Ramadan Kareem! (I mean, I think so. Not 100% sure…)

Ami Kaufman By Ami Kaufman August 15, 2011 | Edit

Mayor Ron Huldai, as other mayors before him, always likes to show how he’s the mayor of Tel Aviv-Jaffa, with an emphasis on the “Jaffa”. Because, sometimes, even a mayor can forget there are Arabs living in his town.

So, I thought it was great that he made an effort to personally wish a happy Ramadan to all the Muslim residents of Jaffa, by putting up signs all over the Arab neighborhoods.

Here’s one, right in the center of Jaffa, on the main drag:

Ramadan Kareem! (I mean, I think so. Not 100% sure...)
Sign by Mayor Huldai (photo: Ami Kaufman)

Oooo! And here’s another one! In the middle of Yefet st. (Jewish street name, but that doesn’t matter, right?)

Ramadan Kareem! (I mean, I think so. Not 100% sure...)
Sign by Mayor Huldai (photo: Ami Kaufman)

Oh! But wait a minute… let’s look a bit closer at what the sign says:

Ramadan Kareem! (I mean, I think so. Not 100% sure...)
Sign by Mayor Huldai (photo: Ami Kaufman)

Let’s take a look, shall we?

“The city of Tel Aviv-Jaffa
Happy Holiday
wished by:
Ron Huldai
Mayor of Tel Aviv-Jaffa”

So wait… there’s a crescent. And a star. But it’s all in Hebrew. Nothing in Arabic.

And, it doesn’t even have the word “Ramadan” on it.

So, who is this sign for? For the Jews buying up property in the mass gentrification of Jaffa? Is this a message to them?

But they’re Jews, right?

Oh well. Maybe Huldai is right. The Arabs will just “get it”.

Or maybe, just maybe it’s a guessing game! Especially for Ramadan!

Man, that Huldai really has the holiday spirit.

For sure.

Ami Kaufman

Ami Kaufman was chief night editor for Haaretz, for the prominent Israeli financial daily Calcalist, and correspondent on Israeli affairs for 93.6 RAM FM, a joint Palestinian-Israel radio station. His interest in food and cooking led to culinary studies at the "Israeli CIA" (Tadmor, Herzliya) and a brief stint in the restaurant business. Born in Tel Aviv, Ami lives in Bat Yam with his wife and two daughters. In his spare time he blogs at Half & Half.

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