Western Wall – Page 27 – The Real Jerusalem Streets

Inspiration from Story of Esther Today

February 6, 2014rjstreets

Yet another red alert in southern Israel!

Talk of SodaStream ads and photos of Scarlett Johansonn

have made headlines around the world.

But I want to share some photos of real women in Jerusalem, Israel,

that did not make the headlines this week.

Thousands gathered on Thursday evening

at the Kotel, the Western Wall,

for a special service with silver trumpets,

with tehilim, psalms, and prayers,

ending as the sun was setting with the Shema Yisrael.

Housing Minister Uri Ariel was one politician who showed his face.

But did you read anywhere

that the women’s section at the Kotel was full?

Thousands of women were

praying for the future of Israel.

Also, this week was the Jerusalem Conference.

Out of the ten Jerusalem prize winners awarded there,

Geulah Cohen was only woman to receive the honor.

Avraham Duvdevani was presented a certificate by Naftali Bennett.

Interesting that younger attendees had never heard of Duvdevani

and his contribution to Zionism and aliyah.

Last year I thought the lively “discussions” were because it was pre-election season.

But, with Rav Yisrael Rozen in the middle,

MK Avi Wurtzman and former MK Michael Ben-Ari had quite an exchange

over government funding for education and families.

The entire panel got involved,

but when MK Ayelet Shaked got the microphone

and started to speak, everyone quieted down.

We may have had the driest January in history,

but this week we had enough rain to make tires spin on wet streets.

The week- long Mothers say YES to Israeli Sovereignty vigil

near the Prime Minister’s House started off on a gloomy, wet day.

But there were plenty of cookies and drinks as former MK Arieh Eldad spoke.

All week long there has been a schedule of speakers.

The sun was shining when Rabbanit Shani Taragin led a class.

Even a neighbor coming to complain of noise could not stop her.

In an amazing Torah class she talked of Esther and Vashti,

so timely as Purim is coming.

Every child has had a special day of fun this week in school.

The story of Esther is one of taking action, not giving in to an evil decree,

of not obeying a monarch, and of our survival and hope for future.

And finally to end on a bright note, the strawberries that were piled high in

the shuk, the Machane Yehuda market, were so red I had to stop and look.

Maybe John Kerry keeps coming back to get away from the snow in US

and because he loves the strawberries that are in season in Israel?

Yihyeh beseder.

Shabbat Shalom

November 22, 2013rjstreets

Another week flew by

and

with Hanukkah coming,

next week should feel even shorter!

Federation General Assembly Goes out in New Style

November 13, 2013rjstreets

The 82nd Annual General Assembly of Jewish Federations of North America,

the GA, met in Jerusalem, Israel, over three days this week.

The first night Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was main speaker

at the Jerusalem International Convention Center – ICC.

I spent two days inside the ICC, following a program called

“The Global Jewish Shuk: A Marketplace of Dialogue and Debate,”

so it was great that the farewell ceremony was held outside.

These chairs and a small stage were set up for GA delegates

and many others in Kikar Safra, Safra Square.

Minister Naftali Bennett was the featured government speaker,

and he showed off his best English for the Anglo crowd.

Michael Siegal thanked Ronny Douek and

Susie and Michael Gelman for chairing the convention.

And then,

with Mayor Nir Barkat and Natan Sharansky at his side,

he led the crowd out of the government plaza

to the sounds of a real brass band.

With small US, Israeli and GA flags,

they walked along the Walls of the Old City,

past Jaffa Gate,

and up the narrow stone steps,

with more music and more flag waving along the route.

These children waiting to cross the street in the Old City parking lot

got an eyeful as colorful entertainers joined the GA participants.

The route took them to the new area at Robinson’s Arch.

My challenge is to share with you what it looks like now.

This metal platform is constructed up against the wall,

the same huge wall as the Kotel, the Western Wall.

These massive ancient stones have not been moved.

From this platform one can reach up to place a note in the wall

from an area where men and women are not separated and can pray together.

This is the new area, the large platform on the upper left,

that Naftali Bennett talked about at the farewell ceremony,

part of a temporay plan while Natan Sharansky

is trying to work out as a compromise

for Women of the Wall to have Rosh Chodesh singing

and other egalitarian prayer services.

A plaza open to the public was important for this group,

and the GA ended their conference here, as the sun was setting.

I passed thousands more tourists from around the world,

coming down the stairs to the Kotel, to the Western Wall,

to experience the ancient and holy place.

I started to walk home,

after two days of going to exhibit booths,

listening to speakers, meeting new people, running into friends,

and talking and talking, talking too much,

and taking way too many photos.

One woman told me as we were walking, and yes, more talking,

that once she got to Israel, she has not been afraid even once.

I am so glad she also got to know the real Jerusalem streets.