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Sabbath Wars
Nir
Registered Users Posts: 1,400 Major grins
Been away for a while, peeking in occasionally. Hello people! Glad to see this new photojournalism section on Dgrin!
Jerusalem Sabbath Wars have resumed yesterday after about a month of silence. This is something from when they began ...
6-June-2009, Jerusalem – Thousands of ultra-orthodox Jews demonstrated today opposing the directive given by Jerusalem Mayor, Nir Barkat, to open the Safra parking lot on the Sabbath.
Municipal parking lots have been closed on Saturdays, the Jewish Sabbath, for years, corresponding with a status quo between the secular and religious communities of Jerusalem. The Safra parking lot, located under City Hall at Safra Square, serves the downtown Jerusalem area as well as thousands of visitors and tourists in the Old City. The move to open the parking lot on Saturdays corresponds to Barkat's line opposing religious coercion and in an attempt to offer a solution to the extreme parking problems surrounding the Old City and the Jaffa Gate. Trying to control religious outrage the municipality decided not to collect fees for parking on the Sabbath, as opposed by Jewish law, but diplomatic efforts were not successful.
Rabbi Itzchak Tuvia Weiss, head of the ultra-orthodox community was quoted this week saying "We will light the city on fire for the sanctity of Jerusalem!" and he did indeed light a fire in the hearts of his followers. Thousands gathered on Shivtei Israel Street, near the parking lot entrance, chanting "Shabbes, Shabbes!" (Sabbath) at the top of their lungs as well as "Nazis!" to policemen. The Jerusalem Police exhibited great restraint in light of extreme verbal and physical provocation until the order came down the ranks to disperse the demonstration. In summary; six policemen injured, one injured photographer and seven demonstrators arrested.
Sidenote: Images displayed shot solely with Canon G10. After months of greatly enjoying this camera it disappointed shooting under rapidly changing conditions and events; very slow zoom in/out reaction, very slow to impossible shooting in rapid succession, burnt highlights. Shooting at this demonstration may have caused an unrepairable dent in my G10 love affair...
Jerusalem Sabbath Wars have resumed yesterday after about a month of silence. This is something from when they began ...
6-June-2009, Jerusalem – Thousands of ultra-orthodox Jews demonstrated today opposing the directive given by Jerusalem Mayor, Nir Barkat, to open the Safra parking lot on the Sabbath.
Municipal parking lots have been closed on Saturdays, the Jewish Sabbath, for years, corresponding with a status quo between the secular and religious communities of Jerusalem. The Safra parking lot, located under City Hall at Safra Square, serves the downtown Jerusalem area as well as thousands of visitors and tourists in the Old City. The move to open the parking lot on Saturdays corresponds to Barkat's line opposing religious coercion and in an attempt to offer a solution to the extreme parking problems surrounding the Old City and the Jaffa Gate. Trying to control religious outrage the municipality decided not to collect fees for parking on the Sabbath, as opposed by Jewish law, but diplomatic efforts were not successful.
Rabbi Itzchak Tuvia Weiss, head of the ultra-orthodox community was quoted this week saying "We will light the city on fire for the sanctity of Jerusalem!" and he did indeed light a fire in the hearts of his followers. Thousands gathered on Shivtei Israel Street, near the parking lot entrance, chanting "Shabbes, Shabbes!" (Sabbath) at the top of their lungs as well as "Nazis!" to policemen. The Jerusalem Police exhibited great restraint in light of extreme verbal and physical provocation until the order came down the ranks to disperse the demonstration. In summary; six policemen injured, one injured photographer and seven demonstrators arrested.
Sidenote: Images displayed shot solely with Canon G10. After months of greatly enjoying this camera it disappointed shooting under rapidly changing conditions and events; very slow zoom in/out reaction, very slow to impossible shooting in rapid succession, burnt highlights. Shooting at this demonstration may have caused an unrepairable dent in my G10 love affair...
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It is fascinating to see the ways the ultra-orthodox try to interpret ancient scripture for modern life. When I visited Jerusalem, on sabbath the elevators in our hotel were set to run continuously and stop at every floor. Presumably, it was OK to ride them but not push any buttons.
... and by the time you reach your destination floor it's already Sunday
Nir Alon
images of my thoughts