Afternoon Tea in Jerusalem Blog

In addition to my work as a business coach, one of my interests is blogging about life in Israel. This is a country full of contrasts – over eight million citizens living in an area the size of Wales. You can see snow and the lowest place on the globe in the same day. Although surrounded by geopolitical extremes, Israel has achieved a decade of high economic growth. My work brings me in contact with an array of new companies, exciting technologies and dynamic characters. Sitting back with a relaxing cup of strong tea (with milk), you realise just how much there is to appreciate in the Holyland. Large or small operations, private sector or non profit, my clients provide experiences from which others can learn and benefit.

Today, Sunday 13th May, is Jerusalem Day, recalling the unification of the city in 1967. Tomorrow, the USA will formerly moves its embassy to the Holy City. Tuesday is Nakba Day (Day of Catastrophe), which Palestinians describe as the day when the modern state of Israel was created in 1948.

Exhausting? Wednesday sees two other embassies inaugurated and Friday is the start of Ramadan for Muslims. I think the police may have cancelled all leave!

Why all the fuss? I think that part of the answer lies in the numbers. Since 1967, the city has grown from 266,300 to 882,700 citizens. 62% are Jewish, of whom 41% can be described as members of the ultraorthodox communities.

These numbers continue to grow. The average number of births per family is 3.2 children including both sides of the religious divide. However, there is a much larger figure for religious Jewish families.

As is almost customary at this time of the year, the government announces special schemes for the capital. One item that caught my eye is the 445m shekel allocation, about US$125 million, for improving the education sector for the Arab community.

Spread over five years, the plan takes in several aspects. These include advancing courses in innovation and entrepreneurship, as well as  in non-formal methods of teaching. I was also encouraged by the increased emphasis to be placed on teaching Hebrew, thus securing a greater level of integration.

And if you still think that Jerusalem’s economy remains based around tourism and the government ministries, take a look at these three headlines from the past month or so:

The city is hungry for more growth. Long may it be united, open to all-comers

1 comments

  1. Amazing insight into an amazing city. I just think of the rebuilding that was necessary in Jerusalem after the Jewish quarter was destroyed by the Jordan. The rebuilding of synagogues, and the amazing and diverse community that makes up Jerusalem.

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