Humans of Yerushalayim (HOY) – Part II

It is amazing how personalities can be expressed through pictures. In the second installment of Humans of Yerushalayim (HOY), Tichon Ramah Yerushalayim (TRY) students capture the faces, expressions and thoughts of the people who live in this colorful city. The beauty of HOY is sharing this diversity and offering a peek at the people who make up Jerusalem.

Be sure to view Part I of the Humans of Yerushalayim blog series, and take a look at our behind-the-scenes documentary. You have to love the message of hope and community as expressed by the students at the end of the film.

Birthday Girl

Photo credit: Gabi Finestone, Sam Slater and Samantha Charlat

“Who are the balloons for?”

“Me! It’s my birthday.”

“What will be the happiest moment of your life?”

“When I get married.”

Religious activist

Photo credit: Josh Arbess, Shari Boiskin and Sarah Turk Karan

“How long have you been in Israel?”

“We made aliyah just 40 years ago, I was nine years old at the time. My father was part of the establishment of the Be’er Sheva Medical School and we moved from a small little outpost called New York to a huge city called Beersheva. We have an apartment in Jerusalem. And right now, I’m in the apartment … recovering… rehabilitating.”

“What is your job?

“I tell people: connect to Jerusalem. It’s the heart of the world, it’s the heart of the Jewish people, it’s the heart of everybody who is faithful to G-d, and it’s the holiest place in the world. I try to connect people to the Temple Mount, which is the heart of Jerusalem, and I try to tell people that there will come a day where all nations will talk to each other peacefully, calling the name of the one and only G-d, from the city chosen by G-d: Jerusalem.”

“Can you tell us what happened to you this past fall?”

“29th of October, 10 pm, coming out of an annual convention of my organization, the Temple Mount Heritage Foundation, and I was approached by a gentleman on a motorcycle who told me that I am an enemy of Islam and he point blank shot me, four bullets, center of my body, one of them right over there [points to his arm], and the other three around my chest and stomach. The optimistic doctors gave me a 5% chance to survive, less ones gave me 2%…and today, thanks to G-d and his messengers, Israeli medical services, my family, millions of people around the world who prayed for me, thanks to all them, I’m broadcasting live right now.”

The American Friar

Photo credit: Zach Friedman, Becca Lovitz, Tamar Eisen

“Who would you vote for if you could vote today? (From Election Day, 2015)”

“I try to stay out of politics because I think that for me as an American I don’t want to stick my nose into this. I don’t want to be pro-Palestinian. You see a lot of friars that are pro-Palestinian, and I don’t want to be like them. Whoever works towards peace would have my vote.”

A Soldier’s Perspective

Photo credit: Yona Grossman, Ilana Stein and Remy Glantz

“What did you feel after the war last summer?”

“Being in the last war, Tzuk Eitan (Operation Protective Edge), gave me perspective on life as I watched my friends, my brothers, enter with me into Gaza and never return.”

The English Guitarist

Photo Credit: Rebecca Weiss, Ariel Roitman and Dotan Appelbaum

“How long have you been in Israel?”

“12 years.”

“What brought you here?”

“Emotional blackmail, I was kidnapped.”

“Can you elaborate on that?”

“Um, yeah. Like my mother… I was in foster care. And my mother said she was going to Israel, and if I want to see her again then I should come with her. If I don’t want to see her again, then stay in England. Then I came here with her, and I didn’t leave.”

Two Teens

Photo credit: Dani Goodman, Jessica Kagal, and Jonah Kessler

“What’s a good story you can tell us?”

“The first time we ditched school, we ran straight to the gate and were followed by a bunch of teachers. When we turned a corner, we literally ran into one. There was absolutely no beginners luck for us.”

Holy Shopkeeper 

Photo credit: Shelby Kaufman, Matt Friedman, and Jacob Ludwig

“What makes Jerusalem special to you?”

“Kedusha (holiness). It is the best place in the world for Jews.”

“Who do you plan on voting for in the elections?”

“Only Bibi, only Bibi. Bibi is the best.”

(From Election Day 2015)

The People Watcher

Photo credit: Jordan Moossazadeh, Shira Hirsch, and Carly Sless

“What brings you downtown today?” 

“It’s a beautiful day today. Good weather. That’s the reason I’m sitting here. I love to see people, how they walk. At work I don’t see people walk; I’m in front of a computer.”

“So you came just to watch people?”

“Yes. I love to see people. So I just sit here. It’s very peaceful. It’s interesting here in Jerusalem. You see people’s faces. You’re really seeing their history. So when you see people’s faces, you see that he came from America, he came from Yemen in their faces. That’s why I started learning languages…Every language is a window to a different culture.”