(All photos new from _today_, taken by Akiva. Video at the end is older.)
Upon entering Jerusalem this morning, we immediately came across the city preparing for the visit of the Catholic Pope on Monday (he'll be here for Lag B'Omer!)...
Many national leaders get greetings for their visit by the entrance of Jerusalem, though I don't know others who get their picture put up. There are religious activists who paint over the signs when something immodest is put up - the previous signs were some art show with a somewhat immodest female picture which was quickly whited out - it will be interesting to see if these survive.
One of the disputes and concerns over his visit is Mt. Zion and the Tomb of Dovid HaMelech (King David)...
The kever (tomb) is a bit run down. Not terribly so but not great shape for a site of great holiness as well as being a regular tour stop for both Jewish and non-Jewish visitors. Somebody did just donate money for rebuilding the outer entryway, which is every nice, but past that...
However, the tomb entry on the other side passes by the church next door and is also a walkway to a small church cemetary. Further, this side leads to the disputed second floor of the Tomb of King David, a site the Vatican claims religious significance of and therefore demands control of the property.
Being suddenly an important area with the arrival of the pope, it warranted a complete cleaning, sandblasting, installation of wheel chair ramps, and golden paint job...
Wait a minute! I'm not a conspiracy theorist, but what's that symbol on that stairway railing???
What in the world is a Freemason symbol doing on a stairway in the rear courtyard of the Tomb of King David???
So with the cleaning complete, the Hello Great Visitor pictures up and the Vatican Flags flying around Jerusalem - the city declares itself ready for the visit.
Argh. The question is, for a bowl of lentils how much of OUR holy heritage will the Israeli government give away as a visitors gift to the pope? ...
