Shabbat at the Western Wall

I recently returned from a long overdue trip to Israel. Along with Ashley Warner (MH East Bay) and two other staff members, we traveled with 17 teens throughout the country doing a combination of community service, education, and discussions with Arab Israelis, Palestinians, Bedouins, Jews on the left, on the right, secular Israelis, and what seemed like people everywhere in between. Summarizing a 3 1/2 week journey that started at Kibbutz Lotan in the southeast near Jordan, worked its way up to Camp Kimama in the north near the Lebanese border, and crossed back and forth between Kinneret, the Old City in Jerusalem and the beaches of Tel Avivn and Jafo would take more time and space than anyone has the energy to read.

One experience I do want to share was the communal feeling of being a Jew at the Western Wall on Shabbat. For those of you that ever see yourself returning to Israel, this is a must do, and truly magical experience. Physcially being around and seeing thousands upon thousands of men and women exploring their deepest spiritual senses, completely in tune with a higher spirit, praying harder and more intensely than I have seen or felt anyone do in my entire life is my lasting memory of this recent trip.

I entered the men's side of the wall with 9 teenage boys and my co staff member; it was clear by how we were dressed and the boyish enthusiasm we all shared that we were American Jews on a quick trip to Israel. However, we were treated with such respect and reverence by everyone we met that evening. Older men in their 70s and 80s greeted us with "Shabbat Shalom" hugs and huge wide smiles as we brushed by them and approached the front of the wall. Some of our teens joined a group of 50 IDF soldiers who were dancing and singing like there was no tomorrow. Another group of us found a huge group of Hassidic men who were dancing their own version of the Hora, they saw us on the sidelines, and soon brought us into their circle, and encouraged us to form our own inner circle, something the teens expressed they felt so honored and respected to be able to do. Young teenage yeshiva boys allowed us to enter their prayer circle, and although we had no idea what they were saying, we all shared the same energy that evening, the same passion and kavanah of having a tremendous amount of pride in our heritage, in where our families have come from, and the common bond we all shared that evening.

My Grandfather has always told me there is something different about being in Israel. Maybe it's the land, maybe its the history, maybe its all the vegetables, maybe its the dehydration, maybe its the people. Whatever it is, there is something undeniably beautiful and comfortable about a place where the majority of the people you are around are Jewish, something that is very foreign to most Jews throught the world. If you can't make it this year, go next year, and if not then, try and go the year after...there is no where else in the world like it!

Danny Blum, MH East Bay