October 7, 2003 --- Yom Kippur --- the Jewish Holy Day


I'm in Israel for a couple of weeks working for a client in the, so called, Israeli Silicon Valley in Herzilya, just North of Tel Aviv. Today is Yom Kippur, the most holy of Jewish holidays. On Yom Kippur no powered vehicles are allowed on any public street. This is the case every year, but this was the first that I'd heard of it. And, as I find no reference to this car free event on www.CarFree.com, I bet there is nothing like this anywhere else, 7 million more or less 1st world people taking a break from their car for a day.

And, indeed, it is wonderfully quiet and safe on the streets. I just got back from 50km bike ride from Herzilya to Jaffa. It was great! No looking over my shoulder for those careless inattentive drivers, no tire noise from passing cars, kids riding bikes on the streets where ever they wish, Moms (and Dads) pushing strollers right down the middle of the street.... Life as it should be. Hmmm, think about it, it took an order from God to get the Israelis to stop driving for a day. It is a miracle!

Too bad that only a few of us carfree hopefuls get it; how terrific this really is. You'd think that a day like this would start people to think. But no, the Israelis make up for this day off by being terrible pushy risky drivers the rest of the year.

And, yes, I agree that carfree days are close to useless; a crutch to feel better about a situation that just plain sucks (the domination of cars that is). But I'm going to enjoy this windfall for the one day that I can.

If you'd like to enjoy this vicariously with me, here are my pictures of the ride and of Jaffa. Some of these images are large as I don't have my image processing apps with me on the trip. Sorry for that.

___________Ron Wolf

Trusty Steed And Sign To Tel Aviv
Herzilya Panorama From Beach to High Tech Area
Look Ma, No Cars But Here Comes A Biker
Another Rider On the Way To Tel Aviv
Tel Aviv Outskirts
Thru The Park
Out For A Stroll
Middle Of The Street Chat
Jaffa In The Distance
More Strolling
Almost To Jaffa
Jaffa Site Map With Zodiac
Trusty Steed At The Top
Palm, Minaret, and City
Date Palms And Church
Gates Of Ramses
Gates Of Ramses Info
Gates With Excavation
More Excavations Behind Gates
Across Thousands Of Years
More Excavations At Gates
Eight Wheel Pace Line
Street Gang
Unhurried Crossing
Family Outing
My Exit
Signs Of Isreals SiliconValley
Appolonia