JPECIAL COMMENTARY
The Lost Kippa
PLGE -1- PLUS
A special program for older adults with memory impairments
\JMARK A. DAVIDOFF
Special to The Jewish News
L
the entrance to the dig was locked. So
in a reenactment, I boosted myself up
onto that same wall and peered over
to view the area where I had recalled
the kippa landed. However, after
focusing on that area for a long time,
it was clear to me again that the kippa
was gone forever.
Having been to the Kotel and now
returning back toward the Dung Gate,
for some unknown reason, I decided
to take one more look at the dig.
ast December, my family
took the adventure of a life-
time. My two sons, Avi, 12,
and Kale, 8, and their mom,
Margie, and I went to Israel during
Avi's bar mitzvah year. In addition to
, participating in the Jewish Federation's
Partnership 2000 b'nai mitzvah trip,
we joined the 10-day United Jewish
Appeal Winter Family Mis-
sion.
As is common with most
missions in Israel, we spent
Shabbat in Jerusalem. Upon
arriving in Jerusalem and
during our first venture to
,- - Ben Yehuda Street, we pur-
chased a kippa for Avi with
his name inscribed in
Hebrew. On Friday, as we
prepared to go to the Kotel
to welcome Shabbat, we
walked proudly through the
Dung Gate toward the
promenade. En route, how-
,- _. ever, I wanted to show my
children the William David-
son Archeological Park, near
the Western Wall. However,
the park entrance was closed
due to the arrival of Shabbat.
In order to have an appro-
priate view of the park, my
son Avi boosted himself up
on top of the perimeter wall
that runs along the walkway
toward the Kotel. While
leaning over the wall to get a Avi Davidoff with his retrieved kippa.
full view of the park, the
wind blew his kippa into the
dig, landing on the top of a berm that
Once again, I boosted myself up,
was 15 feet below the walkway and 20
peered over the wall and, to my
feet from the bottom of the dig.
amazement, immediately focused on
what appeared to be a kippa lying
Given the precarious location of the
upside down and filled with dirt.
kippa and the locked entrance to the
dig, it was immediately obvious that
A young Arab boy selling posters
the kippa was lost forever. Avi, of
near the entrance to the dig could see
course, was devastated.
my predicament, and asked if I want-
In January, I had the opportunity
ed to learn how to enter the dig
through the locked entrance. He
to return to Israel as part of a plan-
showed me how to snake through this
ning trip for Michigan Miracle Mis-
locked gate, at which point I was able
sion III, which is leaving April 18.
to walk into the dig and climb up the
Although we only spent eight hours in
berm to retrieve the kippa.
—T.erusalem
during
our
quick
three-day
---
When I returned home and pre-
trip, we, of course, wanted to visit the
sented Avi with the kippa, the
Kotel.
enchantment of our journey to Israel
As I walked down that same path
as a family became even more impor-
through the Dung Gate, I started to
tant. Although the kippa could be
think about Avi's kippa. Once again,
washed and worn again, Avi has decid-
ed it should remain in its current con-
Mark A. Davidoff is chief operating
dition as a reminder of the journey we
officer of the Jewish Federation of Met-
took and the memories we hold.
-ropolitan Detroit.
-
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