Girls in the City
Yesterday, which was Yom Rishon (the first day after Shabbat, a.k.a. Sunday), we decided to hit the road and take the girls to Jersualem. They had been to the city before, but only at night, sleeping most of the time there. This day, we had several errands in the city and all needed a “fun” break from regular work and kindergarten.
The girls were real troopers, walking all the way into Mazkeret Batya, where we caught a sherut (mini bus) to the highway, where we could grab the bus to Jerusalem. They were very happy, though, to be able to sit down in the green cement bus stop to wait for Egged bus No. 434 and nibble some cheese and crackers.
Surprisingly, the bus was packed. Stevy and I stood the whole way and the girls shared a step that led to the last row of seats at the back of the bus. We arrived in probably less than 45 minutes. Our first errand was to cash a U.S. dollar cheque. The money changer was a friendly ex-North American, who also had the ability to deposit the money directly into our account. (A good thing since the banks here have the nerve to charge money to count cash deposits over 5,999 shekels, or about $1,500.)
Then our friend Dov picked us up and took us to the Old City. He also brought in the car a bag we had left at his place in September and which we needed to get back (errand No. 2). The bag took up most of Dov’s trunk. Dov and his brother, Moishe, own and operate Shoreshim (roots), a gift shop in the Old City. After a chat with the brothers, we headed through the winding streets down toward the Kotel, or Western Wall.
All entrances to the Western Wall Plaza are heavily guarded. We passed through metal detectors and had our bags x-rayed. The girls asked if they had to take off their jackets like Stevy and I did. I explained that they don’t since they weren’t carrying keys, money or cell phones in their pockets. The vast majority of Israelis and visitors don’t seem to mind this intrusion, which can occur many times a day depending on the places where one works or frequents: shopping malls, banks, bus stations, grocery stores, cafes, office buildings, etc.
Once through security, the girls and I waited in the plaza while Stevy headed to another exit, where he was to meet a guy who had de-bugged Stevy’s computer of a nasty virus. Noach actually drove to our house last Friday morning to work on the computer and then took it home to finish up and was returning it to us (Errand No. 3). The girls and I looked around in the meantime.
The sounds of Muslims’ afternoon prayers wafted over the wall from the plaza of the Dome of the Rock, above. Near the entrance to the women’s side of the Kotel were old, old women begging. Some of the faces I remembered from my visits to the Kotel in years past. Jersualem is timeless in so many ways. I took out my little leather change purse that I’ve begun carrying for bus fare and gave the girls shekels to give for tzedekah (charity).
Stevy returned and took the girls off to the men’s section. I headed to the women’s section to leave a note in the wall for a friend whose doctors just discovered a malignancy. I felt I should daven (pray) beforehand, so I found a siddur (prayerbook) with English. Like times past when I’d prayed at the Kotel, I did not feel the earth move. I don’t know if I ever will. But some women around me were clearly moved by praying there. I find the Kotel noisy and distracting as women walk toward and away from the wall. Nevertheless, I hoped my note would have some affect on God’s willingness to heal our friend.
After I found a crack in which to stash my prayer note, I returned to the common area of the plaza, where men and women are not separated. Peeking through the fence behind the men’s area, I spotted the girls and Stevy — their brightly coloured clothing in contrast with the mostly all-black garb worn by so many men there. As they walked up the ramp toward the common area, the girls cried “Imma!” (mommy) and came running toward me. I was glad to see them, too.
The girls played on the steps while Stevy and I planned the next part of the day: a stroll through the shuk (market) and finding some promised ice cream for the girls and then something substantial for all of us to eat. Leaving the plaza, we passed a group of yeshiva students singing and dancing.
Later, we visited Stevy’s friends who live and/or work in the Old City. One, David Aaron, runs a learning centre called Israelite. Atop his offices is an impressive view of the Old City and the Dome of the Rock. A young couple sat talking on the roof. The woman offered to take a camera-phone picture of the whole family. Zoe enjoyed running around on the roof; I was getting hungry.
We found something to eat and then found a playground, which the girls thoroughly enjoyed. It was probably the most exciting part of the day for them; I remarked to Stevy how the playground was much like those in New York City. Everything in the Old City is made of Jerusalem Stone; there are few green spaces — not like Yatzitz or Mazkeret Batya. The girls didn’t seem to notice or care.
The playground was around the corner from Dov’s shop. We returned around closing time, and he drove us and the big bag to the central bus station. Maayan fell asleep in the back seat. Zoe sucked her thumb all the way home.
February 22, 2006 2:15 am