Tisha B'Av

West Jerusalem closes down for
Tisha B'Av

Today is Tisha B'Av ... the commemoration of the destruction of the jewish Temples twice on the same day 600 years apart. It's a day of mourning and fasting. Jews cannot wear shoes or anything made of pelt; absolutely no food for 24 hours; they sit on the floor and study the Book of Lamentation. All offices, shops and transport stop functioning.

West Jerusalem began closing down by sunset. I was in Jaffa to work and thought I could have dinner at Peking Duck House. Luckily the staff informed me that it's Tisha B'Av and the restaurant will close before sunset. That reminded me that there would be no public transport as well. Panic. I just had one hour to grab the last bus before sunset as the entire country stops functioning. It was a mad rush. First I had to grab a taxi from Jaffa to the Central Bus Station ... luckily the driver was an orthodox christian and made sure I got to the Station the shortest way - there was great traffic jams all round as everyone wanted to get home before the fasting started. Then luckily again there was a minibus with just one seat left. We sped down Highway 1 back to Jerusalem but already orthodox neighbourhoods had already closed down. Metal barriers are stretched across the roads to stop cars from entering these areas.

I had to enter the Old City through Herod's Gate as Damascus Gate was restricted to jews going to the Wailing Wall... and they came in the thousands. All night they flooded into the Wall plaza. This morning I think they tried to enter the Al Aqsa Mosque esplanade where the Temples used to stand. Arab youths rioted by throwing stones and Molotov cocktails. Israeli police fired back stun grenades. Other arab students were chanting slogans along our street. It was quite a big riot.
http://www.jpost.com/Arab-Israeli-Conflict/Clashes-grip-Temple-Mount-as-rioters-hurl-petrol-bombs-stones-and-fireworks-at-police-410178

I'll stay at home and clean my room. It's safer.