Friday night Shabbat!!!!

Jews really know how to bring in the sabbath. Our class took a field trip to the wailing wall on the western side of the temple mount. The bottom part of the wall is still standing from the time of Herod's temple, built around 517 BC. According to Jewish tradition, when original temple was dedicated, the shekinah (god's presence) graced the western wall as well as the temple. After the temple was destroyed by Rome and later replaced by the dome of the rock mosque, Jews began worshiping at the western wall. They regard the wall as one of the holiest places on earth. We had to go through metal detectors to get to the courtyard by the wall. There were tons of ultra-orthodox Jews, in their traditional garb and ringlets bouncing with every step, rushing past us to get to the wall to pray before the sun went down. Upon arriving in the courtyard, all us men had to don yamakas and the women and men were separated to different portions of the wall. I slinked my way down to the wall and placed my little rolled up prayer in a small crevice. Standing next to two orthodox Jews, I said a little prayer while swaying back and forth with both palms flat against the wall. There were no cameras allowed at the wall because the Jewish laws state that no flame should be lit near the wall and the small electrical impulse generated by your camera would be considered a flame. So unfortunately I have no personal pics.


After praying at the wall, the party began. The courtyard was jammed full of Jews. It was like the floor of a rock concert. Amongst the crowd of Jews there were a few tables set up with thick, ornate table clothes covering them. Groups of people would surround the table and sing, chant, and occasionally run around them in big circles. It was like a mosh pit only nobody was trying to hurt you. I walked over to see what was going on and before I knew it a Jew pulled me into the circle and I was running and chanting and singing and dancing. We ran and ran around the table chanting for a few minutes and then sang a slower song. The Jews just pulled us all in and let us join in on their worship. We chanted a few more songs, banging our hands on the table, clapping, jumping up and down, and running in more circles. I had a huge smile on my face the whole time because it was such a unique and fun experience.