Jerusalem Portraits

"I give you discount because you speak Hebrew!" (don't they all say that?) Maybe, but then they insisted on giving us tea with mint on the house. They love the beauty of late afternoon here & wanted us to stay to enjoy it too. :)

"Well, I went through the army & I'm still nice. But maybe it's because I wasn't in combat & I went home every day." *smiles*

"I like to learn new languages because when you learn a new language, you also learn a new people and culture. It's not just words...language is a living thing."

Last night a friend & I spent time in the Old City for the Sounds of the Old City music festival. We befriended a man who began eagerly showing us a lot of spots in the Old City & telling us about them, one of them being this building. The building is in the Christian Quarter but was recently bought by Jews; the man is an Orthodox Jew & is excited that more of the Old City is coming into Jewish hands again. But even though there is some tension between the various people groups here, he still said as we watched & listened to one group of musicians, "See, music is universal, it is spiritual...we can all connect through it no matter our backgrounds. Something like food isn't spiritual, it's physical. But music- music is spiritual." He chose not to be photographed, but was supportive of me using his words. :)

Sounds of the Old City

Cats of Jerusalem - Dat Eye

Me: What is this? Him: It's sahlab! Me: What is sahlab? Him: ...sahlab ! Me: Is it like coffee? Tea? Him: No no...sahlab Me: *proceeds to buy mystery item* He happily obliged to having his photo taken :)

He was so sweet & smiled a lot. He works with a friend at this kipa store :) When asked his greatest fear, he said “I don’t want to grow up my whole life & just…this is hard to say in English…never be anybody or do anything important.”

Cats of Jerusalem - Indoor Trashcat

"Two things I don't like in movies: when they [makes throat-slitting motion] & when they hurt animals....animals don't have the same means as humans to fight back. It makes me feel bad when I see or hear them hurting animals...so this is me, Joseph, with a sensitive side!"

Cats of Jerusalem - Catnap

They wanted to take photos with my elaborate Purim costume: "Self Portrait"

I know this isn't prime photo quality, but how many of you can say you've played on a playground with an adorable couple in at least their 60s? :)

Cats of Jerusalem - Motocat

Loves: dogs, history, Israel, violin, dogs, almonds, coffee, red wine, anything cute...like dogs :)

"I'm wearing pants because I didn't want to shave my legs for the costume!"

"I came to Israel to study through a government program, but really it is God's purpose for me to be here: to pray for Israel because God has concern here."