The Last Jews of Egypt

There are only a few dozen Jews still living in Egypt, all in either Cairo or Alexandria. The number of remaining synagogues outnumbers the remainder of Jews. Many of these synagogues are magnificent structures, and to the credit of the Egyptian government, they are protected and some are being restored. Prior to 1948, well over 80,000 Jews lived in the two cities. The current Ben Ezra in Cairo dates from 1892. The site, once a Coptic Church, became a synagogue in 882.. Tradition marks this as the spot where the prophet Jeremiah gathered the Jews in the 6th century after Nebuchadnezzar had destroyed the Jerusalem temple. The adjacent spring is supposed to mark the place where the pharaohs daughter found Moses in the reeds, and where Mary drew water to wash Jesus. It was here that the famous Philosopher Maimonides studied. Last century a collection of ancient manuscripts was discovered in the compound.

reprinted from June 2010

Morning Call Cross Dressers

Blogger Bernie O'Hare has joined Bill White's infamous Hall of Fame. Although O'Hare does protest, White believed that he secretly hoped for admission. O'Hare admitted that just the nomination alone jacked up his viewership. Although Bernie's inclusion will increase his readership, there's a reluctance on the part of hard and soft copy readers to cross back and forth. Occasionally, I bump into someone who tells me that they haven't seen a letter by me in the paper recently, and that they enjoy them. I thank them for that, then explain that I have a blog, and write a piece almost every day. Next time I see the person we have the same conversation, over and over again, they just won't cross over. While hardcopy readers dwindle, it's hard for the papers to make up the loss with their websites. The hardcopy readers are stubborn, and the web readers fickle. Meanwhile, congratulations to O'Hare and his Lehigh Valley Ramblings.

Slim Pickins In Blogosphere

I feel sorry for you blog readers, it's slim pickins out there! The only must read is by Bernie O'Hare, but then you must wade through his neuroses. Between his battles with other bloggers and commenters, and his political mancrushes, reading it is exhausting. Then there's George Wacker and his tabloid titillater; I've never gotten beyond the titles to visit that 8th grade locker room. LVCI relies on cyber mining. His post today on swimming pools was a push/pull survey by the former park director two years ago, trying to justify building a water park at Cedar Park. Although the concept has already been rejected by Council and the Administration, it's new stuff to that net surfer. We mustn't forget Chris Casey and Poliblog. He uses a complex algorithm to come up with wrong predictions. Then there's me....

Turning Out The Light

The train tower on Union Street was demolished in 1971. It survived years beyond need because the gates were never automated, and the remaining track was used for switching freight cars. The junction yard behind the State Hospital property, near the border with Bethlehem, is still active. The freight trains travel south Allentown toward Emmaus several times a day. In the quiet of early morning, you can still hear that whistle almost everywhere in the city.

photograph by Dave Latshaw is part of the Mark Rabenold Collection

reprinted from July 2011

De Beams, De Beams

Allentown's all a twitter about the beams arriving for the 15th Street Bridge. Allentown Director of Public Works, Richard Young, appeared on local TV saying that the project is on schedule. He forgot to mention that it's a snail pace schedule, stranding south Allentown for years. He forgot to mention that the two Tilghman Street bridges, west of Allentown, were removed and replaced in a matter of months. He forgot to mention that more is done in a few weeks at the Arena, than has been done on the bridge project since it began. He forgot to mention that his department allowed the previous bridge to rust away from neglect. He forgot to mention that he didn't intercede with his counter point on the state level, also named Young, to postpone construction on the 24th/Oxford Street bridge. He forgot to mention...

UPDATE: Although this post is critical of Allentown Public Works, the real blame lies with the Administration.  Although Allentown's share of the project is only 5%,  it occurs to me that the relaxed schedule seems to be built into a cut rate bid on the project.  If Allentown's priorities were geared toward citizen convenience, instead of the mayor's Big Arena Razzle Dazzle, I'm sure that Young would have just as soon payed more for an accelerated schedule on the bridge.

Union Street Slowdown

By the early 1960's, things had slowed for Allentown's manufacturing base and the rail freight cars that served them. Train lines had consolidated, and tracks and spurs had been removed. Remaining plants were supplied by trucks, and people traveled by bus and car. The remaining train station would soon close, but the term rustbelt had not yet entered the vocabulary. Western Electric (AT&T) on Union Blvd. was now making transistors, and there was still confidence in the new economy. Allentown was the All American City.

reprinted from July 2011

Friends In The Park

This morning, Friends Of The Allentown Parks, sponsored an Accessible Discovery Nature Walk in Cedar Park. Leading the well attended event, with his back to the camera, was Phil McGrath, retired naturalist with the Pa. Dept. of Conservation and National Resources.