community than their opponents. And weirdly, there is no discernible Christian Left in the USA, though arguably it does exist in this country. This is not a thesis or even an academic argument, merely a personal observation of a very peculiar phenomenon. But conversion has always been central to Christianity: convert or go to Hell.
Lockdown in Jerusalem Tikva Blaukopf Schein With our residential location chosen for proximity to our respective shuls and walking distance to amenities (as well as to the materfamilias Sharon Blaukopf!) living out our overdraft in Jerusalem began to feel quite imprudent after a few months of intermittent lockdown. Perhaps, I mulled, we should move to the Golan, where we might afford a square-inch of garden, nay, grass. Or there’s always Ireland, or Arkansas. Why rent for Manhattan prices in a city you don’t see? But when they said Jerusalem was endowed with nine-tenths of the world’s beauty, terrible and flashing-eyed though that harsh beauty can be, they meant during Corona too. Pop-up minyanim on every street corner (very awkward when you’re mid-intimate conversation with someone and end up in the middle of someone else’s amida); coordinated ma nishtana sung from balconies; and dozens of kriyot haTorah within 50 yards of my front door. I miss my shul community but witnessing so many home-grown tikkunei leil on Shavuot made my heart sing. Jerusalem has always been a locus of charm for me and Corona has given me a little more of its quiet side. Of course, lockdown here began right after Purim so it was a matter of exchanging one mask for another and Corona’s oscillations have followed the waves of the chagim. Our family-less chagim. Finally a way to meet the neighbours, we thought. Yet, cultural differences have become blatant. Strolling along my street one Shabbat, a thronging of the youthful sallied past. “She’s clearly Page 24
