Saturday February 1, 2013
(Unfortunately I could not take any photos
because we went during Shabbat and we are not aloud to use cameras because it
is disrespectful to others at the wall)
To conclude our first Shabbat in Israel we
went to the Kotel (western Wall). I don’t even know how to descried the feeling
be able to touch a building that I have learned so much about at Hebrew school
and camp, I never though a building could feel intimidating. I have sent so many notes with family and
friends to put into the wall throughout my life but to finally be able to put
my own note in the wall was so cool! The only thing that really bothered me was
the gender segregation yes I understand that we need to be respectful to all forms
of Judaism visiting the wall but the size different between the women’s and the
men’s size is huge. I think that fact that women are not aloud to pray out load
at the wall strongly bothered me. Going though life as a reform Jewish girl and
learned how women and men are equal in reform temples, and now not being aloud to
do my traditions at a place I feel so strongly towards is unsettling. We concluded the day by going to a Debbie
Freedman memorial concert and going shopping at an out door mall in Jerusalem
where I had delicious ice cream!
Sounds like it was a really moving experience. I can definitely understand your frustrations with the Kotel as well. There's an organization called "Women of the Wall" http://womenofthewall.org.il/ that's trying to change things.
ReplyDeleteI have to say that even though i have been in the Kotel thousand times, I was so emotional that day to see you all visiting it in the at for first time .
ReplyDeleteIt made me feel so proud to be Israeli, and turned that visit into something special.
love you all :)