Join Ari Bussel on a Tour of Jerusalem, Israel

When the world around seems to be exploding, Israel is a safe haven.  Let us work to protect and defend Israel as she is.  Beautiful, although not perfect.  Shy yet adventurous.  Spontaneous yet thoughtful.  Passionate and devoted.  The only homeland of the Jewish people, in its ancient and eternal Zion Jerusalem! –Ari Bussel

Ari Bussel gives us a tour of Jerusalem while attending the 37^th Zionist Congress. You get an idea of the disgust for the terrorism committed by Arabs who call themselves Palestinians while noting there is a deep divide between the Jewish Leftist and Right delegates attending the Congress.

Ari sent a lot of photos to commemorate his down time from attending the Zionist Congress. Ari usually calls his email submissions "Postcards from America – Postcards from Israel," the postcard is big in this post. Also I added some background links embraced by brackets.

JRH 10/23/15

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Join Ari Bussel on a Tour of Jerusalem, Israel

By Ari Bussel

Sent: 10/22/2015 12:30 PM

Dear Friends, 

Join me on a visit to Zion Jerusalem, where the 37th Zionist Congress of the World Zionist Organization [Jewish Virtual Library on WZO] is taking place.  You need not even leave your seat, although the weather here in Israel is most inviting - unseasonably warm, even hot at times.

My friend Shalom, the publisher and editor of The Jewish Home LA, asked me to buy some pizzas to give the soldiers walking the streets of Jerusalem tasked to protect us from "innocent" terrorists.  Little did Shalom know that many, oh so many, are women!  They have shown their bravery time and again, at the most dangerous terrorist attacks.  And Shalom is married and an Orthodox man!  

I replied to Shalom, and I am taking this opportunity to tell you as well:

CONTINUE WHAT YOU ARE DOING, FOR YOU ARE THE SOLDIERS ON THE FRONT LINE TOO!

Disseminate the truth.  Fight the lies.  Stand up for Israel; so few do that.  Continue what you are doing every day, for the future of Israel depends on it greatly.

But Shalom, as all Jewish people from time immemorial, is stubborn.  Very stubborn indeed.  He replied:

I was serious, if you see an opportunity to show a soldier [and/or soldiers] that us in America (and the world!) are thinking about them... please use it and I'll paypal/put in your account/give you a check when you come back...

Agree?

Oh, the Jewish people, very stiff-necked and stubborn.  Except, this is the type of "Stubbornness" I actually like and admire.

So let us go on our tour, for this is a different type of Postcard from Israel.  It is one in which you join me on this day in Jerusalem.

Remember, it is warm, so drink plenty, bring your sun glasses and a hat.  Wear light.  You are up for a treat.

Sunny Day in Jerusalem

[Jerusalem's Central Bus Station building; women soldiers patrolling across next to the Convention Center]

[Across from the main entrance of the Central Bus Station in Jerusalem, where a few days ago a terrorist attack took place, secular men putting Tfilin, women officers standing guard and the light rail keeps running on schedule (it is the target to stone throwing by some of the Arab residents who use it).]

The First Zionist Congress took place in Basel in 1897.  It was followed each subsequent year until 1901, and then took place every other year.  Except Herzl's "Zionism" has nothing to do with today's usage of the word.  In fact, as we travel through the streets of Israel's capital we are cognizant first and foremost we are in the united capital of Israel, a modern and free country of almost eight million citizens, and each can do as one wishes - worship whatever religion, walk freely without fear, argue, have an opinion, enjoy life.

We begin the day standing in line.  Most delegates are foreign, so there is some semblance of a "line" (in the traditional definition, meaning one person standing after another); some but not much.

We are waiting for the security check for a keynote address by Prime Minister Netanyahu.  It is slated to start at 10AM, and everyone is seated before the Prime Minister of Israel with his security entourage enters the hall.

The reception was lukewarm, somewhat surprising to me.  After all, these are the delegates from countries around the world that need Israel, that one day - likely sooner - will see their communities seek refuge in this country.

The Prime Minister of the Jewish State.  Once, this title alone made one's heart race, made us stand taller, made us proud and excited.  Apparently no longer.  Disgust, loathing, criticism, complaints - these better characterize today's "connection" between vast portions of the Diaspora to Israel; particular American Jewry's.

Here is the text of the PM's speech.  He talks about ten lies Israel is fighting nowadays and refutes them one by one.

http://www.pmo.gov.il/English/MediaCenter/Speeches/Pages/speechcongress201015.aspx

Most poignant and disturbing was the delegate (likely a Jew from the USA) who saw fit to should "LIAR!" at Netanyahu.  It was the opening shot, for today's "love" to Israel is a very strange love indeed.

Netanyahu told us of his grandfather emigrated to [British Mandate] Palestine in 1920, and the hatred toward the Jews when there was no Israel, no "Occupation" and no "Settlements."  But there were Jews.

Bloodshed happened then and continues to happen now.  Thus, anyone believing that "two states for two people" can yield a lasting peace must be corrected.  Our enemies will only be satisfied with one, and only one, Final Solution - a region and a world free of any Jews.

Not pleasant to the ears?  Maybe.  But this is the reality which Israel faces.

Benjamin Netanyahu - 37th Zionist Congress

Benjamin Netanyahu - 37th Zionist Congress

Benjamin Netanyahu - 37th Zionist Congress

Attending an address by the Prime Minister means a very tight security, and after his speech was over and he was whisked off to the next event on his calendar, and for the next two days will have to answer for his remarks about the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem and his cooperation with Hitler. ***

[***Blog Editor: I can't help it. I have to show you a 1942 photo of Grand Mufti Amin al Husseini meeting with Hitler in Berlin undoubtedly talking of the Final Solution for Jews]

Between this keynote address and a lunch to which I was invited to meet the delegates from the USA, I had two hours to spare.  What does one do with this time?  Go to the Western Wall of course!

From the Convention Center in Jerusalem (across from the Central Bus Station), one can walk straight to the Old City.  

First, one would encounter a famous SHUK (market) Machane Yehuda (Judea Camp).  Oh, just the name "Judea" immediately brings to mind "Judea and Samaria," for we all forget that these "territories" are the place where the Tribe of Judea once called home, thus we cannot be "settlers" on our ancient homeland.  Further, the word "Jew" (with as much spite as possible) or Jewish is derived from Judea.  Lastly, the Tribe of Judea is the one to which King David belonged and from which the Messiah ("Son-of-David") will come, "soon in these very days" we say.

[The Shuk, Machane Yehuda]

The Shuk

Machane Yehuda

The market was relatively empty, although I enjoyed the tourists buying fake sunglasses and pirated CDs.  The merchant and the lady tourists did not speak any common language, but paper money exchanged hands and was apparently accepted and understood by both.

From there I hopped onto the tram, where I noticed a lot of people with guns or handguns.  Visible.  Ready.  The Mayor of Jerusalem called any gun holder (a very special permit is required for it in Israel) to carry the gun with them at all times. [Blog Editor: Times of Israel on Mayor Nir Barkat and guns. I wonder if Israel has an American version of a Second Amendment guaranteeing right of self-protection.]

At City Hall one gets off, and the Old City is across the street.  At each intersection, groups of security forces - soldiers, police officers and border police - stand together, teams there to protect the innocent passerby and themselves.  Each day there is a terrorist attack.  They act as the "guard of Jerusalem" and other major cities.  

I walked alongside the outer walls of the Old City and entered into the Old City via Jaffa Gate, where two weeks earlier I vowed not to buy anything from the Arab shopkeepers.  They - the Arabs of Israel - should stand up and proclaim that the terrorist attacks of the last three weeks must stop, but instead we hear either deafening silence or further incitement from them, particularly from their elected officials serving in the Israeli Parliament (Knesset). [Incitement example by Arab MK member]

Indeed, the Arabs of Israel are the main victims of the current "terror wave," for they are about to lose all they have, and for the sake of what?  The Arabs of Israel are much better off as Israeli citizens than anywhere else in the Arab world, and they know it.  Except, them are tempted by the lure of Eve and the Apple, and soon they will be expelled from the Garden of Eden.

From Jaffa Gate I decided not to go via the main Arab walkway that leads eventually to the Jewish Quarter.  It might be the shortest route, but in this covered walkway with stores on either side, I did not feel safe.  The Arab shopkeepers are those who just a couple of weeks ago spat at a Jewish woman whose husband was stabbed to death, she had a knife in her shoulder, running, pleading for help for their young boy.  One Arab shopkeeper beat her.  Another said "may you die."  Yet another stood idly and watched, a Jewish family being stabbed to death, a reality TV.  The scene reminded me the Europeans eighty years ago, at Strasses throughout Europe's main capital cities, where Jews were stopped, beaten and humiliated to the cheers and enjoyment of the enlightened crowds.

[Two references to the incident: Arab Witnesses Laughed, Spat at Wounded Terror Victim (INN) and NIGHTMARE ON HA KOTEL STREET (The Zelman Partisans). Youtube video of surviving widow (Adelle Banita-Bennett) being visited by Benjamin Netanyahu:

VIDEO: Netanyahu Visits Wounded Mother and Son

Published by Arutz Sheva TV 

Published on Oct 5, 2015]

So I turned toward the Tower of David and Christ Church across from it and walked via the Armenian Quarter.  There, at least, I did not feel ill-at-ease.  When I arrived at the Jewish Quarter, where dozens of young children were playing outside, free of any worries, in their homeland, I was elated.

I soon arrived at the steps overlooking the Temple Mount.  Across from me a mountain of graves, Mount of Olives, from where one can look at the Temple Mount and the Golden Gate, the Gate of Mercy, which the Prophet Ezekiel describes (44:1-3):

1 Then he brought me back the way of the outer gate of the sanctuary, which looketh toward the east; and it was shut. 

 2 And the LORD said unto me: 'This gate shall be shut, it shall not be opened, neither shall any man enter in by it, for the LORD, the God of Israel, hath entered in by it; therefore it shall be shut. 

 3 As for the prince, being a prince, he shall sit therein to eat bread before the LORD; he shall enter by the way of the porch of the gate, and shall go out by the way of the same.'

[Blog Editor: Ari included the Hebrew version of the Scripture above]

א  וַיָּשֶׁב אֹתִי, דֶּרֶךְ שַׁעַר הַמִּקְדָּשׁ הַחִיצוֹן, הַפֹּנֶה, קָדִים; וְהוּא, סָגוּר.  ב  וַיֹּאמֶר אֵלַי יְהוָה, הַשַּׁעַר הַזֶּה סָגוּר יִהְיֶה לֹא יִפָּתֵחַ וְאִישׁ לֹא-יָבֹא בוֹ--כִּי יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵי-יִשְׂרָאֵל, בָּא בוֹ; וְהָיָה, סָגוּר. ג  אֶת-הַנָּשִׂיא, נָשִׂיא הוּא יֵשֶׁב-בּוֹ לאכול- (לֶאֱכָל-) לֶחֶם--לִפְנֵי יְהוָה; מִדֶּרֶךְ אוּלָם הַשַּׁעַר יָבוֹא, וּמִדַּרְכּוֹ יֵצֵא.

My eyes wandered nearer to the Al Aqsa Mosque.  To its left is the Western Wall and above it the Dome of the Rock.  Leading from the Western Wall to the Temple Mount itself is a wooden bridge called Mughrabi.  I asked a police officer if I may ascend, as Netanyahu said that the area is accessible during these hours, but the officer dismissed my question and said in no uncertain terms:  NO.  Likely it was my Middle Eastern look, or maybe my Israeli accent.  Regardless, the "no" could not have been interpreted in any other way.

I went through the security check and was at the outskirts of the Western Wall plaza.  I look with awe - the Western Wall is but a "window" to the actual western wall of the Temple Mount.  Over the centuries one layer was built over another, and so the majority of the wall was covered, the ceiling of all these layers is what today is "ground level."

[Outside the walls of the Old City, tourists are still here!]

[Walking down the stairs in the Jewish Quarter, toward the Temple Mount]

[Al Aqsa Mosque in the foreground, Mount Olives in the background]

[Al Aqsa Mosque; Israel is apparently working for years, decades, to topple it down....]

[Mughrabi Bridge - a connection between Jews and Muslims]

The Plaza was empty.  The women's section on the right was well attended, but in the main (men's) section, there were hardly a handful of people.

I took a yarmulke and put it on my head, as does any man approaching the Western Wall.  There, between its stones, were thousands of folded pieces of paper, wishes and hopes people have written and deposited.  Personal communication between them and the Almighty above.

A religious Jew was praying, and I glanced at the top of the page, I found myself staring at Psalms 121:

1 A Song of Ascents. {N}
I will lift up mine eyes unto the mountains: from whence shall my help come?  

2 My help cometh from the LORD, who made heaven and earth.
  

3 He will not suffer thy foot to be moved; He that keepeth thee will not slumber.
  

4 Behold, He that keepeth Israel doth neither slumber nor sleep.
  

5 The LORD is thy keeper; the LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand.
  

6 The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night.
  

7 The LORD shall keep thee from all evil; He shall keep thy soul.

[Blog Editor: Ari included the Hebrew version of the Scripture above]

א  שִׁיר, לַמַּעֲלוֹת:אֶשָּׂא עֵינַי, אֶל-הֶהָרִים--    מֵאַיִן, יָבֹא עֶזְרִי. ב  עֶזְרִי, מֵעִם יְהוָה--    עֹשֵׂה, שָׁמַיִם וָאָרֶץ. ג  אַל-יִתֵּן לַמּוֹט רַגְלֶךָ;    אַל-יָנוּם, שֹׁמְרֶךָ. ד  הִנֵּה לֹא-יָנוּם, וְלֹא יִישָׁן--    שׁוֹמֵר, יִשְׂרָאֵל. ה  יְהוָה שֹׁמְרֶךָ;    יְהוָה צִלְּךָ, עַל-יַד יְמִינֶךָ. ו  יוֹמָם, הַשֶּׁמֶשׁ לֹא-יַכֶּכָּה;    וְיָרֵחַ בַּלָּיְלָה. ז  יְהוָה, יִשְׁמָרְךָ מִכָּל-רָע:    יִשְׁמֹר, אֶת-נַפְשֶׁךָ. ח  יְהוָה, יִשְׁמָר-צֵאתְךָ וּבוֹאֶךָ--    מֵעַתָּה, וְעַד-עוֹלָם.

It was not a coincidence, I decided, and for the first time since I was Bar Mitzva'ed at this very place, I stopped at the booth of the "Chabad" people who usually do not let anyone without pestering him to put on Tfillin [The Free Dictionary Definition].  

I complained:  "You always stop me, and today, when there are not more than a handful of men in the plaza, you do not offer me to put Tfilin?!?"  Putting Tfiling is a great Mitzvah and blessing, not only for the person putting them, but also for the one assisting.

Thus, after 36 years, I was again looking "ceremonial" at the Western Wall.  Another reason for a Selfie (my first was in Bus #1, encircling the Old City, an hour after a terrorist attack, when I was the only person on the bus - such a rare occasion, it deserved a "selfie!").

[The Western Wall plaza, women's section on the left; UNESCO just determined it is an Islamic site - erasing Israel from the map, one step at a time, no connection between the Jewish people and their holiest site of thousands of years, long before Islam was birthed.]

For my return I decided on taking a bus, yes, Bus #1, and I still made it in time for the lunch.

At the lunch, I met delegates from the States.  Unlike a group of Christians coming to Jerusalem, all praising the Almighty for this treat-of-a-lifetime and praying for the Peace of Jerusalem, when Jews gather for lunch, one can rest assured there will be trouble.

Indeed, we are a very strange people indeed.  Everyone loves Israel to such a degree, that they cannot even agree on the most basic common denominator.  These support BDS, others fight it.  These try to force their own view of what Israel has to be, while those will defend Israel no-matter-what.

It was strange to see the heads of two organizations, ZOA [About] and Ameinu [Ameinu About Page – ZOA criticism of Ameinu], one on the right and one on the left, sitting at the same table and trying to be "civilized."

[All smiles - for the camera only]

Slowly, the real feelings emerged to the surface, and it was clear there is no agreement, practically on anything.  Entrust the future of the Jewish state in the hands of American Jewry, and you can rest assured there will not be an Israel in the Land of Israel within a very short period of time.

If I needed a proof that this "Zionist" Congress has nothing to do with "Zionism" of Benjamin Zeev Herzl [Jewish Virtual Library bio] a hundred and eighteen years ago, that was it.  

Our hostess explained that the love of Israel is like a marriage of someone who fell in love with another - not the most exceptional in anything, looks, smarts, money, but still the subject of one's love.  Israel is not perfect, she said, but we are still in love.  Well, I would not want her as a marriage counselor, and the marriage between Israel and American Jewry, post the euphoria of the 1967 Six Day War, has long passed the stage of divorce.

Lunch was followed by a panel discussion about BDS.  Remember, there are elements within the American Jewish community actively pursuing Boycott, Divest and Sanction, while others are limiting their BDS support only toward whatever is "beyond the Green Line" (products like Soda Stream, Dead Sea Ahava beauty products, produce, wines, professors from Ariel University, etc.) and yet others who fight it with all their means.

BDS has become such a magic word, one everyone uses and so few understand [SIMON WIESENTHAL CENTER understanding], that I had to attend the panel discussion.

There, too, I was told of a love story.  One of the panelists, a young Israeli, told us about his friend, Tevye and one of his seven daughters that reached the age she was to be married.  Interestingly, Shalom Aleichem started publishing this story in 1894 and continued throughout the years that the first 11 Zionists Congress meetings had convened.

Anyone who has grown up on Fiddler on the Roof recognizes immediately "Do You Love Me?"  Here is an excerpt of the lyrics:

For twenty-five years, I've washed your clothes,  

Cooked your meals, cleaned your house, 

Given you children, milked the cow. 

After twenty-five years, why talk about love right now?  

 Tevye: The first time I met you was on our wedding day. I was scared. 

Golde: I was shy. 

Tevye: I was nervous. 

Golde: So was I.  

Tevye: But my father and my father said we'd learn to love each other.So, now I'm asking, Golde... 

Tevye: Do you love me? 

Golde: I'm your wife! 

Tevye: I know. But do you love me?  

Golde: Do I love him? 

For twenty-five years, I've lived with him,Fought with him, starved with him.For twenty-five years, my bed is his.If that's not love, what is?

And I was almost caught in this honey trap, so fond I am of Fiddler on the Roof.

Jews, particularly those from America, love Israel so much, that their love threatens to choke this young (3,067 year old), modern country.

[A panel about BDS]

[So many empty rows - luckily other than the American delegates, most others cannot comprehend a Jew participating in any shade of BDS.]

Much like the lunch, where the participants just awaited a release valve, so here when the issue of "Settlements" and the "Occupation" came up, suddenly there was an awakening, hand clapping and renewed interest.

Just feed American Jews with these magic words, and their hearts will start pumping faster, their breathing will quicken and they will feel exhilarated - finally someone who understands their true love to Israel, love that forces them to do what is good for Israel, even if Israel does not think so.  "One day," they tell themselves, "Israel will thank us."

Interestingly, there were very many empty seats during this panel discussion.

A keynote address.  A short visit to the Wall.  A lunch with American Jewish clergy and others.  And a panel on BDS.  For me, that was enough of "Zionism" for one day.  I still need to write Ella Frumkin, whose husband Si Z"L was the co-leader (along with Zev Yaroslavsky) headed the fight from Los Angeles to "Let My People Go" at the height of the Soviet Union.  I stood with Natan Sheransky [BIO -- usually spelled "Sharansky" in American media] and remembered Si's work and great friendship.

Natan Sheransky & Ari Bussel

Hundred-year-old organizations often do not remember the reason for which they were formed in the first place.  They often look for things to do.  They are "too big to fail," spending millions on salaries.  They have an amazing supporters' network.  But what is the utility in their very existence?  Often negligible if any.

Will we survive without them?  Surely.  Will we be worse off?  Doubtfully.  

The World Zionist Organization should cease to exist.  The "Zionist" Congress is a mockery of what Zionism was.  It is a cynical view of a dream once dreamt.  And those who call themselves ardent "Zionists" and do all in their power to bring Israel to her knees must be exposed, isolated and removed.

Zionism is alive and well.  It needs not the name of 118 years ago.  It is called the Modern State of Israel.  A miracle between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean (I will not quibble about the exact place one draws the line - to the east or the west).

When the world around seems to be exploding, Israel is a safe haven.  Let us work to protect and defend Israel as she is.  Beautiful, although not perfect.  Shy yet adventurous.  Spontaneous yet thoughtful.  Passionate and devoted.  The only homeland of the Jewish people, in its ancient and eternal Zion Jerusalem!

Always,

Ari Bussel

____________________

Edited by John R. Houk

Brackets enclosing links and text are by the Editor.

© Ari Bussel