on

Dusk To Dusk

A Teen Mission participant
experiences Shabbat in Jerusalem.

CARYN ROMAN
Special to The Jewish News

S

habbat has arrived in Jerusalem. Through Friday
afternoon, we watched the city slow to a halt as
the traffic became increasingly lighter and people
- scurried toward their homes. As the sun set, it
brought a calm over the City of Peace, even to the newly
opened superhighway. All was quiet as the stars came out,
and we could hear strains of singing and praying from the
religious neighborhoods surrounding our hotel. Each and
every sight and sound was part of the experience of
Above: Ryan Tapper pens a note destined for a nook in the
Shabbat in Jerusalem.
Western Wall.
Our group spent late Friday after-
noon (June 29) at the Western Wall,
Left: Justin Hiller writes a message of hope for the Wall.
praying and reflecting on the past
week. Everyone was invited to write a
few lines of prayer, poetry or thoughts
to be used in our service back at the
hotel. One contribution struck many
of us as being a particularly appropri-
ate observation on the past week. It
said, "Who knew these strangers were
my brothers and sisters? Who knew?"
Many participants found that wel-
coming Shabbat at the Wall was a
perfect choice. "It was great to begin
Shabbat in front of the Wall where
our people have prayed for years,"
Bess Devenow said. "It's such a won-
Caryn Roman, an 11th
derful, holy spot."
grader at Birmingham
Saturday brought the rest and
Groves High School is on
relaxation aspect of Shabbat. Several
Bus R-4 from Temple
members of our bus got up early to
Emanu-El and Temple
explore
the neighborhoods and syna-
Kol Ami.
gogues around our hotel. Coming
from an area where Saturday is just
another day of the week, it was almost startling to see the
Rob Salter
puts on
empty streets and peaceful atmosphere. "[Shabbat] is very
tefillin with
different here," said Amy Horning. "It was easy to tell that
a little help.
it was Shabbat — it was so peaceful."
After the walk, we held our own services and ate lunch,
the depths of despair. As Scott Bogorad pon-
then spent the afternoon at leisure. Complementing the
sands of other notes, fit into the corners and
dered, "If only the Wall could talk." The
relaxed atmosphere was a late afternoon program of yoga
cracks of the 2,000-year-old bricks.
ancient bricks of the Western Wall contain
and meditation.
Feelings and opinions were diametrically
secrets and have heard whispered prayers.
As with most good things, our Shabbat in Jerusalem had
opposed, ranging from awed amazement to
It has in it the hopes, dreams and aspirations
to end.
casual acceptance. Some, like Hilary Rubin, felt
of generations of Jews, all of which are brought
In the words of Rabbi Arnie Sleutelberg of Temple Shir
it accented segregation among the Jews, others
Together
as
one.
Having
endured
centuries
since
Tikvah,
"The relaxation and spirituality of Shabbat infuses
felt the closeness and unity.
the second Temple, it stands as a symbol of
our souls and is the supreme antidote to an intensive week
Leigh Apple said, "I had tears in my eyes
Judaism's enduring faith. Jews from all around
of touring."
from my wishes; I'm not sure if was from the
the world unite to pray at the Kotel. We, the
The entire Teen Mission 2 Israel officially concluded
Wall." Although it may not have been the phys-
Jews, have survived, survive today, and always
Shabbat with a Havdallah service at the Southern Wall
ical pile of bricks that was emotional, it was the
will survive. As the Teen Mission 2 Israel, we are
excavations. Singing patriotic songs en route (in honor of
thoughts and feelings tied to it.
here on a journey to the past, the present, and
the Fourth of July), we all spent late Saturday night in a
This holy Kotel has been touched by count-
most importantly, the future.
traditional Israeli manner, dancing at a local disco.
less hands, faces, notes, and times it has with-
Shalom.
stood through the flourishing ages of Israel and

7/10
1998