8/15/2014
Shorashim Bus 503
Today we went to the Kotel. It wasn't my first time, but this was a completely different experience because the last time I was there, I wasn't Jewish. I didn't know what to expect and how it would be different but even before we entered the gates of the city: I started getting emotional when Iftah talked to us about the significance of the area. It hit me then that here, this place, this is the direction in which I face to pray.
The last time I came to the wall, I observed people, maybe stayed for a bit but it didn't have much meaning to me. This time, its something I won't be able to forget.
My Hebrew is still not too great but Hila, one of the Israelis traveling with us, said the prayer for visiting the Kotel with me and she very patiently translated each word into English with the historical context of what each line means. There was an old woman sitting next to us who had a bunch of siddurs for women to pray. She spoke in Hebrew, but Hila translated. She said that I would come back to the wall and that by then I would know everything. After praying with Hila. I put my prayer in a crevice of the wall.
I feel grateful that I was able to return here and have such a meaningful experience.
