Graffiti in Jerusalem in a nutshell - An attempt to understand the spirit of the mysterious city.

The elusive spirit of Jerusalem

Every time I go up to Jerusalem from the coastal plain at sea level to the capital 800 meters high, I feel like I've come to another country.  It's not just the change of temperatures and clean mountain air, it's a whole different atmosphere. I've been to Jerusalem lots of time, even lived here for a year, but still never fil like I really get the spirit of this city.  last Monday I made another visit to the city, this time it was a very short one- only for two hours, for a guided tour of my partner's work. 

To get to know Nachlaot

We headed towards the old neighborhood that was built in the 19's century as part of the beginning of the "new city" of Jerusalem, outside of the "old city" walls. This neighborhood nowadays called Nahlaot Built as many courtyard neighborhoods Each with a different population in a courtyard are closed and protect against robbers. Today Nahlaot located in the hart and the city have grown around it, big and modern. 

Old and new live together

What is interesting in Nahlaot is that although it has undergone a process of renewal and has become a desirable  neighborhood among students and young couples in the center of the city, Some of the neighborhood's courtyards still hold the way of life like more than a century ago.

How a population refuses to recognize modern life And preserves a way of life that has passed their time, And a completely different population, young, vibrant and modern, Manage to live together in such a small area?

This is the secret of the city of Jerusalem that only Jerusalemites can understand.

Graffiti works on the walls of the neighborhood. The strange mix of the population stimulates the imagination of the artists

In the Mahane Yehuda market near this area   The doors of the shops are decorated with figures from the history of Jerusalem. At night when the shops close, you can see the art works.

During these hours the market becomes a center of lively nightlife.