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It’s Jerusalem Day, a time to celebrate. So was it my imagination or

were there a lot of negative headlines and photos in the paper today?

For anyone born after WWII and the establishment of Israel in 1948,

doesn’t that time seem like ancient history?

So maybe those people calling for back to “1967 borders,”

do not have any idea of what that really means?

When Jerusalem was divided in 1948 and under Jordanian rule until 1967:

Photo of Old City before 1967

NO Jews were allowed in The Old City, this was as close as you could get,

and by the way, there was NO place called “Palestine” then.

Photo of people at Western Wall plaza

Now The Old City is open and there is access to the Western Wall Plaza,

 just ask the Arab family in photo.

Small crowded Old City street vehicle

Well, as free access as those small alleyways will allow.

photo Muslim men going to pray Old City

Today there is freedom for all religions.

 Especially on Friday, Muslim men come to pray in The Old City.

Only those who threaten, throw rocks, want to stab someone,

or plan to blow themselves and others up are not wanted and kept out.

Only wall of destroyed synagogue standing in Old City

 When the Jordanian Legion captured The Old City in 1948,

they forced out or killed all the Jewish residents.

Then they destroyed ALL the synagogues,

this wall is all that is left today as a reminder of that rampage and destruction.

Photo Huvra in Old City

Some of those destroyed houses of worship were centuries old,

the largest, the Hurva synagogue, has only recently been restored.

Also, after the war in 1948, for those 19 years, 

Photo Mount of Olives cemetery

Jordan closed access to the centuries-old Mount of Olives Jewish cemetery.

Jews could not access their family plots and the graves of loved ones,

plus thousands of graves and their stones were desecrated and ruined.

Photo Mt of Olives cemetery

Today it can still be dangerous to travel to the Mt of Olives cemetery,

but at least it is possible with a police security escort.

The Jewish neighborhood of Yemin Moshe was established 

photo of Yemin Moshe Jerusalem

outside the walls of the Old City in the mid-19th century and is now

one of  the most exclusive neighborhoods in the world.

But from 1948-1967, Yemin Moshe – Mishkenot Shananim was abandoned,

as it was in range of Jordanian sniper fire from the Old City walls.

photo of Israeli children in park

Now an Arab couple can sit on a bench and talk in the parks of Yemin Moshe,

while hundreds of Israeli school children have a picnic nearby.

A deserted “No Man’s Land” and barbed wire divided Jerusalem, to protect

Picture Mamilla Mall

from those Jordanian snipers who would randomly shoot from The Old City.

This old and rundown shanty area has been renovated, and today part of it is

Picture of Mamilla Mall

 Mamilla Mall, which is busy with thousands of shoppers and tourists,

Photo night at Mamilla Mall

both day and night, summer and winter.

Photo of three girls accompanying class trip to Old City

Sadly school trips, not only to The Old City and Jerusalem,

but in all of Israel must have armed chaperons.

One might joke that those students had better behave themselves.

But no joking matter, especially on Jerusalem Day, is the

significance of the reunification of Jerusalem 46 years ago.

Time for everyone, not just the young and modern religious Jews to celebrate,

and to see some positive images of what is really happening!

Yom Yerushalayim Sameach!

Happy Jerusalem Day to all from Jerusalem, Israel!

About the author

Picture of Real Jstreets

Real Jstreets

I lived in the United States, Canada and Australia before moving to Israel in the midst of the Second Lebanon War. For the last ten years, walking the streets of Jerusalem, the scenes I saw every day did not resemble the ones familiar in the Western media. Now I try to share those positive images with the world, what is really happening in Jerusalem, Israel, The Real Jerusalem Streets
Picture of Real Jstreets

Real Jstreets

I lived in the United States, Canada and Australia before moving to Israel in the midst of the Second Lebanon War. For the last ten years, walking the streets of Jerusalem, the scenes I saw every day did not resemble the ones familiar in the Western media. Now I try to share those positive images with the world, what is really happening in Jerusalem, Israel, The Real Jerusalem Streets
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