Lester's Spoke 'n Word: Higanu

October 21, 2018

Higanu - we have arrived.

It was a long flight, but thanks to a bit a pharmacology, I managed a few hours of sleep. Upon arrival, my cousin Hagai was waiting for me an off we zipped to Jerusalem. A little rest at their beautiful home Motza Ilit, outside the city limits, and we ventured into the city to stroll a bit and get a bite to eat. A feast to behold. Jerusalem mix, it is called (plus enough other food to feed six people - Hagai always orders too much!)

Hagai took Jake and Geeta here when they visited last month - Jake says it was the best meal he had in Israel! And it was pretty good (though I could do without the liver they snuck into the mix.)

So an interesting thing about Jerusalem. As many people know, it is a city divided - between old and new, religious and secular, Arab and Jew. Some observations about the division between the religious and secular. Historically there were neighborhoods, very insulated. And to a great extent there still are. The commercial areas were also pretty distinct, with a bustling secular, tourist, coffee shop and bar scene in one area, and and an outdoor market area (Mahane Jehuda, or the Jewish Market), which was an open food an vegetable market - kind of run down, lots of religious shops and small stalls mixed in. Secular Israelis might shop there for food - but nobody really hung out there.

I was very surprised to see an explosion of coffee shops, small restaurants, bars and more upscale shops all in and around the Mahane Jehuda area. Many more young people, both religious and secular strolling about taking in the sights and sounds. My cousin, a Jerusalemite born and bred confirmed my impression that this was a change in the atmosphere. And it is a good thing - a spark of new life in this ancient holy city, where the divisions I spoke of above are deeply routed and divisive.

This morning brought a brisk stroll with Hagai.