Back to Jerusalem. First of all every time I think about Jerusalem I start singing the Matisyahu song...does that happen to anyone else? We spent the day touring the old city including the site of David's tomb which is under the site of the last supper (so they say). We walked through an ancient market place where you could picture the people buying their bread and sacrificial lambs.
Before heading to the Western Wall, we stopped on a roof top overlooking the historic site for our wonderful guide to tell us some of the recent history of the wall. She also played a recording of the solders and rabbis after a battle there. Even though it was in Hebrew the power in their voices was unbelievable. Looking at the wall while hearing the history was overwhelming in a way that was very unexpected.
After going through security, putting on skirts, and covering our shoulders, the men and women went our separate ways. While approaching the wall I really didn't know how I would react but seeing all the different kinds of people praying in different kinds of ways really touched me. I had my note ready and I did eventually make my way to the wall. It felt weird to shove a piece of notebook paper into this ancient structure, but it is was you do. I was amazed by how cool the wall was even though it was one of the hottest days we had in Israel.
After regrouping we spent some time in the market where Lacy and I were in charge of finding a present for the boys from the girls (to be exchanged on Shabbat). The market was crazy and there was so much food, strong smells, and sounds of people yelling and talking.
Back at the hotel we got ready for Shabbat and exchanged gifts with the boys. It was a little cotillion-esk but cute none the less. The bus drove us back to the Western Wall where we had a mini Shabbat service...lighting candles and sang some songs. We then went over to the wall where the real party started. There were hundreds more people than in the afternoon and they were chanting, singing, and dancing. The somber tone of the afternoon was all but gone and people seemed to really be celebrating the Sabbath Queen. There was a contest of who could be the rowdiest, the men or the women, but the men seemed to be more organized and many of the women were more interested in gossip and reconnecting with friends. Of course there was some serious praying going on, but it was a much livelier bunch overall than we saw in the afternoon.
This is beginning to get a bit lengthy, so I will try to summarize as best as I can. We had to walk about 5 miles up hill home (being the Sabbath and all the bus couldn't drive us home). We ate dinner when we got back and everyone pretty much collapsed...or maybe partied a little.
The next day we got to sleep in and hang around the hotel for some deep thoughts conversations until the evening when we went off to another market area for a few hours.
Sunday was the Holocaust museum, which I will talk about in the next installment. I am leaving for London this afternoon (back in real time) but I will try to write one more while at the airport...watch out for that stellar spelling in the next entry :)
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