Baruch's Trip to the Kotel (Western Wall) and Yom HaShoah

Hello all, this is the first post I have initiated without Cari's assistance (she is so happy).

This post will focus on my trip to the Kotel (Western Wall) on Pesach (Passover), as well as an attempt to paint a verbal picture of our experience waiting for the light rail yesterday.

On the way into the Old City of Jerusalem, outside the Yaffa Gate modern roads roan atop the ruins of yesteryear.

Similar to a picture taken by Cari, this is the Kotel as you pass through security.

 We arrived around 8:30 am to pray and hear the Birkat Kohanim (Priestly Blessings) from the decedents of Mosses' brother Aaron.

 Got fairly close to the Kotel on one of the busiest days of the year.

According to news reports, over 60,000 awaited the Birkat Kohanim.

 May not come out well, but here is a panorama (best if you can zoom in).

As we left, my friend Yaakov and I passed the leaders of Beta Israel (Ethiopian Jewish community of Israel).

The 28 of April, 2014 is a day that I hope to soon NEVER FORGET. During Pesach (Passover) my wife fell, hurting her foot in the process. After a week of rest, her injury, in our opinion, warranted a trip to an emergency medical facility for an x-ray. As is our normal means of transportation around the wondrous city of Jerusalem, we took a ride on the Light Rail to the Central Bus Station followed by a short walk to the Terem Medical facility (Pictures of the view from Terem can be seen in Cari’s previous post).

With a bandaged foot, and me with my cane, we departed for the Central Bus Station. Shortly after reaching the train and seeing that it would not arrive for another four minutes, we searched for a seat to rest. We noticed that though the minutes passed, the sign still said four minutes until the train’s arrival, and began to get perturbed. Only a few short minutes later we heard a siren sound across all of Jerusalem, only finding out later it was heard throughout all of Israel.

With a quick glance around one of the busiest areas of Jerusalem it becomes apparent that everything has come to a standstill. A few seconds later, you are able to perceive that this stoppage goes far beyond people staying in place. In a country of bustling traffic including cars, busses, trains, and people, with an affinity for the horn that rivals the State of New York, everything has shutdown. Not only are the feet of thousands of people around us stationary but also so are those of the millions across Israel, as well as the tires of all the cars, busses, train wheels and any other way of transportation. People rise, if possible, and stand without making gestures, except for those possibly wiping a tear from their face.

This unity of millions comes on Yom HaShoah (Holocaust Remembrance Day), a day devoted to the memory of the six million lost and those that struggled to resist Nazi Germany. For two minutes, millions of Jews and all present in the State of Israel remember in their own ways. Some saying Tehillim (Psalms), prayer, or crying as we all remember the horrendous acts committed during the Second World War. Let us all endeavor to NEVER FORGET the Holocaust. In addition, do all we can to educate the world so such evil will never be replicated against any people, and to speedily stop the genocide still committed around the world.

As I am sure, my words did not do the moment justice so maybe this video will help.

http://youtu.be/OeozUSWdoQA

It's been a while

So we haven't updated the blog in almost a month. After our last Tiyul we needed a break from all the walking we did out side of the old city. Then we had Pesach (over which I hurt my foot) and what do you know our next zman (semester) is starting up in two days! 

Here's a picture of us cleaning/kashering our kitchen for Pesach (Passover)

Before the first Pesach Seder

Baruch finally made it to the Kotel!!! :) He went on one of the busiest days of the year but he made it with his friend Yaakov. (I'm glad I didn't go and I avoided all the craziness) - He said he'll put more pictures up from the Kotel later. Here's a few.

Today we went to get an x-ray of my foot. It's not broken!! Yay! Here is a view from the Emergency Medical center we went to.

Waiting - surprisingly it wasn't a long wait at all!! We were in and out within an hour and a half!

We cross this bridge all the time on the train :) got a great view of it!

This one was just fun to take and put up ;)

Making a chocolate chip cookie cake with melted chocolate on top. Mmmm... obviously before Pesach :)

To be continued... ;)

End of the Zman Tiyul outside the old city!

While digging to build near the police headquarters and Jerusalem jail, they found this column that was left when it cracked. Our guide says it is dated to sometime between the Second Temple Period and the Early Byzantine Empire. 

During the British occupation of Palestine, the Central Prison of Jerusalem was used to imprison Jewish and Arab criminal. More infamously this prison was where Jews and Arabs that fought against the British were incarcerated. It is now a controversial museum.

 Above is what Baruch's friend Yaakov calls a British Tank "Clown Car" 

 

Baruch's in Solitary confinement

The Gallows. Creepy isn't it? 

Fearing retaliatory actions from the Jewish Freedom Fighters, none of the Jewish inmates were hanged in the Central Prison. Arabs sentenced to death were however sent to these gallows. The one time the British were going to hang two Jews for their actions, the two boys killed themselves with a grenade. One was named Moshe Barazani (1926-1947) and the other Meir Feinstein (1927-1947). Below are their graves.

 This is a hole that was dug where prisoners escaped. It was the largest escape where 12 men escaped through the sewage. 

 Above is a picture of Rabbi Aryeh Levin who walked to the prison every Shabbos to tend to the Jewish inmates. He called all the prisoners "his boys." Rabbi Levin is known to be a great Tzaddik (righteous person), that did many wonderful deeds for his fellow human beings.

 

 The top two pictures are of the court yard.

 The Kitchen 

On a lighter side of life.

We also visited a place that helps the elderly of Jerusalem. This organization caters to elderly immigrants that have little means. They make by hand many various art pieces and bind books for a stipend.

Baruch's friend Simchah

  Where we had lunch on a park bench :) 

 Can you see the windmill? 

When you peddle it makes the stuff above the bikes work. A flower comes out of the pot, one plays music, another one was a drum lol they were all fascinated by it.

We spent about 5 minutes trying to figure out the time... They all thought it was broken until Cari pointed out day lights savings. 

Baruch in a garden in Yemin Moshe, one of Jerusalem's nicest (and expensive) neighborhoods.

Everything was so beautiful in the neighborhood. So many flowers :) 

 This windmill and part of Jerusalem was build by Moses Mentefiore. He started funding the building in the 1850s and worked to improve its protection so people would feel safe living outside of Jerusalem's walls.

 The Miller's standing across from Mt. Zion

We strolled into King Davids Hotel... It's only about $450 a night.

 Below is a controversial sign outside of the King David Hotel. It tells of the events of July 22, 1946 when Menachem Begin's followers attacked the British. Killing both soldiers and civilians. Despite the warnings from Begin's Irgun, the hotel was not evacuated. The reason the sign is controversial is because it is written in a manner that seems to praise the Irgun's actions.

Signatures of all the famous people who have stayed there. We found Bill and Hilary Clinton, Obama, both Bushs, Sting, Metallica, Richard Gere, and many many more.  

Then next two photos are the three buildings being built by the Woldorf Astoria. These are to be the newest luxury hotel of Jerusalem. The Schottenstein family (they funded artscroll Talmud) has purchased the pent house for only $31 million.

Here is a massive aqueduct built by King Herod. The city is still trying to decide what to do with the area since it is prime real estate. King Herod lived in the time of Julius Caesar, for a reference point.