[img]96|left|||no_popup[/img]
Dateline Jerusalem — I went to the Kotel (koh-tell, also called the The Wall, Western Wall and
Wailing Wall) on Tuesday. It is the holiest place in Judaism because it is the sole remnant of the Holy Temple.
It is said that G-d’s presence rests on the Wall. I am an absolute believer.
It was about 85 degrees out, and I was dressed in my usual attire, long skirt and
long-sleeved blouse, my hair wrapped in a scarf. It sounds like winter clothing, but
I am dressed that way all year round. Just try and imagine religious men dressed in heavy black suits and hats in that
heat.
At least Jerusalem is not as humid during the summer as the rest of Israel.
As I started to approach the entrance to the plaza that adjoins the area where the Kotel is located, I
got shivers, running from the top of my head to my toes. I am
used to getting goose bumps and tears in my eyes being here in Israel, but this
time it was more than that.
Every part of my body was affected. The shivers came to me in
waves as I began my trek. I walked into the
women’s section (men and women are separated during prayer), took out my
siddur (sih-duhr, prayer book) and started to daven (dah-vun, pray) with concentration
that I never seem able to achieve at home or even in shul (shool, synagogue).
Then I took out my personal requests of Hashem (G-d), which I had written on little pieces of paper
folded as small as possible so that I could place them in the crevices of the Wall.
I placed both of my hands on the Wall, leaning ever so gently, and began to cry, mourning the
destruction of the Holy Temple, feeling sadness for the terrorism we are experiencing in Israel on a
daily basis, and then came the tears of joy for being able to be in Israel.
I then took small steps backwards, my body still facing the Wall, as a sign of respect by not turning my back on G-d,
and I continued to walk backwards until I was out in the plaza area once again.
Unbeknownst to me at the time I was in prayer, in
another part of Jerusalem, there was another terrorism attack
by an Israeli Arab using a bulldozer to kill, maim and injure innocent men, women and
children.
A Repeat Tragedy
This was the second such attack in Jerusalem within a three-week period.
What is ironic, on my bus ride to the Kotel, I observed several Israeli Arabs walking freely on the streets, selling
goods, driving taxis, working in construction. I thought to myself how lucky they were to able to be free and
enjoy the same rights as all Israeli citizens while Jews in Arab countries have no rights and live in fear.
L'hitraot. Shachar
Shachar is the Hebrew name of a California-based attorney and former Los Angeles County deputy sheriff, who moved to Israel last year.
