Day Six: Touring Jerusalem

Another early morning brought us into the walls of the Old City. Standing on the rooftops in the Jewish Quarter, we could see the four quarters of the Old City for the Jews, Christians, Muslims and Armenians. We began to gain a better understanding of what faith means, and what it means to be a part of Judaism, more than a religion, more than simply a religion. We toured the Jewish Quarter, strolling down the ancient Roman Cardo, the street that ran through old Jerusalem. Eventually, we made our way down to the Davison Archaeological Park, a relatively new center that helps explain the Temple Mount from a historical perspective. We went to the Southern wall, to the steps which pilgrims used to climb as they made their way to the Temple to offer their sacrifices to God. As we climbed the steps as well, we read Psalm 122, an ancient Song of the Pilgrims, which reflects what our ancestors might have felt as they climbed those same steps. When we reached the top, we gathered close together for a blessing of our congregation. We then proceeded to make our way around the corner to the Kotel, the Western or Wailing Wall. Everyone took some time for personal prayers and reflections. We placed the notes of prayers of members of our Temple family into the cracks of the Wall. Some of us proceeded into a tunnel that runs along the entire Western Wall. The Kotel we see in the plaza is only 60 meters of exposed wall. It continues for another 500 meters to the North and this is what we walked along in the tunnel. Some of us were able to take some time to visit the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, the sites according to Christian tradition of Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection, making this one of the holiest sites for the Christians
After taking a quick break for some shopping and lunch, many of us made our way from the Old City to Machane Yehuda, an outdoor market in Nachlaot, one of the oldest Jewish neighborhoods outside of the Old City. In the craziness just a few hours before Shabbat, hundreds of people pushed their way through the market to buy fresh vegetables, pitas out of the oven, spices, nuts, halvah and more. It is a true balagan, or crazy experience, and it stands juxtaposed to the quiet of Shabbat that descends just an hour or two later.
For Shabbat services, we boarded a bus and headed to Mevasseret Tziyon, a suburb of Jerusalem. We went to Kehilat Mevasseret Tziyon, a Reform synagogue led by Rabbi Maya Leibovich. Some of you may remember that Maya spoke to our congregation almost exactly one year ago. Maya welcomed us, and told us a little bit about the synagogue. Soon congregants came in, and we enjoyed a peaceful service of singing and prayer, though some of the melodies were unfamiliar, and of course it was all in Hebrew. After services we returned to our hotel for a relaxed Shabbat dinner together as a kahal, a community.
Shabbat tomorrow brings us the opportunity to rest, to explore Jerusalem and think about our own beliefs and practices on our own. So, from Jerusalem, we all wish you Shabbat Shalom.