Free Republic

1. The clang of metal poles and the sounds of hammering are practically constant as Jerusalem's apartment dwellers hurry to erect their sukkot and squeeze them into small balconies, odd-shaped gardens and otherwise derelict rooftops. 2. The tourists have landed! Overwhelmingly religious, English and French speaking, they jam the city's take-out places and restaurants, and may be seen in packs wandering up and down Emek Refaim Street and through the glitzy Mamilla Mall talking to their friends at top volume on their cell phones. 3. Almost every non-profit group worth their salt has scheduled a fund-raising and/or familiarization event for...

Many visitors come to Israel for the first time and think they’ll spend a few days in Tel Aviv, maybe head up to the Sea of Galilee, take a quick tour of Masada and the Dead Sea and then see Jerusalem in one or two days. Not so fast!! Even though Jerusalem is relatively compact, don’t expect to get much more than a vague overall impression of the city and its many layers in a 2-day visit. If there’s any way to swing it–try to stay an extra day or two to take in some of the abundance of cultural...