Lions Gate Archives - Israel Rising

June 20, 2017June 21, 2017

Home Near Lions Gate Now Fully Returned to Its Jewish Owners

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The downstairs courtyard of the lone Jewish property near the Lions Gate has now been fully restored to Jewish hands. Over the past year the Jewish residents there had to share a courtyard with an Arab family. This made everyone in the building very uncomfortable. The Arabs in the building suffered every time n explosive was thrown at the compound. More than that, the elderly Arab woman was constantly threatened for living with Jews.

Today, the Arab family moved out and activists from the Heritage House entered to clean up.

Rabbi Ben Packer of the Heritage House said the following: “When the entire Jewish world is looking for an appropriate way to respond to the horrific terror attack of this past Shabbat night, we are privileged to have the merit to give them just that – another Jewish residence reclaimed near the Lions Gate, near the site of the terror attack. In response to violence and terror, we will only further strengthen the Jewish Presence.”

The Lions Gate property has been one of the most important properties in securing the neighborhood known as the Gypsy Quarter, considered one of the most dangerous neighborhoods in the Old City of Jerusalem. The residents of the compound suffer near daily threats from the Arab gangs in the area. With the Arab family now fully evacuated and duly compensated, real renovations can continue in order for more residents to move in.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”5223″ img_size=”medium” add_caption=”yes”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”5222″ img_size=”medium” add_caption=”yes”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”5221″ img_size=”medium” add_caption=”yes”][/vc_column][/vc_row]

June 8, 2017June 8, 2017

Jewish House Near Lions Gate Firebombed [Again]

Last night the front door to the Jewish property near the Lions Gate was firebombed again. This is now the second time in one month the property was attacked. The area near the Lions Gate is known as a dangerous area. The Jewish property is isolated and its residents often times have to fend for themselves.

Simcha Rosen, manager of the Heritage House said the following over the incident:

“It is ridiculous that Jewish property is still getting attacked even as we have just celebrated 50 years since the liberation of Jerusalem. It’s time for the government to take our safety seriously.”

The compound near Lions gate continues to be a flash point between radical Islamic thugs and pioneering Jews who have moved back into an old Jewish property. The hope of Jewish activists is that the property is the first of many in the neighborhood and its habitation will solidify Jewish control over the area.

May 16, 2017May 16, 2017

JEWS UNDER ATTACK: Jewish House Near Lions Gate Firebombed

Although deep inside what even Arabs consider to be a dangerous part of Jerusalem’s Old City do to rival Arab clans, Jews have returned to their former property near to the Lions Gate. Despite the isolation from the other burgeoning Jewish areas that have continued to grow througout the Old City, the reacquired building has undergone significant renovations in the past few months. With two liveable rooms and more to be renovated the, the house near the Lions Gate provides hope that the Jewish return to the entire Old City will continue to all parts of the ancient walls.

With the Lions Gate property showing increased Jewish presence the Arab neighbors have now decided to stop more Jewish residents from moving in. Over the past week Arab neigbors have violently firebombed the front entrance to the house in the hopes Jewish residents will flee, but the opposite has occurred.

The Lions Gate property is key to continuing the returning of stolen Jewish property throughout Jerusalem’s Old City. Where Jews move into, safety and security can be established once there is a critical mass. The Lions Gate property will lead to more properties and they will connect the last area once void of Jews to the growing Jewish areas on the main street running from the Western Wall to Damascus Gate.

Redemption occurs in steps. The Lions Gate property like those Jewish properties in other parts of the Muslim Quarter have become beacons of light, shining the pathway to redemption in a sea of darkness. Now is the time to strengthen the lights of the Jewish return to Jerusalem.

January 27, 2017January 27, 2017

Is the Tipping Point Upon Us? Jews Nearly Finished Renovating Home Near Lions Gate Jerusalem

A few months ago I had the opportunity to follow Rabbi Ben Packer of the Heritage House into an area of the Old City even the most adventurous activists would think twice before entering. That did not deter Rabbi Packer and I from making the left at Lions Gate and up stairs and walkway into an all Arab neighborhood. The neighborhood is known to Jew and Arab alike as a vipers nest, but this area, void of Jews since the 1930’s contains an old Jewish property. When I walked there a few months ago, this Jewish property had only recently been handed back to Jews. The Arabs were violent and threatening.

The property was broken down. To make matters more uncomfortable the property shared a courtyard with a divorced Arab woman and her children and some grandchildren.

Today I returned and found a transformed place. As we make a left down the small street, a kid, once antagonistic now gives us a high five. The shop owner says hello warmly. In my experience where Jews move and stay, the Arab population eventually learns to live with it.

As we enter the courtyward we see the old Arab woman. She shows us some rocks the neighbors had thrown down on her due to her stubborn refusal to harm the Jews sharing the courtyard with her. After greeting us she disappears into her home.

The rocks that had been thrown at the woman

“Other than the rocks, her life has gotten a lot better since we moved in here,” Rabbi Packer says as we enter into a room under renovation. “This is real peace.”

A hit piece was recently written in the Electronic Intifada about Rabbi Ben Packer, claiming he has ties to white supremacists. His concern for the older Arab neighbor and his protection extended to her dispels that myth.

The work has progressed a lot since the last time I had been there. One room is completely re-tiled, waiting for yeshiva students to move in. The adjacent room will become an apartment for a young family.

Before leaving I look up at the recently tiled apartment. Etched into the stone above the doorway are two Hebrew letters, still visible from over 8o years ago. In an undying proof of the Jewish people’s claim to their homeland, the letters stand as a marker that we will never disappear and just like the return to this apartment, the Jewish people will return to every house that was stolen from us.

Our return is part of a larger movement. We are coming home and yes proudly pushing Israel towards the Tipping Point, when the idea of the two state solution will no longer be an option.

Entryway with Old Hebrew Letters etched into the Stone

Work progressing on the floor in one of the rooms

Rabbi Ben Packer speaks to students about the significance of the site

November 21, 2016November 21, 2016

Last Remaining Neighborhood in Muslim Quarter No Longer Off-Limits to Jews

It may not seem large, but the small Jewish property recently renovated is the first such reacquisition in this part of the Muslim quarter since Arab rioters forced Jews out in the 1920’s. With its low ceilings and shared coutyard with the neighboring Arab family, the new/old property already hosts yeshiva boys. Unlike other reacquired properties, the newest one is considered a direct security risk for those who have dared to move in.

That has not deterred Jerusalem’s modern day pioneers from pushing forward and filling of the property with the new move culminating in a prayer session within the ancient ceilings.

First Mincha minyan in the most recently-reclaimed Jewish-owned house in the Old City of Jerusalem!

Posted by Ben Packer on Sunday, November 20, 2016

In recent months those who ventured to check on the property met with violence from locakl Arabs as gangs of Arab youth often times threw rocks, even injuring one young Jewish student. Other times they threatened to kill and maim those who dared to walk down their streets. The neighborhood is known as such a violent area that even Israeli border police don’t venture there. After today that all changed. With new Jewish residents, Israeli security forces are obligated to protect the residents ensuring their safety.

“It was the last remaining area of the Old City that was off-limits to Jews – no longer. Now Jews can walk proudly through every alley!” states Rabbi Ben Packer of the Heritage House.

Posted by Ben Packer on Sunday, November 20, 2016

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September 20, 2016September 20, 2016

ON THE FRONTLINES: For the First Time Since 1930’s Jews Returning to the Lions Gate

Today’s trip into the depths of the “Muslim Quarter” brought myself and Rabbi Ben Packer to a recently reacquired pro
perty near to the Lion’s Gate. The property was found to belong to Jews when an attorney investigating another property saw this one listed in the binder.

Nestled up and to the left of the Lion’s Gate, the neighborhood has had no Jews living in it since the 1930’s when they were driven out. In fact, the Border Patrol by the Lion’s Gate stopped us before getting permission from their commanders to let us through.

The property shares a courtyard with an Arab family who were very pleasant and received us warmly. According to reports the Arab on Arab crime in the neighborhood makes it a dangerous area altogether. The family like others hopes that the presence of Jewish residents will bring much needed police and development.

Reclaiming Stolen Jewish Property Near the Lion’s GateBen Packer of the Jerusalem Heritage House accompanies David Mark founder of Israel Rising into a newly reacquired property near the Lion’s Gate of #Jerusalem.

Posted by Israel Rising on Tuesday, September 20, 2016