9/21 | Talpiot

Today, after ulpan, Alison decided to go in search of a movie theater in Jerusalem.  After careful research (they are not easy to find), she found one in the Jerusalem neighborhood of Talpiot; however, to be sure, she wanted to go on an adventure to find its exact location.  Like yesterday, I had nothing better to do so I agreed to come along, too.  Rachel and Esther also agreed to come.  We began by catching a bus from the station in the Forum at Hebrew University, which is kind of like the school's student union (the Mary Graydon Center of Hebrew University for all those American University students).  We took the first bus to Ben Yehuda Street in the center of the city, then transferred to a bus that would take us to Talpiot.

A beautiful Catholic guest house we passed on our way to Talpiot.

After a fairly long bus ride, we arrived in Talpiot.  A very kind soldier told us, in broken English, that she would be willing to take us straight to the theater; we happily accepted her offer.  If she had not been so helpful, we would have been looking all over Talpiot for quite a while.  The theater ended up being behind a tall building, and was not marked well.  We went inside what looked like a mini-mall and discovered a closed theater on the top floor.  Apparently, the movie theaters in Israel open at various times throughout the day, unlike in the United States.  It was a good find, though, and will be immensely helpful if we ever feel like seeing a movie.

The movie theater in Talpiot.

Movie posters for the Muppets movie and The Smurfs in Hebrew!

After leaving the theater, we walked back through the neighborhood of Talpiot.  We found a Burgers Bar to eat at, then headed straight for the bus to go back to the Student Village.  Although we only saw a small part of Talpiot, it seemed well off the beaten path.  There was nothing there of interest for tourists; rather, it seemed like "authentic" Jerusalem, where people live and work.

A view of a Talpiot strip mall.

As the Palestinian bid for statehood at the United Nations heats up, I have found myself engaged in political debates everywhere.  Between roommates, fraternity brothers, students, and rabbis, everyone has a different opinion on the situation.  While I am unequivocal in my support for Israel, I hope beyond all measure that a peaceful solution will materialize.  In the coming days, the media will focus itself on everything Israel.  To everyone who may worry about potential violence, know two things: 1.) The Israel Defense Forces are one of the strongest in the world.  I have full faith in their ability to put an end to any threats facing the Israeli people.  2.) I will be taking all the proper precautions to make sure I stay safe.  The United States consulate in Jerusalem has sent out an advisory about avoiding large gatherings; this will of course be followed.  

Israel is facing great challenges right now.  Please keep yourselves informed.