Yom Kippur in Jerusalem

B"H

The only thing we are always worried about in Israel is that the weather might be too hot on Yom Kippur. If the weather is really hot as it was last year, our throats are drying out and this feeling is much worse than being hungry.

Almost every Synagogue has an air - condition but you never know. I always feel exhausted after a few hours and get hungry and thirsty. There are regular days, when I hardly eat because I am so busy. But especially on Yom Kippur when you sit, pray and finally have time to rest and think, hunger shows up.

I am going to participate in a special litvishe program run in the Old City by AISH HATORAH and the Heritage House. This is the most convenient way for me and I have been doing this for years.
Sometimes the service is getting interrupted by special classes upstairs in the AISH diningroom. Whoever wants to stay downstairs and keep on praying can do so, but those who need a break can go upstairs for a class. The quality of the classes depend on the crowd itself. Last year, we had lots of participant with a brain and I enjoyed myself very much.

For the past few weeks, the Kotel (Western Wall) has been packed with people coming from all over the coutry. Whole bus loads came to Jerusalem and many cafes, restaurants and shops downtown were open for 24 hours. Especially last night, everything was packed. It was strange seeing all those Haredim standing at Jaffa Gate with their Kapparot (chickens, money, whatever). Usually this area is packed with Arabs but as soon as religious Jews show up, the Arabs seem to disappear.

Yom Kippur in Jerusalem is always very special. It is always special being in Jerusalem, as we still have a little more Kedusha (Holiness) here than there are at other places. Our AISH program calls the final part of the Yom Kippur service (the Ne'ilah service) "Closing the Gates".

"Closing the Gates" symbolically stands for G - d having made His final judgment and "putting His signature" under the name of every Jew for another year. Of course, there are sources saying that G - d only makes His final judgment at the end of Sukkot or even at Chanukkah. However, "Closing the Gates" is always very emotional and after Havdalah everyone is glad that he made it through. The feeling of being free from sin is hard to describe. The bitter taste is that I always think about it that in another hour or so, I might be sinning againg. Then I am ashamed but, as a weak human, cannot really help it. Sounds just like an excuse ?

I wish all of you an easy fast and GMAR VECHATIMAH TOVA - May you be inscribed into the BOOK OF LIFE !