Green light for Sherover The Jerusalem District Court (in its capacity as the court for local administrative affairs) ruled this week that the Sherover Cultural Center in Talpiot is a legitimate project, and thus its construction can be implemented. The court rejected the opposition of a group of residents who claimed that the project did not match the original plan. Most of the opposition was based on the residents’ concern that the center would attract too many visitors, be a burden on the neighborhood’s capacity for parking and disturb the serene atmosphere of the neighborhood.The Sherover Cultural Center is, in fact, an attempt by the municipality, in cooperation with the Sherover Foundation, to develop a serious venue for culture and entertainment for that part of the city. It will also be open on Shabbat. The center will include 12 movie theaters, four multifunctional halls, exhibitions galleries, coffee shops, restaurants, bookstores and music shops.According to Deputy Mayor Kobi Kahlon, president of the planning and construction committee, it will take about a year and a half until residents and visitors will be able to use the new center. He says that in regard to the residents’ concern about parking, the center will offer up to 330 parking spaces and thus should not add any burden to the neighborhood.The Sherover Cultural Center will be located near the Sherover Promenade in Abu Tor, close to Hebron Road, the Old Railway Station (which is also in the process of becoming a cultural and entertainment venue) and the Cinematheque.
Computers go to preschool The computer revolution has reached the city’s preschools, kicking off with a project to introduce computers to kindergarten teachers and pupils.Some 25 preschool teachers have been chosen to run the pilot, which will include a short but intensive training course for the teachers, a laptop for each teacher, and Internet connection in the kindergarten classrooms. The computers will be linked to Google, with access to a secure e-mail box and a word processor.This is the second phase of a large program initiated by Mayor Nir Barkat to introduce computerization in the schools. Two years ago the program opened with elementary and high school teachers receiving a laptop and the classrooms being connected to the Internet. The program is a joint initiative of the Education Ministry and the Jerusalem Municipality, facilitated through philanthropic grants.It’s a win for Gonenim (school) Victory for the municipality and the parents of pupils of the state religious school in Gonenim.The Jerusalem District Court ruled on Sunday that there was no reason not to allow the municipality to install mobile structures that would enable it to increase the number of pupils in the school. The school is highly praised by the parents as a remarkable institution that tries to combine the best aspects of state religious education with equality and pluralistic values. Originally, the plot on which the school stands was designated for a Chabad Talmudic elementary school. But the residents claimed that most of the pupils at the institution were not residents of the neighborhood, while the Gonenim’s pupils all live there. The Chabad school’s director went to court and obtained a ruling to stop all the work being done by the municipality to enlarge the structure. Now that the court has rejected the petition, the municipality is working quickly to get the school ready for the new school year.The Gonenim state religious school is regarded by many as a major tool in the efforts to bring young families to the neighborhood and keep the population varied, staving off continued attempts to open haredi education institutions that mostly serve children brought in from other neighborhoods.
Mishkenot literary encounters Mishkenot Sha’ananim will hold two literary events – on Wednesday and Thursday – that are open to the public. The events are an opportunity for the aficionados of books and music to get a taste of the fruits of the creative process.On Wednesday, Simon Sebag Montefiore’s latest book, Jerusalem: the Biography, will be presented.On the following evening, poet Agi Mishol’s latest book, Sidur Avoda, will be presented, accompanied by music and narration. Mishol’s daughter, musician Maya Mishol, will surprise her mother by presenting some of her poems that she set to music.Sounds from around the world The sounds of world music are back in the city, through one of its leading representatives, the Confederation House. This time, artistic director Effie Benaya proposes a combination of world music performed by Israeli artists and composers.The series, which opens the season of the Confederation House for the new Hebrew year, offers music and lyrics gathered from the cultures close to or connected with the Holy Land – from the Oriental Jewish liturgy through India’s musical religious traditions, to the Syrian poet Adonis’s verses – presented by singers and oud players.The purpose of the series is to present the audience with the results of the encounter between Israeli performers and ancient musical and poetic traditions surrounding us, through a blend of traditional and modern interpretations.The first concert will take place on Tuesday. It will feature Jerusalem musicians Elad Gabai on oud and guitar, and singer Ora Baranes on saz (an Indian string instrument). For more details, call the Confederation House at 624-0256.