ONLY IN JERUSALEM

Although I was fascinated by the pull-out map of construction in Jerusalem in the February 14 cover story (“Jerusalem’s building boom”), I failed to connect the reference to the Jaffa Gate-Zion Gate closing to my planned trip through the Old City this week.

As is my habit every so often, I arrange for an early morning meeting at the Givati junction with the security service for Mount of Olives visits to escort me to visit my husband’s grave. To do this, I have to drive through the Jaffa Gate and exit at the Dung Gate.

As I approached the entrance to the inner road, I found myself at a complete roadblock. I sat in my car, quite astonished (despite your warning), until the equivalent of what we call in the States “New York’s Finest” stepped in and saved the day. Several police officers approached my car and asked me where I was going. I tried to explain in my best but limited Hebrew and finally understood that I would have to go all around through the Zion Gate.

I explained that I did not know how to do this, and after patiently giving me directions, the officer suddenly asked: “Do you have an ishur [permission]?”

“No, of course not, I replied. How could I know about this?”

He asked a few colleagues and then assured me it would be alright: I should just ask for “Musa.” I was not sure if he was Musa or I needed to find Musa, but I continued on my way with some trepidation.

I was stopped by no fewer than five police patrols on my way, each asking where I was going, and to each I muttered something about Musa and was waved forward. When I finally arrived at the tiny passageway from the Zion Gate to the inner road, the officer asked me for my ishur, and with waning hope I started my story again, at which point the officer gave me a big smile and waved me on.

I made my appointment with five minutes to spare and thought that no matter who Musa was, or whether I had gotten the name right, or even if he existed at all, this was a story that could happen only in Jerusalem.

MARION REISS

Beit Shemesh

May we each continue to contribute to the flourishing of our forests and our land