Nehemiah, incensed when they persisted to do business on Shabbat in the holy city, instructed the guards to close the gates. He wanted to separate the people from outside influences, to prevent the commercialization of society - to keep those merchants of Tyre from turning God's people into mall rats.
After the War of Independence in 1948-9, Jerusalem was divided between Jordan and the modern state of Israel. The border ran along walls on the western side of the ancient city, a no-mans-land deserted until the city was reunited in 1967. As a result, the city benefited from a wide strip of prime real estate that escaped development and over the years has been turned into a north by south thoroughfare in the heart of the city as well as parks and other public works.
Just outside Jaffa Gate the area around an abandoned Ottoman water reservior is now a city park where concerts are performed outside on warm summer evenings. Every August Jerusalem hosts an international artists' fair for two week after the 9th of Av (The date of the destruction of both the first and second Temples.) The foriegn diplomatic corps in Jerusalem sponser exhibits featuring artists, dancers and musicians from their native lands alongside the local artists. I don't believe I can describe it better than the photos I took last week .......
No doubt that Jerusalem's artist's fair isn't as impressive as festivals held elsewhere. It isn't a reason to visit Israel, but if you live here or happen to be passing through, it's alot of fun.
Today the nations don't make the trip to Jerusalem in order to make a buck. (I didn't see many buyers among the many just lookers.) As a capital and and the heritage of three major religions, countries are bartering for visibility at the Jerusalem's little fair. And Jerusalem loves it.
Nehemiah is probably turning in his grave. Instead of bolting the gates, Jerusalem's fathers have broken a breach in the walls.
Today Jerusalem's gates are open to one and all.
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