Jerusalem - Capital of Israel, Capital of the World - 3

Some unfortunate misguided folks who view my work on a photography forum have taken exception to the titles I select for my blog posts on my blog. If you are here as a result of seeing my work on that forum, and came here to see more of my work, get over it. If you take exception to my political, social, economic, or religious positions, don't come here.

And so, here we have more of the photos I shot on my most recent trip to the homeland of the Jewish People - Israel, and the capital of Israel - Jerusalem.

Studying in the Hurva Synagogue in the Old City of Jerusalem:

A merchant in the arab quarter of the Old City:

At the Jaffa Gate entrance to the Old City:

Father and son at the Kotel (Western Wall) in the Old City:

Jerusalem, Capital of Israel - 2

A selection of shots from the Old City of Jerusalem. The existing walls were built during the 1500's by the Ottoman Turks.  Jerusalem was reunited by Israel (never again to be divided) after the 1967 war. The Old City is divided into four districts: the Armenian, Christian, arab, and Jewish quarters.

A food stall in the arab quarter:

Young girl in the Jewish quarter:

The Jaffa Gate, which is at the nexus of the arab, Christian, and Jewish quarters:

The Oren Kodesh holding the Torah scrolls of the Hurva Synagogue in the Jewish quarter:

Jerusalem

Jerusalem was the major focus of my trip. I can't imagine a more spiritual city in the world. Just being in the city and walking the streets filled me with a sense of something special. I'm not sure how I want to present the photos I shot there. I don't like mixing color and b/w in the same blog posts, so they will be separate. So far I've divided my work into the different neighborhoods/areas - the Old City (Damascus Gate and the Arab Quarter, the Hurva Synagogue, Jaffa Gate, Kotel and Jewish Quarter), City Center and Mamilla Mall, and Machane Yehudah (the Jewish shuk). The blog posts may be a collection of shots from various neighborhoods rather than each post focusing on a separate area.

So for starters......

A busker at Mamilla Mall:

Machane Yehudah food market:

Tossing watermelons:

At the Western Wall:

Tsfat, Israel - 6

The last batch of photos from Tsfat. After this, is on to Jerusalem.

Tsfat, Israel - 5

More interesting people in Tsfat.

Tsfat, Israel - 4

The cross section of people in Tsfat runs the gamut.  From haredi:

To Yemeni:

To muslim:

To Mizrachi:

Tsfat - 3

The Ashkenazi Ari synagogue is one of many that  an be found all over Tsfat. Many are tiny. This was rather large.