Joelle Lifestyle - The World at Home

I know Jerusalem chic sounds strange….

Everyone, independent of religion, race, culture, political and spiritual view just can look amazingly chic or, even more, so sexy! Look at those pictures, please! Can you tell me how cute these religious young Jewish men look just by covering their head in style? And you want to tell me that (version of new pop Jesus cult) Romanian orthodox couple won’t easily come out from the cover of a Sicilian “Dolce e Cabbana” ad in the Wallpaper magazine? (Do you think they are all aware they have sex appeal?)

What can I tell you? This is how I see it.

Taken around by Mordechai, my Jewish guide, driver, nanny and Israeli body guard (same style of the ones that know my guardian- angel body –guard- “Gene”, Gabriel in Sao Paulo). I happen to find these souls all over the world from the Himalaya to Paris passing through New Delhi. It seems they all share that same feeling of responsibility to keep me away from trouble. I wander why, but for me it has been just perfect. Those who know me or traveled by my side throughout the world surely know what I am talking about, my guides or protective angels never —but never I say— get bored with me. Actually I guess now that I have acquired a mature age, I realize …… who doesn’t get bored with me?

Well, coming back to Jerusalem, the day I was there the Orthodox Easter procession was taking place.

Well, being in the capital of sanctity, as soon as I stepped in the Israeli soil I headed directly to the Kotel (the Western Wall of the temple Mount most sacred Jewish site) were (like every Jew) I made my wish and inserted a minute paper with a gigantic whish list resumed in a few words desperately worried about the final destination of my small paper among all the numerous others next to mine in case of rain, wind, war or bad weather. I wonder what this could mean… if it is the paper, the wish or myself that I am reflecting upon while I face the tremendous energy of this construction, foundation, antiquity, symbol of survival, eternity, strength, and hope.

I walk backwards facing the wall, as all religious women do IN CASE OF, (you know some Jew have the “in case of” theory when he really does not know if he has to follow a rule or a tradition, not to feel guilt or fear of failing to the call of duty, he does it, “in case of”…) and after washing my hands, (other practice called Metilat Yadayim) Mordehay —Israeli- Gene shows me the way, telling me that something “interesting” is happening on the Christian side, he does not exactly know what, it is but “ it must be important” he mumbles.

The interesting “thing” Mordehai was talking about was the Orthodox Christian procession celebrating Easter Good Friday. It was in the Christian side of the old city where obviously the same families of Jews that were selling stars of David in the Jewish neighborhoods were selling crosses and holy waters from the Holy land in the Christian side, (who dares saying that democracy does not exist in Israel?)

Thousands of pilgrims carried wooden crosses into the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, lead by a man dressed in black, where many Christians traditionally believe Jesus Christ was crucified and buried, following the Way of the Cross —in Jerusalem’s Old City.

I ask an Israeli security the name of the gentleman walking the pilgrims to the church as I get the answer that he has no idea and asks me firmly to please move from the way while Mordehai-Israeli-Gene finds out from a crossless pilgrim that the gentleman leading the crowd also dressed in black, is the Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos the Third, and then Mordehai-Gene —suddenly quite enlightened— remembers that his neighbor once said to him that the Orthodox gentleman lives in Jerusalem and that also he is very nice.

With this precious info and the solemn atmospere of the ceremony carrying so many crosses through “Via Dolorosa” I decide I need a light break into the antique stores and if I am lucky carry an even lighter new necklace not on my shoulder but —willing as faithfully as I can— wear it over my neck. Enchallah (God willing)

I would like to dedicate this post to the one that for most than 10 years now has devoted his attention, focus, and concern with the safety of my life and wanderings.
Arlindo Luiz Soares da Silva known by all as Gabriel, my bodyguard in Brazil.
May him and his family be blessed with love health and prosperity and all the integrity and faithfulness that he shown in his life.

See you at the Arabs Souk in my next post.

Related Links:

Jerusalem Sacred Sites

The Kotel (Western wall)

http://www.thekotel.org/

http://www.templemount.org/

The Dome of the Rock

http://archnet.org/library/sites/one-site.tcl?site_id=41

The Church of the Holy Sepulchre

http://www.bibleplaces.com/holysepulcher.htm