Western Wall – Sandy Rosenberg

Next Time in Jerusalem (June 16)

June 17, 2012 | by delsandy | featured, Sandy's Israel Diary - June 2012 | No Comments

I have a new place to go on my next trip here.

We met with a group of students who are doing public service for a year.

The Americans before they go to college, the Israelis before they go to the army.

One told us about going to his brother’s Bar Mitzvah at the Wall.

More precisely, at the southwestern corner of the foundation walls for the Temple Mount, near Robinson’s Arch.

Men and women can pray together there.

“It was like discovering it for the first time,” he said. “It was really personal.”

Next time, I will be there.

Rookie Visitors and a 10% Discount

June 10, 2012 | by delsandy | featured, Sandy's Israel Diary - June 2012 | No Comments

A friend wrote me yesterday, “Having rookie visitors always makes the trip more fun for you.”

Our journey today from the Mount of Olives to David’s Citadel and then the Church of the Holy Sepulcher is best capsulized by two newcomers to Jerusalem in our group.

“So many stories that come together,” said one.

“I think Jesus must have stumbled,” said another as we walked the Stations of the Cross, “even though there are no references to it in the Bible.”

Six Christian faiths share space beside and on top of the remains of earlier structures in the Church, where an agreement dividing the sacred space has lasted since 1852.

—

A photograph of Jews praying at the Western Wall in the 1920’s caught my eye as we walked through the Arab shuk (market).

The contrast between the limited space then and the large plaza today is stark.

(I thought that men and women were praying separately, as is the case today, but others in our group disagreed.)

I engaged the shop owner in some Shuk Price Is Right, was willing to walk away, and wound up with a 10% discount.

I can already see a montage of my photos at the Wall from this trip surrounding this acquisition.

December 3 – At the Wall

December 4, 2011 | by delsandy | Sandy's Legislative Diary | No Comments

One does not travel to Jerusalem. One returns.

I first heard those words last year, as part of the Shehecheyanu ceremony when we first saw Jerusalem on the Family Mission, with Stewart, Bonnie, Rachel, and Elliot.

They were the first words I read when I neared the Western Wall this afternoon.

I had dropped my bags in the hotel room and walked towards the Old City, hoping to get there before sundown.

Once there, I was told, “No camera until 5:20 when Shabbat ends.”

So 30 minutes to read from my Bible, Genesis 22 and Psalm 118, and observe with my naked eye.