One Day Left to See
... with the scenic views offered around the city, its varied architectural styles which blend many cultures and eras all done in the familiar Jerusalem stone. I know that it is impossible to encompass the whole city in a short visit; therefore I’d choose only one of its sights, the Western Wall. The Western Wall in the midst of the Old City in Jerusalem is the section of the Western supporting wall of the Temple Mount which has remained intact since the destruction of the Second Jerusalem Temple (70 C.E.). It became the most sacred spot in Jewish religious and national consciousness and tradition by virtue of its proximity to the Western Wall of the Holy of Holies in the Temple, from which, according to numerous sources, the Divine Presence never departed. It became a center of mourning over the destruction of the Temple and Israel's exile, on the one hand, and of religious - in 20th century also national - communion with the memory of Israel's former glory and the hope for its restoration, on the other. Today it is only 25 feet high. It is done in the familiar white Jerusalem stone. An especially large course of stones is visible on the southern and western walls. In the background I will see part of the Mount of Olives. I would spend the whole day there, because there are thousands of years and the weight of millions of Jews there. The appearance of the Wall itself is not so special, because it is similar to many other buildings in Jerusalem. My eyes might just see giant bricks and people praying, but my heart would see infinitely more. When I would see the Wall, it’s not just seeing it with my eyes - there is so much more. The most important about the Wall is the activities that take place there. One of them is the Bar Mitzvah, ceremony, according to tradition, is when a 13 year old boy takes on the responsibilities of his own actions and becomes a man in every right. Another one is when the new recruits of the Israel ar...