Penultimate Night: Pilgrimage to Wall

Several hours after Shabbat had gone out, we headed toward the Old City with our friends Sam and Sacha. Hordes of folks, still in their Shabbat finery were perusing the brand new, high-end, outdoor mall in Mamilla. It was the first time we had been there. Amazingly, after a few city blocks worth of Gap, Catsro, cigar shops, Stiematsky's, cafes, etc., you pop out right at the Yaffo Gate.

There were strong streams of Jerusalmites making their way toward the Jewish Quarter. Many chickens were available for the pre-Yom Kippur ritual of Kapparot. The chicken is swung around the head of a person, who transfers their sins upon the animal. (Not a very compassionate activity.)

The scene at the wall was both insanity and ecstatic. Natalie and Sam saw Ovadia Yosef (spiritual leader of Shas) enter wearing a full turban. Sacha and I pushed our way to the wall where a profound silence reigned.

Getting out I kept having flash memories of stories from Mecca, where dozens of people are crushed in religious festivals. Luckily, we escaped via the Dung Gate, walked around Mt. Zion, and caught a cab back home.

Again, junky movie clips, but they capture some of the moment. I especially like the one with the Kaddish being recited.