Don’t Have a Happy Chanukkah have a Funny Chanukkah!!
Benji and I are at it again. Watch Benji attack the people of Jerusalem to find out what Chanukkah is all about in the Holyland!
Food Torture: Not Another Cafe!
Cafe Hillel, just another cafe.
I’m angry. What a surprise. I’m in the daze of a food nightmare. Living near Emek Refaim Street, you would think a girl could have her way with restaurants: endless options, yummy in your tummy food, and the cultural basics. But apparently the Food Gods don’t like us Jerusalemites.And instead of lots of different restaurants, whipping up all kinds of food-we in Jerusalem must suffer with choice A: falafel or choice B: café food. Crap and crap.
The sign reads: Coming soon Cafe Hillel. I wish the man in the picture would just keep walking. He even looks like he is stealing our taste buds! Shady!
In a previous anger post, I wrote about my desire for a Mexican restaurant in Jerusalem. Needless to say, my prayers and rants have gone unanswered. But friends, it just gets worse. Since my cries for Mexican food, two pizza places have opened in my neighborhood. And then…then this happened (focus your eyes on the picture). My cheap wrap place that almost felt like Mexican food if you closed your eyes tight enough and just held on to the wrap like it was a burrito, Tarantino’s, suddenly without warning closed down and a café Hillel is now opening in its place. Oh, the food inhumanity! Oh, the food torture! And obviously the worst part about it: THERE IS A CAFÉ HILLEL TWO BLOCKS DOWN!
Is this for real? Isn’t it bad enough that Emek Refaim is lined with cafes? It’s just the same menu, with different names for the salads, soups and sandwiches. Not to mention the difference in price from Café Aroma to Caffit for practically the same meal.
Now I know Nir Barkat just became mayor, but wasn’t he all about adding some culture to this city? I’m not saying that adding Mexican should be the first item on his agenda…no, I am. I think Mayor Barkat should shut down the building of this new café Hillel, which is clearly an abuse of our taste buds and a monotonous slap in the face. And instead, let us join together and build a burrito stand and unite for the sake of Jerusalem and her culture. Mexican food is just the beginning!
Stop the lame cafes from taking over our streets. They can have their menus but not our shekels!
H&M and Gap stores heading to Israel (finally!)
Well it’s about time. Rumor has it that H&M and Gap will be opening up stores in Israel by 2010. 2010?! Why you gotta keep us waiting like that? We’ve already been looking forward to the Light Rail in Jerusalem and the fast train to Tel Aviv for, oh, several years now. I don’t know if I can handle another grand opening to look forward to. And so the race is on. Which will arrive first - an H&M store or an express train from Jerusalem to Tel Aviv? It’s a tough call, but I think we may be sporting some trendy yet affordable dresses before being able to hop over to Tel Aviv to show them off.
H&M and Gap make aliyah. Good call, Ynet.
Is Fighting Worth the Peace?
So this isn’t my usual post, but it isn’t the usual story here in Israel. I wrote this to shed light on the fighting tactics in Hebron, rather than discuss the obvious reasons of the fight…
Stone throwing. Civilian rebellions. Riots. This is the Hebron the world has come to know in the past weeks. However, my words come from a source about the first Intifada, the Palestinian uprising that took place over 20 years ago. Forget why each group is fighting and instead focus on the methods they use. The method of violence. And the method works.
On March 19, 2007, according to the Hebron website, Beit HaShalom (The House of Peace) was purchased by the Jewish community to house hundreds of Hebron and Kiryat Arba residents, yeshiva students, youth and adults. The house was purchased from its previous Arab owner through a Jordanian office. And they have the legal documents to prove it.
But documents or no documents, The House of Peace, never really came to fruition. Fast forward to November 2008 and you can throw that word peace, along with the stones. Defense Minister Ehud Barak focused on evacuating the settlers and protesters out of the area. Using his power, he brought in the IDF and police to get the job done. The residents and protesters didn’t just hang around the disputed building until the troops came for them, this time they fought back.
The Palestinians have used the fighting method to get what they want. And look, they got it. From the First Intifada to Sderot, terrorism and violence is a message that Israel hears loud and clear. We moved out of Gush Katif because of the violence that pursued. We fenced ourselves in to keep the terrorism out. The residents of Sderot packed up and moved out as Kassam rockets moved in. And Palestinian President Abu Mazen can put all the Peace advertisements he wants in every newspaper from here to China, but as long as Hamas is in power, then violence is the national anthem, government agenda and what’s for dinner.
Those fighting in Hebron want to be heard. And now they too have our attention. It’s awful and I hope that it ends soon, but it does work. I know what some of you are thinking: Look at how the Jews are being portrayed in the news, we look like animals (some of you are saying, we look like them). But does it really matter? We never really have the news on our side, or the International community for that matter. Our good intentions, legal documents, quiet peace talks, don’t seem to make us look any better then images of Jews throwing rocks or lighting houses on fire.
The stone throwing, Civilian rebellions, riots and possible uprising is not a problem of twenty years ago, it is an issue of today. Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, President Abu Mazen and Condoleezza Rice predicted peace by the end of 2008. I think the rest of us predicted that they would be wrong and only wished we had made a huge bet on it. But while I laugh at just how right I am, there is nothing funny about the situation. The fighting in Hebron shows us just how far away peace is. After all The House of Peace can’t be called a home if no one is living in it.
World AIDS Day: Be Safe, Wear it, Measure it and Spray it on!
Today is World AIDS day, reminding us that there is still no cure for this epidemic. If you are in Jerusalem and would like to have a free, anonymous HIV test, you can go to the Open House Clinic on Sundays between 5pm and 9pm. The clinic is located on 2 Hasoreg Street at the intersection of Jaffa St. and Queen Shlomtzion.
And remember an easy way to stay safe is using a good old fashion condom. Now apparently if you’re French then you’ll need an XXL according to a European study by the Singen-based Institute of Condom Consultancy. Yes, after over 10,500 men measured their member, it turns out Frenchies need a condom that is about six inches (15.48 cm) long, making them the biggest in the region.
Of course I can’t help but wonder where Israeli men would fall on the scale, but I will say this: anyone is free to measure and figure it out on the Institute’s website. While I admit I’m kind of curious to do my own study, I don’t think my husband would approve. You know you’re a little curious too (oops, I said little, is that a Freudian slip?)!
The Institute has also created a prototype of the “spray-on condom” which is an aerosol can that contains latex. One only needs to spray the area to create the perfect fitting condom. Not sure exactly what that means, watch the video to find out. But please don’t steal my idea for next year’s Purim costume! I will buy enough cans to make it work damn it!
Beautiful Watercolors of Tel Aviv and Jerusalem cafes
Recently I came across a new blog, Drawing Tel Aviv, and fell in love. The artist behind the fabulous watercolors of everyday life in Tel Aviv is Carol Feldman, an olah from Oklahoma, now living in Tel Aviv. What struck me is how she captures Israeli life so perfectly - just look at the guy reading the Ma’ariv Hebrew daily newspaper, with Crocs, sitting next to a sprawled out stray cat. Carol also paints the ubiquitous corner Tel Aviv cafe. I also loved her painting of humus and Israeli money. Also see what israelplug had to say about this great new talent.
The other artist whose cafe scenes I wouldn’t mind hanging in my living room (hint, hint generous reader-turned-artwork-donor) are the watercolors by Azriel Cohen. Raised in Toronto, Canada, Azriel now tours the world and paints cafes and city life wherever he goes. Actually, I met him on one of his adventures to Sinai in Egypt in January or February 2005, I can’t remember (oy!). He heard me and my friends speaking English and we started talking. Here are some words of wisdom about going to Sinai in the winter months: Don’t be fooled thinking “Egypt, that is south of Israel, and probably warm”. Don’t do it unless you enjoy being very, very cold! I rummaged around and actually found the picture of us with Azriel(far left):
In response to the intifada, Azriel painted a wonderful series of Israeli and Arab cafes in Jerusalem, and dubbed his collection “The Traveling Jerusalem Cafe”. His project aims to show a fresh perspective of Israeli and Arab culture.
Here’s the official explanation from his site:
Many aspects of both Israeli and Palestinian cultures are overlooked by most people in the world because of the fixation on conflict. The Traveling Jerusalem Café is a multi-media experience including paintings, interviews, textiles, music, coffee and storytelling that shares an intimate encounter with everyday culture in Israeli (West) and Palestinian (East) Jerusalem. Azriel began to research Jerusalem’s café houses at a time when the city was filled with tension and fear because of the second Intifada. First he explored West Jerusalem’s café culture where he lived. He then crossed to the other side of the city, something rarely done by Jews, and explored East Jerusalem’s café culture.
Have fun exploring these artists’ web sites, and maybe you’ll even see their artwork hanging in your local cafe.. or in my home (anyone?).
Visit: Drawing Tel Aviv & Jerusalem Cafes
14 Unbelievably Cheap Outlet Stores in Jerusalem - Insider’s Guide
Everyone is now painfully aware of the world’s economic woes. Does that mean we should stop shopping altogether? I think not! I think it just calls for smarter shopping and discovering Jerusalem’s hidden outlet stores. And when I say hidden, some of these places are really hidden, so it’s probably a good idea to call the store first. If I missed any, or the information has changed, please leave a comment.
Aldo - Am V’olamo 3, 02-6537212
- Men & Women’s shoes
Castro, Lev Talpiot Mall, Haoman 17, Talpiot
- Women’s clothing
Crazy Line, Lev Talpiot Mall, Haoman 17, 02-6797683 [Thanks to commenters for pointing out that this has closed. ]
- Women’s clothing
FOX, Lev Talpiot Mall, Haom an 17, Talpiot, 02-6245116 [Thanks to commenters for pointing out that this has closed. ]
Also on Dorot Rishonim, 4, 02-6245116
- Teenage-ish clothing for boys & girls
Gali Shoes - across from Ahim Yisrael mall on Hatnufa St. in Talpiot
- Shoes for men, women, and children. Go with a friend because the deals are usually 2 for 150 shekels.
Honigman, Lev Talpiot Mall, Haoman 17, Talpiot [Thanks to commenters for pointing out that this has closed.]
- Women’s clothing
- H&O Lev Talpiot Mall, Haoman 17, Talpiot
- Men and Women’s clothing
Lord Kitsch, Merkaz Sapir, Am V’olamo 3, Tel: 02-6512905
- Women’s clothes, lots of skirts
Merkaz Sapir is in Givat Shaul, pretty close to the Tax Authority building. I think the busses 11 & 15 go there. I recommend calling and asking people as you go along.
- Women’s clothes, lots of skirts
L’metayel Camping Store, Yoel Solomon 5, City Center, 02-6233338
- camping supplies. They call themselves an outlet store, but it still looks pricey to me :(
Matim Li - Lev Talpiot Mall, Haoman 17, Talpiot, 02-6725566 [Thanks to commenters for pointing out that this has closed. ]
- Women’s clothing
Nimrod Shoes, Hadar Mall on Pierre Koening 31, Talpiot, 02-6721630
Also in Lev Talpiot Mall, Haoman 17, Talpiot 02-6718161- Shoes for men, women, and children
Old Navy & Gap, on 87 Agrippas St. across from the Mahane Yehuda market/shuk.
- Men & Women’s clothing
Polgat/Golf outlet in Ahim Yisrael mall, Hatnufa St. Talpiot 3rd floor.
- Men & Women’s clothes
Tamnun - Merkaz Sapir, Am V’olamo 3, Tel: 02-6527459
- Men & Women’s clothes
Victoria’s Secret & Gap, Rehov Strauss, City Center/Mea Shearim. Up the hill toward Mea Shearim on your left hand side from the Yaffo and King George intersection.
- women’s apparel
- Designer Outlet, Ahim Yisrael mall, Hatnufa St. Talpiot 3rd floor. [Thanks, Leah for reminding me about this one]
- women’s clothing
If you still want more outlet goodness, check out the Israel Outlets Master List.
Also, here’s a blog dedicated entirely to outlet stores in Israel
If you find any other outlets that I left out, please leave a comment with the info. Thanks!
Thanksgiving in Israel! It can be done!
It’s almost turkey time. I love Thanksgiving. And what’s not to love, dinner at 3pm, turkey that isn’t sliced lunch meat, stuffing right from the turkey’s butt, mashed potatoes dripping with gravy and cranberry sauce, and pumpkin pie. Lots of pumpkin pie.
This used to be my reality every November for as long as I can remember. But for the last 3 years I have been living in Israel and those Thanksgiving days have turned into memories of my past. Oh, stop being so dramatic, the truth is you (as in me and all other American immigrants) can still have Thanksgiving in Israel.
I know it isn’t the same as sitting around the table in America, staring down at your food baby (this is a term Shira taught me which refers to the ridiculous amount of food you just ate that now makes you appear five months pregnant) and going around the table saying what we are thankful for (I am always thankful there is a toilet near by)—but friends, we are not alone and Thanksgiving can still be the best holiday ever! The gravy bowl is half full!
Here are tips on how to prepare your own Thanksgiving meal. And below these tips are places that will be having Thanksgiving meals in Israel if you are too lazy to make your own. Finally at the way, way bottom are tips to be super lazy but still do something for Thanksgiving. And if there are suggestions for any of these categories, please let me know so I can add them to the lists.
1.Prepare your meal:
Turkey: You’ll find a real Turkey and pumpkin at the Shuk/Mahane Yehuda in Jerusalem.
Cranberry Sauce: Go to Super Moshava on Emek Refaim in the German Colony or Rami Levy supermarket in Talpiot for cranberry sauce in a can. P.S. It’s ShopRite brand for 13.99 NIS. Yes, ShopRite brand in an Israeli supermarket.
Gravy: Click here for a super fast recipe for gravy (vegetarian too).
Stuffing Here’s Rebecca’s recipe for stuffing. (Disclaimer: First time she’s ever written a recipe, so don’t be mad if it comes out funny)
Ingredients:
2 loaves, hard crusty bread
Boiling water
2 onions
Celery
2 eggs
Tturkey
Preparation
- Buy hard crusty bred (French/Italian) and rip into pieces and put into a bowl.
- Pour boiling water over the ripped bread (enough to cover the bread)
- Saute 2 chopped onions and bunch of celery and add to bowl
- Add 2 eggs to bowl
- Mush everything with your hands or spoons
- Put mixture into a pan
- Put pieces of turkey on top of the stuffing and bake for 1hr at 350 degrees.
Decorations: To decorate your house with a Thanksgiving motif use printer paper, trace your hand and make a turkey drawing from it (it worked in elementary school). Then place these drawing on your walls, around the table, etc.
Discussions: Talk about football games instead of watching them. Go around the table and say why you are thankful, lie if you have to.
Clothing: Wear loose pants or pants that are easy to unbutton for your food baby.
2. Too lazy? Go to someone else’s Turkey feast
Merkaz Hamagshimim, Jerusalem: Thursday, November 27th 7pm
If you are an American or former American living in Israel, if you are friends with Americans, if you are Israeli or any other nationality and want to have a potluck family meal celebrating the most fun American holiday, join us at The Merkaz for Thanksgiving Dinner on Thursday, November 27th, at 7pm.This meal is potluck and to make sure there is enough food for everyone and that everything is completely kosher, please RSVP to Ashleigh by Tuesday, the 25th of November.The Merkaz will then confirm with you what dish you will bring or what food you will buy. The suggested amount to spend is 30-40 shekels a person. And since not everyone has a kosher home, if you are more comfortable just contributing to the cost of the turkey, that is fine too!!!!
Nefesh B’Nefesh, Tel Aviv: Thanksgiving Dinner with a Middle Eastern Twist Thursday, Nov. 27th, 7:30pm
Celebrate and give thanks at a Western style Thanksgiving dinner. Sit down with friends, old and new, for a traditional Thanksgiving meal with all the trimmings, drinks (including wine) and more!
In addition to the meal, everyone is encouraged to bring an article of clothing or canned food that will be given to charity.
When: Thursday, November 27, 2008 at 7:30 pm
Where: Bazel Hotel - Hayarkon 156 (between Gordon & Ben Gurion)
Friends and guests of NBN Olim are welcome to join.
Registration required: Special discounted price of 75 NIS per person if you register before November 20th. If you register after Nov. 20th the price is 100 NIS. Spaces are limited- The event was sold out last year! This event is part of Nefesh B’Nefesh’s ongoing social programming for young couples and singles in their 20’s and 30’s.
3. For the super lazy who still want to celebrate Thanksgiving
- You can order a lot of pizza and hang out with friends, try to find someone who has cable and watch football games.
- Go to a bar and watch the game with friends. Get drunk and ask everyone what they are thankful for (mine would still be that there is a toilet near by).
- Do a Thanksgiving/Shabbat meal—this would be killing two birds with one stone (that’s funny because we are talking about turkey!). Get your friends and family for Shabbat and have a Thanksgiving theme. Instead of chicken have turkey; instead of chocolate cake have pumpkin pie. You get it! Ask friends to make their own dishes too. And you can still go around the table and say what you are thankful for!
Thanksgiving is just as yummy and real and thankful as ever in Israel! I hope you remember to thank The Big Felafel at your meal (don’t be shady)!
Jerusalem Mayoral Debate or Comedy Night
Did you catch the Jerusalem mayoral debate held Saturday night at the Great Synagogue? Well I was there but it really should have been advertised as more of a comedy showcase then a political debate.
The night’s follies began with an under-prepared Great Synagogue staff unable to accommodate over a thousand Anglos that showed up to the event. While everyone was trying to push their way in to the building, I noticed that the security went to lock all the doors…that seemed safe…
Then after they opened one door they refused to let the press in. That’s right, they refused the reporter from The Economist, BBC, and even the photographer from The Jerusalem Post (who hosted the event).
Of course the staff and security claimed they were over capacity and couldn’t let anyone else in. Did I mention that Nir Barkat and his entourage hadn’t arrived yet. Were they not going to let him in to his own debate? And, with peop le already sitting on the staircases and standing in open places, the synagogue was clearly already breaking the law, so their point was baseless.
Ok, so the mob scene was the first act in the comedy showcase but the best was yet to come.
First, Meir Porush (the religious cartoon) spoke. And although the event was promoted as an English speaking event, Porush just couldn’t do it. Instead, the audience was made to listen to a horrible translator cut Porush off and summarize, rather than translate what he was saying. It was awkward, but the show continued and it kept getting worse.
Next was Mr. Random himself, Dan Birron, who decided to run for mayor two weeks ago after he heard Barkat was planning to join forces with former Shas chairman Aryeh Deri in his mayoral team. Later, during Nir Barkat’s speech (talk about fashionably late, he showed up an hour after the “debate” started) he denied speaking with Deri and had no intentions of working with him. So does that mean Birron is out? Either way he definitely made an impression on the audience. He started his monologue by stating he was at the debate out of protest since he believes there should be a separation between state and religion…I feel like he is in the wrong country. He seemed to be stoned, or maybe that was just his long hair and random talk about his father, gay marriage and issues with people telling him where to eat. Sounds like he really thought about what he would do if he became mayor…
The night of laughter continued with Arkadi Gaydamak. I understood that Gaydamak’s Hebrew wasn’t so great, but I thought he would at least know English. I believe that in this part of the comedy show, the audience was about to see what political improv looks like— and it is ugly. Gaydamak started almost every sentence with, “I don’t know,” “I’m not a professional,” and ‘I am not a politician.” It was scary to see what he would say next. He went on and on about Arab equality, which is nice but being a business man he should know about targeting his audience, and man was he speaking to the wrong crowd. He was the only one to get an actual “boo” from the angry Anglos who didn’t like his statement about Israel being Arab land…or at least that is what it sounded like he said.
Finally Barkat, the grand finale, had a sweet speech that for once didn’t sound like a bad Saturday Night Live sketch. Although he seems over-rehearsed, Barkat is the only intelligent and prepared candidate who would be a good mayor for Jerusalem.
In short here is what you missed. Or at least my version of it.
Porush: G-d will help me build thousands of homes for all my haredi homies and if we pray enough then the other guys can get housing too. Yay G-d!
Birron: I smoked too much pot on the way here, but man my voice sounds cool on a microphone. I have the munchies and I will eat brownies, even if they are not kosher. Don’t stop me Porush. Yay marijuana!
Gaydamak: I like power. I like money. I wore a big black velvet kippa to help get votes, but talked about Arabs a lot. I am not a politician. I am not a professional. I don’t know. I need to stay in Israel or they are going to lock me up. I don’t know what to say? Maybe I can buy their votes! Yay money!
Barkat: I am the only person here who knows what he is talking about. Plus my English is awesome and I know I am hot for a 50-year-old. Can’t I just win already? I wore my nicest Gap sweater. Yay Gap!
So if you didn’t make it last night. Well you didn’t miss much. A night of laughs and good times. I say, when these guys lose the election to Barkat, they should give them their own comedy sitcom. I know I would watch it!
Indecision 2008 Jerusalem: Meet the Candidates
Shira’s coverage of Indecision 2008 Jerusalem continues…
Lets take a look at the candidates, but not just their billboards, which would have you believe that Porush is cute and cuddly, Barkat is a strong force, and Gaydamak “can’t speak Hebrew” (according to the vandalized slogan). Alright, so the last billboard isn’t so wrong..
Before you go to the polls, learn about each candidate’s past, see what they’ve done (or haven’t done) for Jerusalem lately, decide who best represents your values. and, if you still can’t make up your mind, find them on Facebook and see if you would friend them.
Did you know that each resident actually gets two votes in a local election?
1. a vote for mayor
2. a vote for the municipality council (by party)
While the two highest elected municipality positions, mayor and deputy mayor, are paid positions, the other 29 seats on the council are volunteer positions. The mayor’s salary comes from your taxes, has his/her hand most tightly around the budget and has the best chance of passing his/her policy decisions. But the council members are either a part of the mayor’s coalition, thus helping the mayor pass policy and allocate money, or they are a part of the opposition, with a unique opportunity of exposing the improprieties of the coalition to the public and leading a strong opposing stance to the ruling force. So both votes are extremely important.
Vote#1: Mayor of Jerusalem
Nir Barkat (Jerusalem Will Succeed)
Nir Barkat is the obvious choice for a normal mayor with a head for business and success. I admit that if cookie monster were running against Barkat, I’d vote cookie monster but I think he is the lesser of all evils and a vote for Barkat is going to support the only hope for getting Jerusalem out of its 10 year Olmert-Lupo rut. I want to make clear that Nir Barkat has proven through his actions to be an unreliable, a flip-flopper on the issues, and has been sleeping with the religious and Haredi right for 5 years and throughout his campaign. But if you’re into that kind of thing, then maybe he’s your man. So look into him, meet him, ask questions and decide for yourself.
Dan Birron (Aleh Yarok- Green Leaf)
I really do want to believe that a stoner can be better for Jerusalem than any of the other politicians, but I am afraid of how much of a toll the munchies might have on our city budget. Seriously, if I wasn’t overly concerned about splitting the secular vote, I might consider this guy. He is much more serious about separating religion and city politics, equality and pluralism than Barkat but his campaign is much less known. They want a clean city, a multi-cultural city and freedom. Their whole website is videos of Dan Birron talking out his points. It’s actually pretty cool. Check out his english video .
Meir Porush (United Torah Judaism)
Despite the cute cartoon imagry, Porush is actually a really seriously scary Haredi candidate who will do more of the same, if not worse, for Jerusalem than Lupoliansky. If you go to their website, you can see his real picture- he isn’t actually a fluffy cartoon cross between santa, a rabbi and Dumbledore. He’s old and he looks about as in touch with your average Jerusalem citizen living in 2008 as Moshe Rabeinu himself might be.
Arkadi Gaydamak (Social Justice) with Deputy Yigal Amedi
Please, please, please, if you have a shred of sense in your head, do not vote for Gaydamak. He is a wanted man, he is as corrupt a they come, he owns the local violent and racist soccer team and his Hebrew is worse than yours. I believe that Gaydamak poses more of a threat to Jerusalem than Iran.
Further reading: A brief JPost article on all 4 candidates
Vote #2 Municipality Council
(listed in order from love to hate)
Hitorerut-Yerushalmim: This list combines my two favorite movements of the past few years (and you know how much I love a good social-political movement!)
Hitorerut (Wake Up) Jerusalem is a movement started by young Jerusalem activists who want to bring a new energy and a sense of responsible leadership to the city council. Yerushalmim is comprised of social change organizational leaders who want to get inside the political system to make the important changes from within. Headed by Rahel Azaria, director of social change organizations and a young, religious mother, and Ofer Berkovich, a young, charismatic community activist, their target audiences include: religious and secular, young families, soldiers, high school students, university students and activists of all ages who want to see a pluralist Jerusalem.
These are the people that I want to see on the coalition or opposition, fighting for fair allocation of the city budget and social justice in Jerusalem. I admit that I wish they would take a firm, open stance supporting Jerusalem Pride, an issue that in my opinion encompasses the fight for social justice and civil rights in Jerusalem. But aside from that they have my vote to represent me and my voice in the city.
Meretz Despite their scary and slightly offensive posters earlier in their campaign, Meretz has been the people’s strongest voice over the past 5 years while Jerusalem was flushed down the crapper by Lupoliansky and his boys. Defending cultural institutions and protesting awful traffic and building plans proposed and activated by the Haredi coalition, and being the only vocal support for Jerusalem Pride, Meretz always has mad respect from me.
The New Black Panthers Headed by Ayala Marziano-Sabag, they want to get onto the city council to evenly distribute the city budget to help weaker and weakened neighborhoods. Check out their history in Hebrew on Wikipedia.
Or - Hayerukim (Green Party)- A new combination headed by Gregory Tamar from the Or Party and 2 Green Party activists: Dalia Zomer and Gidon Shathel. Or’s campaign takes a hard stance against Haredi corruption of Jerusalem and for democracy. I couldn’t find Or’s website, which is not a good sign for them…
Lma’an Yerushalem- For Jerusalem, headed by Meir Turgeman, this party is a big mystery to me. I have seen some posters and heard of a few people voting for him but I couldn’t find a website or more information.
Likud- Using the face of Bibi Netanyahu on their ads (please note, the MK is not running on the list from what I can tell), Likud tries to make a play for Jerusalem City Council. At the top of their list, Elisha Peleg, lawyer and city councilman in the 90s and Dr. Vladimir Shaklar, local leader in city sports commission and Beitar Jerusalem.
MAFDAL and Ichud Haleumi- the popular duo is back! At the head of the list, David Haderi, previous city councilman and Director of Emunah. Interestingly, their 3rd seat goes to a woman, Edna Friedman- a newcomer to the list, but MAFDAL Jerusalem chairwoman and Jerusalem Emuna Boardmember.
Shas- You know the drill- it hasn’t changed. Haredi-Sepharadi. They support Porush as mayor.
Please note that in addition to these lists are the parties listed in #1, who aside from running Mayoral candidates are running for council seats as well.
Happy Voting! Feel free to send comments with questions– especially if you want to get involved and we’ll see what we can do!
