually in pairs. They are there for your protection, and many incidents have proven the need for them. The Border Guard soldiers (wearing the green uniforms) typically do not speak much English, but they can be useful for very basic directions and the time. Once again, I must strongly remind the ladies that Middle Eastern men love to flirt. This particular unit of soldiers is infamous for being womanizers, so do be aware of this. For everyone – please avoid walking unnecessarily through the Muslim Quarter at night. It is dangerous, as theft, assault, rape, and stabbings are unfortunately not uncommon.

The Muslim Quarter is best to visit on Saturday. Friday is a day of prayer in Islam, so it is extremely crowded (imagine trying to walk through people packed together like sardines), and about half the shops are closed. Saturday is the Jewish day of rest, so the majority of Jerusalem (including public transportation) is shut down. Enjoy your time, have fun, and practice your Arabic, too!

Basic Arabic Phrases/Words

Aywah – Yes (pronounced in most common situations as “ah”)
La – No
Ahdesh Hadah? – How much is this?
Bidi Hadah -  I want this
Kif Halak? – How are you?
Ilhamdullilah – Good, Thank God
Insha-allah – Hopefully/God Willing
Numbers - Wahad (1), Tinin (2), Talatah (3), Arba’a (4), Hamsah (5), Sitteh (6), Saba (7), Tamaniye (8), Tisa (9), Asharah (10), Ashreen (20), Talateen (30), Arba’een (40), Hamseen (50), Sitteen (60), Saba’een (70), Tamaneen (80), Tiseen (90), Miya (100)

All images provided by the Author and can be viewed on her Flickr account.

Check out the other quarters of the Old City:

• Armenian Quarter
• Christian Quarter
• Jewish Quarter

The beautiful, fertile land of Israel - and the new irrigation technologies– has become noted for the prolific and abundant fresh flower sales.  You could say that business is blooming!

Israel’s flower, plant and propagation-material export brings upward of $200 million into the economy annually. The country is third only to the Netherlands and Kenya.

Israel’s average of 300 sunny days a year and relatively warm winter temperatures, especially in the Negev Desert, are excellent for growing Europe’s summer flowers, when that continent is experiencing cold weather; advantageously, off-season flowers bring higher profits. [Read more →]

“Every Olympics we dream of hearing the anthem and seeing the flag. It’s the top,” says Gal Fridman. Before Fridman’s gold medal, Israel had won only two bronze and one silver. “I was feeling very proud and so happy to hear the people singing it.” Fridman won a bronze medal at the Atlanta 1996 Summer Olympics, and a gold medal at the Athens 2004 Summer Olympics.

In 1952, Israel first entered the games, but its Olympic history holds more terrorist attacks than by medals won and sport achievements. The Munich games in 1972, Palestinian terrorists killed eleven coaches and athletes.

Taking Israel’s first gold medal, Israeli President Moshe Katsav and Prime Minister Ariel Sharon invited Fridman for a visit and congratulations.

Though Fridman, his first name, Gal, means “wave” in Hebrew, has been sailing since he was seven years old, entered his first competition when he was eleven and in the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, won a bronze medal, it was still hard for his family to believe his gold medal, “It’s very, very hard to believe that he succeeded in doing this,” said Uri Fridman, Gal’s father and first coach who watched his son race from his home in central Israel.

(Image credit: andymiah)

But now, in the 2008 Beijing Olympics, can Israel keep hope alive for another historic gold medal? Shahar Tzuberi, Israel’s hopeful, leads the windsurfing competition, finishing first and third in the third and fourth races, respectively.

There are still six more races until the medal race on August 20, and Tzuberi still has some work to do before he can match Gal Fridman’s achievement from the Athens Games.

(Image credit: Boker Tov, Boulder)