by Simona O.M.
The following article tells a story of one day during Passover in the fascinating Old City of Jerusalem.
My Dhyan and baby Michael are caught between religious and security people at the Zion Gate.
Here is the famous Wailing Wall and behind it Al-Aqsa Mosque, a scene of an age long Jewish-Muslim tension. As you can see, the flag in the middle belongs to Israel, very proud of the power of the star of David (or of being a star of the world?!). Both are very sacred places for the two religions. The wooden bridge leads to one of the entrances to the Temple Mount with its Mosque and golden roofed Dome of the Rock.
At the beginning of the wooden bridge there are lots of security people. Here I got stuck, because I had the bag of my mother who visited the first time Jerusalem and bought souvenirs, like Christian candles and Jewish "menora" that are forbidden in the Muslim area! I had two options: either to leave outside the bag full of little things (not in a locker, just there where all the people queue up!!!) or remain outside. So I stayed out, because I was angry like a child that doesn't understand "why". Anyway, I saw the sacred places on another occasion, which could be the subject of another blog entry. On that occasion, I didn't come as a tourist, but was disguised as a Muslim and could actually enter the buildings.
It is worth noticing that women are separated from men, in Jewish and Muslim religious places ("Women Ntrance")!
"Pesach"! Jewish people going to pray at the Western Wall, where the Temple once was. The men section is the most important. Here they look more tired after "Leil HaSeder" (the long holiday dinner with the "Haggadah" reading, which was the origin of the Last Supper in Christianity). The two men in front are chatting and smoking (is it allowed on a holy day?) and the two children behind, yawning over the kippah table.
Before entering the Wailing Wall area everyone has to wash his hands.
The Jewish father (who is actually wearing normal clothes) with his little boys is coming back from the prayer at the Wall. The concept behind the large Jewish orthodox families is to increase the number and power of their nation and religion. Isn't it confusing that the nation and religion are both "Jewish"?! Also, the morning prayer "Thank you God for not making me a woman", is quite understandable, because the woman's job is merely to produce babies(which are lovely, but how can you take good care of so many?!), to cover her hair and mainly to be an obedient wife in the house, doesn't sound very interesting. Instead, the man has to study the religion every day of his life and is not obliged to serve in the army, and he gets some money for that too.
The little boy in the middle plays with guns. Toys for boys, but not only...
"Illegal" bread for Jewish Passover baked by the Arabs. During Passover anything that contains yeast is not allowed for seven days. In the time of Moses, when the Jewish people escaped from Egypt, they didn't have time to bake bread, so they ate only Matzah (flat bread).
It happened that in that Thursday the Christians Catholics celebrated the Maundy Thursday. It's one of the most intense liturgy during the year, before Easter. The Holy Sepulcher, where Jesus tomb supposed to be on the Gologota mountain, was packed with pilgrims.Security people were on guard, but more interested in their own thoughts.
Christians come all around the world to pray and touch the Holy place. The most influent Christian religions like greek/ russian orthodox, catholic, franciscan, armenian, ethiopian have their own space here and reasons for confrontation therefor.
One of the most popular jobs in Israel is security. Every place you enter has one or more security people guarding it. They check your bags and anything else they think is necessary. The guns they are wearing remind me of the metal chains punkists wear, hanging on them as a symbol of power.
What do children learn with all these weapons around them? And what do they teach their little brothers?
Even adults show children with enthusiasm how to deal with guns in order to be cool. The security people are their role models.
There it goes: BOOOOM!
