City of Light

This week I took two evenings to sprint through the Jerusalem Light Festival. I’m always so proud of Jerusalem and especially our city administration for coming up with interesting and fun cultural events.

This year’s walking paths for the Light Festival went from the southern-facing Zion Gate up to the northern-facing Damascus Gate (yes, the infamous Damascus Gate). Tours within the Old City meandered through the Christian quarter and the Jewish quarter. It felt to me like there was an attempt to tie the two halves of the city together, but it didn’t quite work. I saw quite a few Arabs and a few Jews and tourists when I ventured to the Damascus Gate, but the main crowds were to the south and I saw many Arabs, Jews and tourists there too.

Let me just say something also about the crowds. The phrases “sweaty crush of humanity,” “barbarian horde,” “madding crowd,” and “oppressive multitudes” come to mind. I’m getting flashbacks of mosh pits from my university days, but not in a good way. It’s as if you plan for an elegant reception with light refreshments and the guests come bringing all their friends. They are ravenous, eat everything in sight with both hands and then demand more.

Still, I’m glad that Jerusalem is putting in the effort. Now the crowds just need to do the same. Here are a few lovely highlights from as much of the Light Festival as I could bear.

Damascus Gate as a platform for other gates.

A film presentation on the wall near Jaffa Gate. It used the texture and shape of the walls to make the film more dynamic. Well done!

Explorations of light that have nothing to do with the walls.

The walls as a platform and, if you look closely,
the crush of humanity, I mean, people enjoying the festival.

Signs of summer are starting to show up in Jerusalem. The city put up these fun mini-umbrellas on Yoel Solomon Street.

Later in the evening I stepped out again to see the mini-light show on the walls of the Old City.

And then I walked through Mamilla on the way home. And it was crowded! It seemed to be an equal mix of Jews, Arabs and tourists.

The crowds are worth pointing out. A week ago, a young police officer was killed by a terrorist at Damascus Gate, a northern gate. Mamilla is near Jaffa Gate, a western gate. They aren’t that far apart with only the Christian and Muslim Quarters separating them from each other. Also, it’s Ramadan. And yet – it’s nearly 10pm and the streets are full.

Jerusalem is beautiful at night and I’m so glad that our mayor and the city council have made it both possible and aesthetically pleasing to be out and about in the city. We don’t quake in fear in the face of terrorism. The minute we do, they win.

Jerusalem is known as the city of light. And for good reason!

Next week we will host the “Light Festival, Jerusalem,” so expect more pictures of the beautiful walls of the Old City from Zion Gate in the south up to Damascus Gate in the north featuring light installations by artists from all around the world.

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Jerusalem Light Festival

Jerusalem of Light