Another week flew by
and
with Hanukkah coming,
next week should feel even shorter!
The Old City
In Jerusalem, Fulfilling the Zionist Dream
As usual, there is much happening in Jerusalem, Israel.
Jewish community leaders from around the world are gathering
with four major conferences in one week,
including the Board of Governors of Jewish Agency
and the Jewish Federations of North America’s General Assembly.
There has been a “summit” on Jewish identity
and a talk about Ethiopian Jewry.
But what a shame
these world leaders were not around last week
on the 29th of Heshvan to experience the annual Sigd holiday,
which falls 50 days after Yom Kippur.
They would have seen the tens of thousands of Ethiopian
olim from all around Israel who came
to the Tayelet, on the Sherover Promenade, to celebrate.
There were young people doing traditional dances,
elders sitting quietly,
and women in traditional white.
The main stage was filled with Kessim, the spiritual leaders,
under their colorful umbrellas.
I am not sure why this one was not on stage.
It was so crowded that only a few could actually see the stage,
and most did not even try.
Most people were walking and talking,
some were fasting, while others offered food.
For centuries in their villages in Ethiopia,
the Kes went to a hilltop to pray for the return to Zion,
and now their prayers were answered and they are here in Jerusalem.
From this spot with the best view of the Old City,
they can pray for the rebuilding of the Temple.
Many faced poverty and discrimination,
some walked through deserts from Ethiopia to get here,
and everyone had to learn about this new, strange culture and adjust to it.
However,
some of my favorite scenes were of the young people in uniform,
proud Israeli soldiers.
Buses were lined up all around the area for most of the day.
Thousand of Israelis of Ethiopian origin filled the streets.
While Jewish world leaders talk,
these Ethiopians ‘just did it.’
They came to Israel
and are living their ancestors’ Zionist dream.
Women of Wall Accept Compromise, Really?
Every Rosh Chodesh that I have gone to the Kotel, The Western Wall,
has been a unique experience.
After my first Women of the Wall experience, WoW,
the stench (of the refuse thrown on me) stayed with me for days.
But nevertheless I went back to see for myself what was happening,
and each month has been different.
This time, walking through the Old City,
there were
security people,
stationed at every
single stop
on the way to the plaza,
and also watching from above.
The plaza was filled with thousands of people.
Inside the women’s section in the back were WoW,
with more security around them.
Like last month,
a loud-speaker system made the men’s prayers loud enough for all to hear.
The Women for the Wall, W4W, had a good turn out.
In the crowd of thousands, many who were saying tehilim for Rav Yosef,
and many were clearly married, not just seminary girls.
WOW wore varied head coverings
and several wore tefillin.
As before, they used a microphone, and when they sang loudly
there was noise from some of the girls trying to drown them out.
At this Rosh Chodesh prayer service,
the men stood behind the partition.
While tehilim were being said, WoW were quiet.
After their service they sang hatikvah.
which brought shouts from some of the girls and the boys watching near by,
but they were quickly stopped by security.
It was an emotional experience for some.
As the The Women for the Wall left, a police line kept the groups apart.
Then WoW left the area the same way as they did the last month.
Reporting that this time they had to “sneak out,” is just another example
of a news source getting it wrong.
After WoW and W4W had already left,
this couple on the right walked through the plaza.
A small group of “religious” looking young men,
started shouting at them.
One was taken away by security.
There have been headlines that Women of the Wall
accepted a compromise offered by Natan Sharansky.
Most people would love that to be true,
to keep The Kotel a peaceful place,
and not to be a battle ground.
Now it is clearly used as a backdrop for a political agenda
and a power struggle.
Anat Hoffman says they are not leaving
and next month is WoW’s 25th anniversary,
so I guess there will be at least one more chapter to this story.
More photos from Rosh Chodesh Marchesvan on
The Real Jerusalem Streets Facebook Page.