Biggest Mistake Tourists Make:

            The meaning and significance of tourism, specifically in Jerusalem, is explored in Amichai’s “Tourists.” Imagery of modern tourists visiting the sacred city is provided, depicting post-modernist tourism in the visiting of places with historical and religious significance. However, the images aroused suggest that the tourists lack a connection to this foreign land. and may point to a lack of respect of the culture. This can be noted in the poem’s presentation of the tourists as ignorant to the significant and grief associated with the sacred spaces mentioned. Their lack of connection and misplaced priorities could be suggested in their attempts to grieve at the Holocaust memorial and the Wailing Wall. However, to say that these tourists are shallow and do not respect the sacred space, could be a rather profound interpretation. Instead, it is not unlikely that many of the tourists can relate to such history and grief, and may be genuinely disheartened at such. 

            The first section of the poem has continuity and rhythm, while the second is prose and seems to be conveying a similar message. This latter section illustrates a scene in which a tour guide uses the author (clearly a citizen of Jerusalem) as a reference point to an arch from the Roman period. With some historical knowledge, it is evident that there are historical buildings and structures of much greater significance in Jerusalem. Furthermore, the person with the baskets reminds the reader what the real priority should be. By using the arches as a reference point to the man with the baskets, the tourists are “redeemed.” The meaning of redemption here, can be interpreted as the tourists’ prioritization of the city’s meaning and its people instead of their fascination over rather meaningless historical structures or surmised grief, when they may be unable to truly relate. 

            Written in the first person narrative, the reader can’t help but feel like they’re experiencing the same scenario as the author presents. This connection is significant though, because the reader can relate by either having been a tourist themselves or observing similar patterns in foreign or sacred places. In doing so, the poem feels relatable despite the fact that many readers do not carry the same value and respect for Jerusalem, whether because they do not adhere to Christianity, Judaism, or Islam or simply because they do not call this place their sacred home.