What is Old?

Sunrise from my balcony

A friend commented that what we consider old is relative to our context. The British Cemetery across the street from where I live dates from WWI – that’s new for Jerusalem. In Anchorage it would be ancient. One of the oldest historic buildings in Anchorage is Oscar Anderson House built in 1915.

On a walking tour the other morning we were walking up Ha Nevi’im street, the street of the Prophets also known as the street of the hospitals. Most of the buildings had been built in the late 19th century or early 20th century. At one point the guide pointed to a small building to our left, it was a 750-year-old tomb.

Our group walked up to peer into the tomb. It was a bizarre scene. In front of us was the 750 year-old tomb. Behind us a modern playground with plastic climbing equipment, slides, and a merry-go-round. About a dozen Heredi children were running around the playground, dressed mostly in black, boys with sidelocks (payes), kippas, and ritual fringe undergarments. At the far side of the playground was a Mosque, shuttered since 1967 -- according to our guide, the government had not yet given the keys back to the Muslim leaders.

Graves on Mt. Olives