The Iraqi Shuk

Apparently the shuk was historically sectioned off by ethnicity and nationality. It may somewhat still be this way, but more as recognition of the shuk's history and less who is actually working at stalls and where they are from. I still need to take a tour of the shuk and learn the history and random stories that will make it even more interesting to me than it already is. It is by far one of my favorite places in Jerusalem. I hope to shoot some video soon -- maybe before Rosh Hashana or next Shabbat -- because photos just can't do it justice. The shuk has 2 main arteries or corridors, one inside and one outside, one covered and lighted and the other not. Between these 2 strips are many, many alleys and connecting paths, all full of the beautiful sights and sounds of the shuk. A while ago I came across a section that is a bit off the beaten track. After walking through and seeing that it wasn't as crowded as the rest of the shuk, the prices were lower and the produce was fresher, well, I was hooked. I do almost all of the shopping there; today I was able to purchase everything on my list in this area. The shuk can be very overwhelming as there are a gazillion different stalls that sell cucumbers, for example. It is nice to have one area that I focus on and only stray for certain things that are not available in my favorite section. I did find out that the area of the shuk I prefer is known as the Iraqi shuk. I find great satisfaction in supporting the Iraqi shuk, regardless of whether there are any Iraqi men at any of the stalls selling their goods (95% of shuk workers are men, big surprise). I just sort of feel like, as I walk away with all of my goods, that I am making a statement about the war in Iraq and about W. The war is wrong, never should have started and needs to end now. Too many people on both sides have died. Iraq is in a civil war and people's lives are in ruins. If by some chance there is one Iraqi man in the Iraqi shuk, and I happen to buy from him and in some way help him and his family, wherever they may be, I consider it an accomplishment. Just being in the Iraqi shuk forces me to think about the war and the soldiers and civilians and step out of myself for a moment and remember that there are such bigger things out there. Don't worry, I'm not totally soft and PC. I also walk away from that section saying to myself : Screw you Bush, I support Iraq and would never buy cucumbers from you." Oh yeah, that is politically correct. When I walk home from the shuk, I almost always pass by a woman -- homeless, begger, I don't really know -- who sits against a building with her hand held out. I always make sure I have a few shekels to give to her, feeling guilty if I were to pass by her with bags full of wonderful foods but no pocket change for her. And relating this back to Bush? He wouldn't even understand.