Conference taveng::bagels

1461.0. "If I shall forget thee, Jerusalem..." by TAVIS::JUAN () Tue May 09 1995 15:56

	Yesterday, I took the day off, because I had to take care of some
	personal errands, and used part of the day to take my sister to
	Jerusalem.

	I promised to take her to some places she hadn't seen before.

	I begun using the trip from Herzliya (on the sea) where I live, to
	Jerusalem, to talk with her, as we had not talked for the last 30
	years... which means we never had dedicated a full day one to the 
	other.

	At this time of the year we could still see some fields covered 
	with yellow flowers (harziot), and here and there a red spot of a 
	wild calanit (poppy). At the sides of the road there were golden 
	fields with maturing wheat. Perhaps this is the end of the most 
	beautiful time of the year to look at the feilds of Israel, when 
	the green of spring still lightens the fields, and the blue sky
	already blesses from above.

	When we reached Jerusalem, instead of entering the city, I took 
	norht, by Neit-Netufah, and after a few turns, in the first ligh, 
	I took right into Shmuel Hanavi St. (Prophet Samuel's St.) and, 
	at the first light left into the Har-Hotsvim industrial area, where
	Digital's VLSI design plant is - and I impressed her with our 
	installations there: it is a beautiful building, with a gorgeous
	view of the Ramot area and Nebi Samuel - the tomb of Samuel. The
	Jerusalem-VLSI people designed and implemented DEC's fast Ethernet
	controllers - the first such a controller to appear in the market.
	They produce, as well as others, one of the main exports of Israel:
	"brain juice".

	From the VLSI biulding we went to Har Hatsofim - Mt. Scopus, with its
	wonderfull view of the old city. This was not a new thing: my sister
	lived there while she was studying for her BA in Biblical studies at
	the J-m Hebrew University; we went to see the place where their small
	student's house stood and where my oldest niece was born. The 
	"asbestonim" (asbest houses) have been removed - only memories waited
	there.

	From Mt. Scopus, thru the Atarot route, to the old city, and around 
	the old walls, Damascus Gate, Rockfeller Museum, the Gate of the Lions
	(or St. Stephens Gate), thru which the parachuters entered the city
	in 1967, all the way around until we reached Mount Zion, where we 
	left the car.

	Inside the old city, we enjoyed getting lost in the small alleys 
	between the Jewish and the Armenian Quarters: We were looking for the
	Old Yshuv Museum, the house of Rabbi Weingarten, which was the chief 
	Rabbi in 1948, and received the keys of Jerusalem from the last
	british commander of the city, at the end of the british mandate, and
	which in turn, had to surrender to the Arab Legion, that conquered and
	held the old city from 1948 to 1967. The Museum closes at 12:OO, so
	we could not visit it. I recommend thsi spot: It gives an insight of
	life in Jerusalem in the first half of this century.

	A bit disappointed, we strolled thru the Jewish Quarter, and looked
	for the Wahl Archeological Museum, which holds the remains of the
	"Herodian Quarter", that were rescued while rebuilding the Jewish Qtr.

	At the times of the "Second Temple", the city of Jerusalem had three
	main areas: The lower city - where now stands the arab villeage of
	Silwan, the Temple area, and the upper city, extending west from 
	the Temple and ascending over the western hill - where now stands 
	the Jewish Quarter of the old City.

	The upper city included the most wealthy part of the population, among
	them, high ranking priests, princes, etc. When Titus took the city in 
	70CE, he burnt the Temple on the 9th Av and, as Josephus states, he 
	laid waste to the upper city on the 8th Elul - a month later.

	The remains of what is called the "Herodian quarter" are the remains 
	of those very wealthy mansions of the upper city. The first section 
	we see, includes the basements of some buildings, that have some 4-5
	separated ritual baths. It is thought that the builders of this mansion
	might have been related to the priests, because of this extreme 
	preoccupation with the ritual cleanliness or "tahara". The mikve's have
	been meassured and found "Kosher".

	Leading to the ritual bats, ther are some beautifull mosaics, with
	ornamental motifs, without any representation that might offend any
	jewish religious feeling.

	There is a second area, to the south of the first, which includes a
	different mansion. Here, besides the remains of ritual baths, were 
	found some stone tables, weights, cosmetics jars made of glass, candles,
	and a beautifull state room, some 7m by 15m (21' by 45'), if I am not 
	wrong, which is not so bad for a cozy little living room.

	The state room had pannels of stucco on its walls, and had a beautiful
	stucco ceiling, with geometrical decoration, fragments of which were
	found among the debris. To the side of that room, there is a second, 
	small ante-room, which had a mosaic floor, and has the most moving
	testimonies: the remaining walls and the floor are blackened with sooth
	and the remains of a burnt wooden beam and a pile of ashes, remaining 
	from that dark 8th of Elul, year 70, can be seen there.

	From the Herodian Quarter, we visited the Kotel, the Wailing Wall. 
	However, I did not take her to the "standard" Western Wall of the
	Temple enclosure, but to the excavations that are being performed
	"At the Shadows of the Temple Walls", as - I think - is called Meir
	Ben-Dov's book. We stood at the south western corner of the Temple.
	There are some huge stones, huge meaning some 10m long, 1.5m high and
	2.5m wide - and this is only one stone. It is wonderful and awesome
	to think of people, working with a strive for eternity, building such
	a building to honour its Inhabitant.

	Then, through remains of arab palaces, of bizantine dweling rooms,
	under the city's wall, overlooking the water cistern of the greek 
	fortress of the Accra, facing north - to the southern wall of the 
	Temple, the huge gates: the Double Gate and the Triple Gate. According
	to Talmudic sources, the Triple Gate was the entrance gate for the 
	Hollydays and is called in the early christian literature as the 
	"beautiful gate". A narrow stair led the worshippers to enter the Gate.
	The Double Gate was the one thru which the worshippers would leave 
	the Temple, after the services and, since a huge amount of people 
	would leave at the same time, the stairs there are very wide, to 
	accomodate all the people leaving. Another beautiful architectural 
	solution is hidden in those stairs: In order for the people not to 
	"run away", the stairs are built so that a wide step is followed with 
	a narrow one, so you have to breake your stroll in order to descend 
	those steps, as per the tradition that you have to haste into the 
	Temple, and have to walk away slowly.

	For those of you interested, I know there are, usuallly, guided tours
	of this area, led some days by one of the archeologists working on the
	project.

	This was really a day in Jerusalem that neither of us would forget.

   Thanks for the tour Juan.  I am really looking forward to the day
   when I will be able to visit Jerusalem!

   Leslie

    I loved it too!  One of these days I'll get to go there...
    
    Mike

    "You have to believe what we are saying:  We will not accept
    (Israel holding) even one centimeter of the expropriation in
    Jerusalem since 1967.  Jerusalem is part of the occupied land and
    it is the capital of Palestine.  That it should be clear, even in
    the talks on the final standing we will not compromise on this.  If
    the Israelis insist on their current position - there won't be an
    agreement."
                           Palestinian Minister of Economics Abu Ala
                           ( "Maariv"  May 19, 1995)
    
    
    

While Shimon Peres and local DECcies continue to pledge loyaly to
Jerusalem, the Palestinians are establishing facts. The following is
copied from the "Palestine" official Web site
(http://www.palnet.com/inv/vol2/). The signature at the bottom of the
page speaks for itself...

=============================================================

             Laws and Regulations of Investment, Trade and
  [Image]                Business Transactions
 
 --------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 The existing legal system, drawing on legal sources common to the
 region, provides a basis for all necessary commercial and investment
 functions:
 
    * the definition of the universe of property rights;
    * the exchange of property rights
    * rules of business entry and exit; and
    * rules for market operation.
 
 Property rights are defined in laws dealing with land, immovables,
 tangible and intellectual property. Exchange is covered by Civil
 Code provisions permitting freedom of contract, including execution
 and performance.
 
 Business entry is governed by companies law and a new foreign
 investment law, while bankruptcy and liquidation measures cover
 orderly exit.
 
 Finally, there are detailed, written trade rules, labor, tax,
 banking and insurance laws.
 
 For detailed specific information, click your field of interest:
 
    * Foreign and Local Investment
    * Company Registration:
      see also "Insurance" for insurance companies.
    * Partnerships
    * Labor
    * Real Property
    * Banking and foreign Exchange
    * The Palestinian Securities Exchange
    * Insurance
    * Taxation
    * Exemptions
    * Trade: Import & Export laws and Regulations
 
 Furthermore, the Legal Department in the Ministry of Economy, Trade
 and Industry is currently formulating the laws and regulations
 aiming at encouraging investment, facilitating imports and export
 and stimulating economic activities in the region. Contact:
 
                         The Legal Department
               Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry
                            P.O.Box 54910
                         Jerusalem, Palestine
                           Tel. 02-9959032
                             050-373 368
                            Fax. 02-998004
 
 --------------------------------------------------------------------

What, "Jerusalem, Palestine"?

Under international law, the old city and eastern sectors are not in Israel,
right?

/john

> Under international law, the old city and eastern sectors are not in Israel,
> right?

Well, then, in which country are they?

Our deed to Jerusalem is 3000 years old. 
How does that rank with int'l law?

Re: .5
> Under international law, the old city and eastern sectors are not in Israel,
> right?

To paraphrase .5 and its title:
Under international law, the old city and eastern sectors are not in Palestine,
right? What countries have recognized the annexation?  Not the U.S.

It seems to me the one's doing the annexation are the Palestinians.

Dave

    >It seems to me the one's doing the annexation are the Palestinians.
    
    ...and they can only annex what is being given to them.  This is the
    saddest fact of all.

	Peace and security in Jerusalem will require internationalization
	of part or all of the city.

>	Peace and security in Jerusalem will require internationalization
>	of part or all of the city.

So why is Peres giving Arafat arms and territories when it is clear that
we will never relinquish control of Jerusalem ? 

    I can't imagine how a city like Jerusalem would operate for very 
    long in peace if it was broken up into different legal jurisdictions
    with different countries owning different pieces, but people allowed 
    to move freely in it. I suppose it could be split like Berlin was, 
    with border crossings, etcetera, but that's an awful picture. Then 
    again, the peace of all Israel seems rather tenuous right now. My own 
    personal feeling is that Jerusalem should be under the government of 
    Israel. Certainly it is and will be international in the aspect that 
    just about every major city is international - with people of nations 
    all over the world residing, visiting, or doing commerce in it. Anyhow,
    we specifically pray for the peace of Jerusalem at least once a week,
    every Friday evening.

    Leslie

    In addition, who are we to portion off G-d's city?

For peace, Jerusalem must be at unity within itself.

Peace will come to Jerusalem neither as a part of the State of Israel
nor of the State of Palestine.

A truly international city, its own nation-state, is the necessary
solution for peace and security.

/john