December 23 - Holy City and Shabbat Tour, by Aimee

Shabbat Tour: On Saturday night we went on a Shabbat (Sabbath) tour.  The Jewish Shabbat starts 18 minutes before sunset on Friday and goes until after sunset on Saturday night when three stars are visible.  The purpose of this tour was to have a bit of an inside view into the Jewish Sabbath and to learn more about the Jewish culture.  We first visited the Western Wall where there were crowds of people seriously praying by the wall but also many joyful, noisy celebrations happening.  Many of the Jewish youth were dancing together in circles and singing out loud.  The teenage and younger girls were in their own groups separate from the boys.  Their enthusiasm was contagious and I just wanted to join in!  It looked fun and joyous.  Then we walked around the Jewish quarter where many Jewish families were rushing around getting ready for dinner or heading to the Western Wall.  We learned about the different types of clothing and hats that Jewish men wear and what they mean.  We also learned a bit about the rules of the Sabbath, for example you are not allowed to do something in a full circle, meaning you could not open a door (the doorknob goes around in a circle), press an electric button like elevator buttons, a stove switch, or light switches because they complete a circuit (a circle), or walk in a circle around the holy city.  There are elevators especially used during Shabbat where you just get on and don't press any buttons because the elevator stops at every floor.  People leave their stove on the whole day at a low temperature so they avoid completing a circle by turning it on.  The rules seemed really finicky.  However, the Jewish sabbath also seemed like an exciting time, almost like a holiday every week.  It would be cool to just turn off all appliances and technology, and not have to work, just relax and visit.

People rushing to get to the Western Wall.  This is outside Damascus Gate next to the wall around Jerusalem

Crowds gathered at the Western (wailing) Wall during Shabbat - the busiest time of all week.  Everyone was very dressed up, mostly in black, many in hats, as nice as we would dress on Christmas Day, even though was very cold.  People were rocking back and forth on their heels praying, writing little notes to put in the crevices of the wall as prayers to God, visiting with each other, dancing and singing, reading their Bible, and like us - taking pictures and staring with wonder

It was really great to be there!