Another weekend

Umbrella street in
Nachalat Shiva

After the PM called on the Minister for Religious Services to say the latter's views do not reflect the govt's views: that the PM sees all jews as jews ... the minister backed up one step only to rub more salt to the wound. He said that non-orthodox jews are jews ... but they're sinners. It's a no-win situation. The ultra-orthodox parties that hold the clinching votes of the coalition govt. is now flexing it's muscle ... and making it's extreme religious views as normative ... even national laws.

The weekend is once again upon us. It should be a nice relaxing time especially since it's the summer vacation, but ironically I find it's much more busy and hectic than usual. Perhaps it's because it's also Ramadan. There's just these little pockets of time when the streets are not crowded, when you're free to walk and not get stuck in a human traffic jam for literally hours ... that I have to take advantage of to get to work, or back, to go between one work and another. The whole daily timetable rotates around these few precious minutes during the morning and afternoon.

Amazing art

Nachalat Shiva is a wonderland of colourful umbrellas. That's the touristy neighbourhood next to Ben Yehudi pedestrian Mall in the New City. It's a great idea to shade the street from the scorching sun during the day ... but it's very artistically creative too. Lots of people are going there to snap photos. Me included.