Jerusalem Cable Car

• The arrow on Hevron St. says, "Mt Zion Cable Car." Don’t get your fare ready! It points to the Cable Car Museum. Walk back a little towards the windmill and go up the ramp to the middle of the overpass. From there you’ll have a good view of the cable, running from the old eye clinic building to Mt. Zion (http://jerusalemblog.blogspot.com/2006/08/on-walls.html ). Right up against the building at this end of the cable is the car. The cable is new, but the car is the one used to evacuate the wounded and to supply Mt. Zion in the War of Independence. Generally the museum is open by appointment (02-627 75 50).
• The wheel and gears for winching the car back and forth are in place. Until 1967, the mechanism was maintained in working order "in case it was needed again."
• The museum includes photocopies of the military forms setting up the project and assigning the engineer. An army runs on its paperwork.
• The photograph of the engineer, Uriel Jefetz, made me think how happy he looked to have a technical problem worth solving.
• See http://www.gemsinisrael.com/e_article000003947.htm

Copyright 2006 Jane S. Fox