The lighter parts of Jerusalem
After our sad trip to Yad Vashem, we decided to spend some more relaxing time with our kids at Jerusalem’s zoo. The guide book seemed to infer that this was a little zoo, but in truth it is quite large and well worth the time to visit. There are a great number of animals and trams that take you to different parts of the zoo. The zoo itself is in the shape of a loop, but takes quite some time to walk around. As is typical with any outdoor area there, it was rather hot so make sure to bring something to drink – though of course refreshments are served there.
Our kids of course loved the zoo, and the next day Nelya and I set out to see some more sites around Jerusalem.
The next day, while Nelya’s aunt watched after Eitan and Nathan, we visited the City of David, one of the most ancient places in Jerusalem that goes back to the time of King David. Here we descend to the tunnels.
A lot of history took place here, but it requires a strong imagination in most places to figure it out. There are numerous signs saying – here was the palace. There’s a bedroom. There’s such and such a room. Etc. Etc. Then you look up from the sign and see something like this.
Still, it was fascinating to know that, somewhere in this rubble, King David and his contemporaries actually walked around. There are some tunnels here you can take that are very long and wet. We chose not to take them, but if you choose to do so make sure to wear flip flops and bring a flashlight – the ones they give you there make great toys for the kids, but little else.
Another note about the City of David, and most other sites around Jerusalem for new travelers is – there are taxis at most major sites. A number of taxi drivers will attempt to convince you that there aren’t taxis at the destination you are going to, so you should pay them to wait. Don’t fall into this trap. Tip your existing taxi and then pick up a new one when you are ready to leave.
On the way to our next destination we stopped to examine the latest fashions…
We also caught a little soccer game in the Jewish Quarter.
Our final site of the day was the David Citadel – another of Jerusalem’s famous (and rather tricky to find) sites.
Unfortunately most of the history of this structure escapes me, but if you’re interested there are ample sources on the Internet. It was very interesting though, and a good base to get some views of the new Jerusalem. According to our relatives there, every building that goes up in Jerusalem is a mitzvah – primarily because it enhances their hold on the city. This is a very charged part of the world, and many Israelis see every additional plot of land taken up with an Israeli structure as making it more unlikely it will fall into Arab hands.
Almost as interesting as Israel itself are the discussions about Israel. One of my colleagues recently broke out into disgust about Israel – stating that he is pro-Palestinian. In general, I have noticed that people in college and high school these days seem to sympathize more with the Palestinians than the Israelis. Obviously I am biased in this debate myself, as Israelis are my kin I would not take sides against them. However I did have a number of discussions with Palestinians there and both sides have points – which is generally the case with any protracted dispute.
The thing to keep in mind though is that on both sides you have individuals who really only desire to live their daily lives. On the Israeli side, people want to not live in fear. They want to be able to go shopping, celebrate, and take public transportation without fearing for their lives. On the Palestinian side, you have individuals who just want a job to provide for their families. They want to live in a decent place and be able to afford food and daily things that we take for granted.
Standing in the way of this happening for both sides are a small number of fanatics who simply cannot stand the site of one another. In the madrasas, they teach young Arab children that all Israelis must die. In synagogues, speakers compare Palestinians to dogs and children are brought up to fear them as they would any rabid animal. Hate breeds more hate and the cycle continues.
While it was fascinating spending time in Jerusalem, our time there really showed us how deep down this problem is. However, for our trip it’s time for some fun. Tomorrow we will leave Jerusalem and head for the Dead Sea, Masada, and Qumran.
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Tags: citadel, city of david, israel, jerusalem, photography, Travel
I think your visit to the dead sea will be a great post! I love your black swan photo and Jerusalem seem more fun than ever before! Thanks