Free riders

On Shabbat, memories flooded me, and I allowed myself to flow with them. As I did, the lyrics of the popular song, 'Say something, I'm giving up on you', entered my mind somehow. I felt as if someone, somewhere, was perhaps feeling this way. 

So here I am.

Friday morning I went out for a morning walk. As I was walking, I saw many bicyclists riding in a long row. When I got closer to them, I realized they were participating in the Nevi'ot Sovev Yerushalayim ride - apparently, it is a 40 km ride across Jerusalem. Hundreds, perhaps thousands of men, women, children and old people, most thin and fit, but some heavy-weight, were riding and enjoying the beauty and special air of this holy city. I was so proud - that they can come here from other places and enjoy the mystery and exquisite beauty of this place. I zoomed-out a bit, to some 80 years ago and tried to see the scene with the eyes of someone who lived at that time: the scene, of sovereign, independent Jews, riding their bicycles in the rebuilt city of Jerusalem, the capital city of sovereign Israel, hit me as surreal. I realized how far-fetched and impossible this scene is. How can this be? For almost 2000 years, the land of Israel was in desolation, changing hands from empire to empire, from ruler to ruler, none being able to take root here. For the same amount of years the Jews were dispersed among the nations, looked at by their neighbors as a hopeless nation forsaken by G-d, ridiculed, persecuted, hated for being who they were. And now, fast-forward almost two millennia, they returned here from all four corners of the world, reestablished Hebrew as their spoken language, rebuilt the ruined cities and towns, made the land blossom, flourish and give of its produce abundantly - and they are sovereigns in their land, children of the land of Israel, riding their bicycles freely at her heart, Jerusalem. 

I was moved beyond words. 

I didn't know what their route was, but I wanted to witness that miracle and the joyful atmosphere longer. So I changed my intended route and walked opposite them, facing them, going to where they were coming from, not knowing where this route will take me. 

After about 30 minutes or so of walking, I found myself near the Hebrew University on Mt. Scopus. They were circling part of it. It was so beautiful. The views of the desert on one side, and the university on top of the mountain on the other, and in the middle these free riders, dressed with colorful clothes, and all in the pristine air of Jerusalem - this was so moving and so beautiful. I am not in the habit of taking pictures, normally. I prefer to experience the moment. But I decided to take a picture at that special place. For me, but also for you. I have an old phone and my camera is not so good, it doesn't capture the vividness of the colors in reality, but I hope you can enjoy it nonetheless.