Soundscapes

Decompressing Jerusalem into individual strands, categories can be done, but the intense mosaic that comprises the mosaic loses its fidelity. One must slip over the polished marble and deep fissures, touch the Jerusalem stone, and smell the unique concoction of espresso and cigarettes that spices the spindling paths to comprehend what Jerusalem is. Nonetheless, despite its inherent loss of fidelity, attempting to detail Jerusalem’s soundscape, I believe, creates the most accurate representation of the city.

Standing Christianity’s keystone sites, one hears the call to prayer rippling through the air. Hebrew patters around the streets below. Prayer is juxtaposed with motor scooters, Jewish hawkers, and the wafer-snap of the Norwegian couple’s camera behind.

Jerusalem is, at once, a movement in coexistence, tourism, piety and an unfinished work being written with a mercurial hand.