By Gert Thaler

When you hear the word “Jerusalem” what kind of picture takes place within your mind? 

The golden dome? The Montefiore windmill? The Western Wall? The “Mahane Yehuda” (Jewish market) and its various stalls? 

Those are all choices one would make when writing out a schedule of places to be covered, for they are the basic traditional ones. Unless a visitor has contact with one of the country’s expert guides you could very easily miss seeing much that further enhances your trip. 

That’s how I feel about trying to make sure that people see the wonderful Biblical Zoo (wonderful for children) and sights in that area. From here, one can see the expansion of the hi-tech industry and “Teddy’s Stadium” (named for former Mayor Teddy Kollek) as well as hundreds of new homes covering the hillsides of western Jerusalem. It is here that a visitor discovers the pristine hills and valleys to the west, that once bordered Jordan. 

Israel’s largest shopping mall should be on a traveler’s list whether or not any interest is shown in using time to shop. For it is here that you will get a close-up view of her people, young and old, and comprehend the wide variety of merchandise that fills store shelves. 

Jerusalem is about eating out. A visitor will never run out of places. For me I make my annual pilgrimage to “Ticho House," a beautiful setting replete with garden and outdoor patio dining, in the very heart of the city. Again, you must know where to go to find this paradise off Jaffa Road one block north. 

Then, there is the area of “Nahalat Shivah” with its collection of restaurants and I recommend “Sea Dolphin." On a lovely day a short drive north will bring you to “Abu Ghosh” where Israelis fill each table enjoying Middle Eastern salads and kabobs. I never tire of the patio dining at the American Colony Hotel in East Jerusalem. One must remember that it is wise to make a telephoned reservation at any of the places I have recommended. I could go on and on about the inspiration one receives from a visit to Jerusalem but I have left that to scholars who will be talking about “their” Jerusalem. 

I go to Jerusalem these days to visit my friends and our visits are usually done across a lunch or dinner table. If I have some “business” to discuss I usually invite such persons to join me for breakfast so that I might have the rest of the day for personal visits. Recently I had breakfast in The King David Hotel and met Mark Belzberg, one of the most dedicated young men I know. Belzberg heads his own personal foundation (“One Family”) which gives care and support to victims of terrorism and others in need. He has a large group of volunteers, young and old, who offer expertise in providing comfort and care for such people and their families. 

The sounds emanating from the mosques calling their people to prayer are still heard. But Jerusalem is still the golden city it has always represented itself to be for Jews from all four corners of the world. We do not sound out the shofar calling our people to come to the land. The conscience of the Jewish people should be responsible for that. But it is an “open” city welcoming people of all faiths from around the world. 

As a Jewish traveler on a recent trip I walked the streets and quaint alleyways of Jerusalem. Christian tourists also followed the same course. One day I joined my friend, Pastor Leo Giovinetti of San Diego and his congregants from the Mission Valley Christian Fellowship Church as they extended their handshakes in a “Shalom” message to Israelis. 

Just so no one will think I have tried to sugarcoat a situation, please note that I do not ride a public bus. I do not enter or eat in a restaurant that does not have a guard at its front door, or at a store of any kind.  As I would do in my own San Diego, California or in any other town, I avoid dark alleyways when the sun has set. 

Jerusalem is alive and well and Israelis have their outstretched arms to welcome you. This is the place where you can drink the water safely, eat wonderful food and come home laden with tschotchkes for family and friends . The best thing of all is that the water and the food and the rings and the pendants and the sandals are all Jewish. There’s no place else on earth that such statement can be said in truth. 

Go!