Friday afternoon brought us to the old city through the Jaffa gate, and past the Cardo until we arrived at the Aish building. Walking the streets those final hours before Shabbat was ushered in was an experience in itself. Cars were buzzing by, people were rushing though the streets with parcels in their arms, and delicious food cooking could be smelled throughout. The pulse was quick and people even quicker.
The Aish building stands on a parcel of land facing the Kotel. It emerges from the stones of antiquity into a building of modernity. Here we sang, we danced and we cried. We welcomed the Shabbat in with joy and sorrow. The air was electric and magnetic. We could feel the tempo of the pulse of the Shabbat bride arriving to the gates all while being drawn to each other.
After we lit our candles and said our prayers we made our way to the Kotel. We stood in a circle - hundreds of women - and were led in song and dance. We were a spectacle! More and more women arrived to join us as the tourists looking on were taking pictures and video. Young soldiers - little girls it seemed - the ages of our own children joined us in the center and add a youthful energy to our group of jumping, dancing, joyful moms. You know those images of Times Square on New Year's Eve before the ball drops? Well that was the Kotel - crowds and crowds of people descended upon the holiest of holy sites to usher in the Shabbat. Gabe was watching on the Aish 24 hour Kotel cam at the same time - NOT sure what he saw or what he thought - but it nice knowing he was watching. The joy and spirit was contagious as our voices became sore from so much rejoicing and song. We eventually left and walked to dinner. Our Shabbat dinner for the night was at the newly built and beautiful Waldorf Astoria. The food buffet had meat of every kind and each table enjoyed bottles of wine. Again, more singing, more dancing more joy. I don't think I sang Hnei Matovo Ha Manaim so many times in my life! Rav Gav - Rabbi Govriel Friedman provided some closing remarks. Have you ever seen video clippings of Robin Williams performing at a comedy club? Part frenetic part genius, the wit quick and steady, his comedy physical and somewhat crazy? Well that was this guy but with Torah! Orthodox Rabbi who wasn't always so, who at times delivered Torah like a gospel preacher meets singer singer writer, Rov Gav had the whole room silent - remember no mics for Shabbat and had 500 women silent (no easy task) and completely eating out of his hand. He was fun to watch and and at the same time inspirational.
