Up with the Sun

            Yesterday I awoke at 5:55 to witness the sun rising over Israel from my bedroom window. I have one incredible view from my window facing the west, and the window which faces north has a building blocking the horizon-view, but at night, has a beautiful vantage of stars. After walking around the vacant campus, I returned to my room where we all got ready to go to the Old City. Walking around the city we were given helpful information and history lessons by Rabbi M. I felt so at home in the Old City, recognizing all the stores and yeshivot (including my brother’s yeshiva, Aish HaTorah).

However, winding between the pasty yellow Jerusalem stone buildings I couldn’t explain my state of mind. I was so happy to be home, but also a little perplexed. I wasn’t in the same Old City as last time. Last time I was a tourist, I was secular. I felt this vast, deep connection with my history, but now, coming as apart of a seminary, I realized it’s no longer my past. The Old City now represents my present commitment to my people and religion. It’s my future, not past. We eventually made our way to the Kotel where I davened and put my prayer for family and friends in the cracks of the wall. As I was the first one done, I drifted out of the woman’s section and wandered. I didn’t want to be there for too long because I feel like the Kotel is a mirror. You walk up to it and reflect. I couldn’t stand to be in the holiest place in the world and have to consider my entire past and future in such depth. I’m ready to work everything out.

As sundown approached, my friends and I wandered into Geulah, which is like the religious community’s shuk. Then we walked to Ben Yahudah, which I suppose is equivalent to  St. Marks Street in Manhattan. I purchased a few shells (which are tznius long sleeve shirts) and my first siddur! I chose the Women’s Artscroll siddur (סדוד אהל שרה) because while on Heritage Retreats (my religious adventure to Lake Tahoe) I used it and loved it. It has a lot of information specifically for women and is easy to use, with both English and Hebrew. I’m excited to daven shachris with it. Then, after all the walking, I came home and passed out around ten.

Waking up this morning was extremely easy. I watched the sunrise as two of my friends and I ran/jogged/walked through Har Nof. It was the most spectacular view. The pinks and oranges spilled across the hills of Jerusalem. While running, I took a quick pause because in the distance I saw the Hadassah Hospital and gold-domed Russian Church. The reason I was so elated to see both is because I knew my kibbutz, Kibbutz Tzuba, where I spent my first four months in Israel, lay on the other side of that mountain. I couldn’t contain my happiness to be so close with the beginning of my journey.