By PEGGY CIDORMayor Nir Barkat(photo credit: MARC ISRAEL SELLEM)Involved childrenDo you think that today’s children are not involved enough in society? Think again. This week, 100 pupils from city public (religious and secular) schools – student council members – met on Wednesday to discuss ways to encourage leadership and involvement, initiative, change and social activism. These are not mere words for these children, studying in the fifth and sixth grades across the city, as they meet once a month to debate these issues. On the agenda: a visit to the Knesset (scheduled for January 17) and meetings with local community leadership.Let the war begin As expected, the residents of the German Colony strongly opposed to the proposed Blue Line of the light rail along Emek Refaim Street are engaging in a serious struggle to prevent that plan. A first warning letter sent this week to Mayor Nir Barkat and additional involved officials clearly states that this is just the beginning of the action to be taken.Among other issues, advocate Eliad Shraga, who represents the residents, wrote that this plan was not brought to the attention of the residents as promised. Barkat is hence asked in the letter to order a new deliberation on the Alternatives Plan and, in parallel, to order a freeze and/or restraining order on publicizing the plan submitted, and to stop the countdown of the time remaining for raising objections.Honoris causaIn other news, the mayor was awarded an honorary doctorate from Yeshiva University in New York. At the ceremony, Barkat, who was invited to speak also on behalf of the other awardees, said that “Jerusalem is one of the biggest miracles in the world.” He added that on his last birthday, he went to the grave of his great-grandfather, who died before the Holocaust and the renaissance of the State of Israel, and while standing there realized what an honor it was for him to be the mayor of the reunited city under Jewish sovereignty.As for the jury’s decision to give the high distinction to Barkat, Richard Joel, president of the institution, explained that the emotion and the fervor with which the mayor conducts the city’s affairs, which reflect Yeshiva University’s values, were behind the decision to honor him.Dress code or bigotry?How and where does one draw a line between the need to observe a dress code in a public space and the concern that such a legitimate request might lead to bigotry? This question was raised this week at the Knesset, following two cases in which women employed by MKs as consultants were informed that what they were wearing violated parliamentary codes.In the first case, on December 11, Shaked Hasson, who works with MK Merav Michaeli (Zionist Union) was detained because her dress was deemed too short, and was allowed to enter only after Michaeli intervened and convinced the Knesset director general to instruct the guards to do so. In the second case, two days later, it was reported that Moria Silfen, assistant to MK Eli Alalouf (Kulanu) was sent back home to change into a more suitable dress.In both cases, the Knesset guards felt that the women were dressed in a manner that did not accord with Knesset rules.The problem, however, may be not the length of skirts of these two women, but rather, as Silfen explained, the lack of clarity in the dress code.According to the code, men – MKs, visitors and employees – cannot come to the Knesset in sandals or jeans. But there is no clear guidance on how long a dress or a skirt should be. For example, can it reveal the knees or not? There is concern among MKs (coalition and opposition alike) that these two cases may augur a debut of religious coercion.The Knesset director general has announced that the matter is being checked thoroughly and that everything will be conducted with due respect for the Knesset and consideration of the rights of visitors and employees.City properties for saleRemember the popular Monopoly game? Well, it’s back – in a new location. For the first time in the 81-year history of the game, a version has been released featuring the holy city of Jerusalem.This joint project of the Israeli Kodkod games company and the international Hasbro company enables players to move around the game board and buy properties in Jerusalem or wait at the railway station, the Kotel, Mount Herzl, the Israel Museum, Mahaneh Yehuda, the Knesset and more. The game, available in Hebrew and English, is apparently geared toward the Jewish public, since Christian and Muslim sites do not appear on the game board.Digital business If you have a business in the city and would like to enhance your profile in the world of the Web, here is good news. The Economy and Industry Ministry has decided to add the city of Jerusalem to the Digital Israel list of online businesses.Accordingly, the ministry offers a grant of up to NIS 10,000 to any business owner who seeks to join. The project, backed by the Social Equality Ministry with support and logistics provided by the municipality, aims to assist businesses in the city to flourish in the era of online business.Leaders summitMembers of the US Congress and the European Parliament, a high-level delegation from India and leading Israeli figures will convene next week at the second Jerusalem Leaders Summit, December 18 to 20.This year’s summit will address global threats and security challenges, the weakening of the rule of law, and obstacles to economic freedom and free trade.At the first Jerusalem Leaders Summit’s Public Policy Event in 2015, leaders from Europe, Israel and the United States gathered in Israel to affirm the common civilization based on the rule of law and shared principles.This second summit will highlight innovation and technology that can benefit citizens around the world.The summit will take place in Jerusalem’s prestigious Waldorf Astoria Hotel, and among the prominent participants from the Israeli side will be Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked.Christmas in JerusalemFor the benefit of Christians living in or visiting the holy city, the municipality is providing – as it does every year – trees for the holiday. Some 150 trees will be distributed on December 20 at the Jaffa Gate, between 9 a.m. and noon. Additional preparations for the holiday by the municipality include festive lighting and banners in the Christian Quarter in the Old City, in the mostly Christian neighborhood of Beit Hanina and around the Mar Elias monastery (on the way to Bethlehem.) Task units have already begun operations cleaning inside and around the Old City and close to churches throughout the city. Coordination between the police and the municipality is taking place to designate special facilities for parking for pilgrims and visitors in order to make the holiday as pleasant as possible.
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