The Kotel
Yesterday I had the most amazing experience of my life. We went to the Kotel(Wailing Wall, Western Wall) around 18:00 as it was getting dark. We entered the Old City in silence and could hear the Muslim call to prayer and the Orthodox Jews praying. We stopped above the Kotel and did Havdalah, overlooking the Kotel and the Dome of the Rock. The Kotel is divided into two sides, one for women and one for men. There were many ultra-Orthodox Jews praying at the Kotel and chanting, but it was hard to see the mens side. We had 20 min. to spend by the wall, of course in silence. There were many notes and small crumbles of paper stuffed in the wall, carrying messages from the many visitors and those who believe when the Messiah comes, they will get their messages. It is hard to describe the power of the Kotel and the constant rumbling of chants and prayers. We walked backwards from the Wall because it is not alright to turn your back on it. After the Kotel, we went to a mall, Malcha I believe. And, had the BEST Felafel!!!!!!!! OMGoodness it was amazing and my first taste of real Israeli felafel. There were dried fruit and nut stands, candy stands, somewhat like a market!! It was fun and of course we had to go through security to enter the mall and had Nir, our security guard in the mall near us.
