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Dateline Jerusalem — I went to pray at the Kotel in Jerusalem today (also known as The Wall, The Western Wall and The Wailing Wall) .
It is the only remnant of the Holy Temple. It is also the holiest place in all of Judaism. Not only are the Holy Temple and Jerusalem mentioned in the Torah, but no matter where Jews are in the world, Jews pray facing Jerusalem.
For years under Arab control, Jews were forbidden to pray at the Kotel or other holy sites in Israel. Other religions had the same problems.
Look Again at the Koran
When Israel took control of Jerusalem, once again Jews, Muslims, Christians and other religions finally had freedom to worship as they pleased. Now, there are demands that the area be returned to Muslim control. Yet, the Koran does not even mention Jerusalem once, and Muslims pray facing Mecca, with their backs to Jerusalem.
I took several pieces of folded paper — containing my private written prayers and requests for family and friends — that I placed in the crevices of the ancient Wall. As per usual, as I walked toward the entrance to the plaza across from the Kotel, my entire body started to get shivers.
It is the weirdest experience.
It only happens to me when I approach the area. I feel incapable of describing the sensation that overtakes my body.
I am not speaking of mere goosebumps, but actual shivers. There is nothing like it. It just comes upon me automatically.
A Need to Repeat
Although I have mentioned this before, I cannot help but mention it again since it happens to me whenever I pray there.
After finishing my prayers at the Wall, I took tiny steps backwards as I walked from the Wall so that I would not turn my back on Hashem (G-d) whose presence is said to "sit" on the Wall.
Just as in books about English royalty and the society that surrounds it, when introduced to a king, people would walk backwards because it was disrespectful to turn one's back on royalty. So, too, with the presence of Hashem, for G-d is the King of the Universe. It would be disrespectful to turn one's back on Him.
As I was walking backwards, I looked up at the top of the Wall. Against the ancient blocks of stone was the bluest sky I had ever seen in my entire life.
Elsewhere, It Was Different
The rest of the city of Jerusalem had a regular sky with different shades of blue, overcast, haze and white clouds. But here, hovering overhead, was an indescribable sea of clear bright blue. No haze, no clouds, nothing to disrupt this magnificent color of blue.
It was as though the rest of the world went about its business, but here was the Home of G-d and everything surrounding it was perfection.
I tried to think of various blues in a child's crayon box, but there was no crayon color that could match the spectacular blue above the Wall. I would have to call it "perfect blue" because it was absolutely gorgeous, unique and perfect!
Never Before
Sometimes I wish I had a camera to capture what my eyes can see or an easel with a myriad of colors. But I cannot imagine a photo or a picture that could adequately represent it all.
Today was the first time I went to the Kotel and noticed the sky above. Usually I keep my eyes straight ahead.
I do not know what possessed me to look up to the top of the Wall. It was the most wonderful and exciting experience to see this holy site against this most perfect blue sky.
It was as though it were a glimpse of Heaven,
L'hitraot. Shachar
Shachar is the Hebrew name of a California-based attorney and former Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputy who moved to Israel last year.
