Is Jerusalem a city for us Habo-heads?

By Elon "Rufus" Shore

Now hold on a second. I know exactly what you are thinking, "How can anyone say that? Jerusalem is mine just as much as it is for every Jew all over the world. It is not just a religious city. Jerusalem is a city with 3,000 years of glorious history…." All that is true but my question asks us to search for a deeper meaning.

My name is Elon "Rufus" Shore and I am a member of Workshop 51 or better known as Workshnat 1. There have been many changes in our program but none bigger than the change from the Haveret program being moved to Karmiel rather than Jerusalem. At first, I was outraged and preturbed but logic and reason gradually came back to me and I realized why this had to happen. Jerusalem, to some, is not the safest of cities. There are parents who would have taken their kids home if we lived in Jerusalem. Also, there were some members of my own kvutzah who felt unsafe in Jerusalem. But that change was also a symbol.

The symbol is that Israel, to us progressive Labor Zionist folks, does NOT mean Jerusalem. To many American Jews, that is one of their primary reasons of coming to Israel. What is more Israeli than the Western Wall? On the recent January Birthright Israel trip, the trip consisted of 5 days in Jerusalem and that was it. Instead of going to Jerusalem we are going to Karmiel, a development town of 37 years in

the north that needs hands on help. Russians, Druzim, Bedion, and Ethiopian Jews are just some of the people we have the opportunity to help. The more I think about it, the change will produce great benefits. But enough of the side tracking, let's get down to the bare bones of the question.

Right now, I am living in Jerusalem with Hanoar Ha'Oved and living in their community. Many of them have told me that the "real" capital of Israel is Tel Aviv. All over Jerusalem as well as Haifa, Be'er Sheba, and even Eilat, there are tons of signs showing you the way to Tel Aviv. In the minds of secular leftist Israelis, there is nothing more Israeli than Dizengoff square, a good discotech or the Tel Aviv bus station. Considering that most of the city of Jerusalem speaks English, American English mind you, they may be right. There is also the religious fervor of the city as well that is unwelcoming to Habos. I have been challenged by the President of the Victim of Arab Terrorism, called a son of bitch by a random religious woman, and have heard more Russian than Hebrew here. This is not a blanket statement. There are many religious and observant Jews here in Jerusalem that have an open mind and are receptive to different ideas. But there is a very secular feel to Tel Aviv and that is being lost in Jerusalem.

This does not mean that Jerusalem is not our city. In reality, I believe that we as a movement must make an effort to keep our ties with this important city. But the examples are everywhere. We must make a concious effort to make a place for ourselves in Jerusalem or we may find ourselves soon unwelcomed.