We arrived in Jerusalem in April 2019 and this week, after three and a bit years, we will leave. A lot has happened but how much has changed? Nothing is better, so is it all worse? On a personal level, the past three years have been some of the most interesting, exciting and privileged of … Continue reading The parting shot
Last Thursday the eight-day festival of Hanukkah kicked off. Hanukah is the festival of light that celebrates the miracle that happened when the Holy Temple in Jerusalem was re-dedicated to Judaism back in the Second Century BCE. At the time Israel was under the rule of Syrian-Greeks called the Seleucids. The story goes that a … Continue reading Hanukkah
If you are looking for famous gates (and I don’t mean Bill and Melinda here) you’d struggle to beat a stroll around Jerusalem’s Old City Gates. Just like a dysfunctional family, each one has its own personality and some fascinating historical tales to tell. I was amazed to learn that the Old City Walls of … Continue reading Meet the Gates
Yesterday Israel started to exit its second national COVID-19 lockdown which had lasted for 4 weeks. For many people this meant a much needed trip out beyond the prior 1km limit. During the lockdown, schools and non-essential businesses were all closed. Beaches, parks and leisure facilities were closed, and people were meant to stay within … Continue reading Lifting Lockdown 2:0
The Old City in Jerusalem is a world class sight to behold. Within the city walls lie three of the most important religious sites in the world: The Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the Western Wall and the Al Aqsa mosque compound (‘Dome of the Rock’). There are seven gates that lead into the Old … Continue reading Old City
One of our favourite pass times since we moved here has been what you might describe as West Bank wanderings. Before I launch into these, I need to give a bit of background as the politics have made the geography crazy complicated. Put simply the West Bank lies West of the Jordan River and it … Continue reading West Bank Wanderings
This week I was very pleased to receive a guest blog from someone who recently visited three towns in East Jerusalem on the other side of the separation wall. I am always aware that my blog has been quite narrowly focussed on my experiences around Sheikh Jarrah and the reality for many East Jerusalemites is … Continue reading The Other Side of the Wall
On Saturday we went for a walk. It wasn’t just any walk. It was the first walk in nearly 6 weeks where we were allowed to go further than 100 metres, and latterly, 500 metres, from our home for the purpose of exercise. We dared not take the car and set out on foot from … Continue reading The Walk
Last week saw Ramadan kick off across the Islamic world, and for the pre-dominantly Muslim population of East Jerusalem, it is a time of both celebration and sacrifice. Ramadan is one of the five core pillars of Islam which requires healthy Muslim adults to go without all food and water from sunrise to sunset for … Continue reading Ramadan
Jerusalem is the heart and home of Easter. It is here that the action happened. The city is steeped in the narrative of Jesus carrying his cross through the Old City streets to the point of his crucifixion and death. You already know how the story ends, three days later the stone outside his tomb … Continue reading The Rolling Stone
I think for most people around the world, the past week has involved casting off life as we know it and trying to adjust to a new normal. Here in Jerusalem it has been a phased approach. All schools have now been closed for over a week with parents expected to home school their kids … Continue reading Staying In
There is only one story this week and that is Corona Virus. There are currently 213 known cases in Israel, and 38 in the West Bank. None in Gaza so far, thank goodness. This is not yet in the same league as many Asian and European countries, yet the country lurches closer daily towards complete … Continue reading Fever Tactics
East Jerusalem Diaries 