New excavation site near the "City of King David"

B"H

I am going to publish photos from the "City of King David - Ir David" within the next few days. What surprised me was seeing a new excavation site right across the "City of King David" while I was in Jerusalem yesterday. 

The excavations are still going on and there were no signs or descriptions. It may be that the site used to be part of the ancient Old City before the First Temple was built. In the times of King David, the city of Jerusalem was located where we find today's "City of King David" and not where today's Jewish Quarter is located. The very ancient city of Jerusalem was located in the middle of today's Arab village of Silwan. Right outside the Dung Gate near the Western Wall (Kotel) and below the Temple Mount. 

The Temple Mount on the right, in the background you can see the Mount of Olives (Har HaZe'itim) and to the very right is the Dung Gate.

Outside the Dung Gate

Right across the Dung Gate you can see the Arab village SILWAN. The village is part of Jerusalem and has been exisiting for only 50 years or so. A bit more than 100 years ago, there actually was a small village at the same spot but it was populated by Yemenite Jews who had come from Yemen to Jerusalem. The Yemenites couldn't find any housing, as local Jews didn't really want them. Christian missionaries tried prostelyzing them but didn't succeed. The Yemenites lived in caves and until today, you can see signs of Mezuzot on the oldest doorposts of Arab Silwan. 

The excavation site across the "City of King David" in Silwan. Very close to the Dung Gate and Temple Mount.

Copyright / Photos: Miriam Woelke

Remembering the old AISH prayer room

B"H

Is anyone out there who has ever joined the HERITAGE HOUSE - AISH HA'TORAH Rosh Hashana or Yom Kippur service in the past ? I have done so for many many years. Just like a ritual I went to those services although others told me that they are beginner services. Rabbi Yaakov Marcus (teaching at the women's seminary NEVE YERUSHALAYIM in Jerusalem) jumping around and screaming: "Page no. 126 ! (in the ARTSCROLL Machzor).:-)

Those were the days. Walking down from the Heritage House or from home to the AISH HATORAH dining room which became a prayer room on the two high holidays. The aircondition always spreading freezing air and we had to keep warm with jackets or sweaters. The white plastic chairs set up. The white Mechitzah in the middle, Jeff Seidel blowing the Shofar and Rabbi Edelstein running the service. 

Those days are not over but the services found a new location. New and posh: At the new AISH HATORAH building right across the Kotel (Western Wall). 

Today I passed the old prayer room and was shocked to see that it has become a grocery store. Suddenly all old memories came up but the future has to go on.:-)

Here are two photos from the ex - prayer room now being a grocery store:

From the outside

and from the inside

Photos: Miriam Woelke

Chametz on Chol HaMo'ed

B"H

Many of us know the situation: We are cleaning for Pessach and are sure that no further Chametz is being left anywhere. No way that there is one noodle left behind the stove or the kitchen cupboard. But what if a forgotten noodle suddenly shows up during Chol HaMo'ed ?

Photo: Miriam Woelke

The book OZAR HAMO’ADIM (a collection of different Pessach – Halachot and Stories) is providing an answer: 

A Jew cleaning for Pessach and, by mistake, overlooking some Chametz and suddenly finding it on Chol HaMo'ed has to say the Beracha (Blessing): Baruch … asher kidishanu be’Mitzwotav ve’ziwanu al Bi’ur Chametz. This blessing is usually said before we burn the last Chametz a few hours before Pessach starts. This way we cancel our Chametz and repeat the Beracha after finding some forgotten Chametz in our home.

Pessach 5772 / 2012 in Jerusalem

B"H 

First I didn't want but eventually I took the risk: Going to Jerusalem on Chol haMo'ed Pessach (the intermediate days) is crazy. The city is just packed, as thousands of Jews are finding their way into the capital. Let alone Christian tourists. 

I got my first shock at the Central Bus Station in Tel Aviv this morning when I saw the line up.

 Waiting for the bus to Jerusalem. EGGED organized extra buses going up to Jerusalem.

After my arrival in Jerusalem I saw that it was impossible to get onto the tram, as there were more line ups and the typical fights of who is first.:- ) The result was that I walked all the way down to the Old City. Thus I had plenty of time taking great pictures. 

At the George / Strauss / Jaffa Road junction, Café Ne’eman sells kosher cakes and coffee. Every Pessach, the place is kosher for Passover (according to the Rabbanut Yerushalayim). I had a slice of pizza "kasher le'Pessach" and a coffee. 

The pizza made out of Mazze flour was delicious but very expensive !

The real masses were storming Jaffa Gate, the most secure entrance to the Old City. Jews were flooding the Arab Quarter and we got all stuck. Nothing was moving. Narrow alleyways and too many people making their way down to the Kotel (Western Wall). When we finally got to the Kotel entrance, the security staff was totally unable to deal with so many people at once. The result: Huge line ups and I decided not to go down to the Kotel. 

 An at least 100 meter line up in front of the Western Wall security.

Instead I took pictures from far away. 

The Al Aksa Mosque in the back (round grey roof) and to the right the Arab village of Silwan. 

Leaving the Kotel Plaza through the Dung Gate, I made my way to Silwan where the Jewish "City of King David – Ir David" is located. The crowds had already arrived but I succeeded in buying an ice - cream.

Police at the entrance to Arab Silwan

 Inside the City of King David

I don't regret going to Jerusalem and having some Pessach atmosphere. However, those who are going to the Old City this week, do need one thing: Lots of patience !

In the Arab Quarter of the Old City

Copyright / Photos: Miriam Woelke 


MANY MORE PICTURES WILL FOLLOW !!!

Shmura Mazza

Photos: Miriam Woelke

Kabbalistic approach to the "Counting of the Omer - Sefirat HaOmer", Part 1

 

The Counting of the Omer - Sefirat HaOmer

Quelle: Chabad

B"H

Since last night, Jews all over the world habe been starting the Omer period. Seven weeks from the second day of Pessach until Shavuot. I am sure that there are many Jews out there who don't really understand what is going on and why we still have to count a certain period where new barley was being brought to the Temple in Jerusalem. What does this have to do with me today ? Although the Omer is a biblical commandment, many Jews may see the whole issue as not really important. 

The Jewish Kabbalah, however, presents us plenty of comments on the "Counting of the Omer". The counting has a deep impact on our soul and may lead us to a Tikun (soul rectification). Rabbi Moshe Chaim Luzzatto (the RAMCHAL) describes deeper insights in the book "Kitzur HaKavanot". Among others that the seven weeks stand for seven Sefirot. Each week a different Sefirah. 

The ten Sefirot are a symbolic system in Kabbalah in order to make us understand G - d's attributes. Not really understand but at least grasp something. Without this kabbalistic symbolism, we wouldn't be able to define G - d's creation of the world. How could we, as our own human understanding is very limited compared to G - d's endless and eternal wisdom ?

The first week of Sefirat HaOmer is, according to the RAMCHAL, the week of Chochmah (Wisdom). Every night while counting, Jews are able to cause a Tikun und thus transfer themselves on a higher Madrega (Level). 

I am anything but a kabbalistic specialist and in order to understand the text of the RAMCHAL, I need to do plenty of further studying. What Kabbalah is basically teaching us in this respect is that, during those seven weeks, we have the power of perfeting ourselves. A spiritual preparation for receiving the Torah on Shavuot. And this is what Jews do on Shavuot: Receiving the Torah anew.

Replacing Seder wine with Milk ?

B"H

A true Pessach Story

Once a Jewish woman approached an American Orthodox Rabbi asking him whether she may replace the Seder wine with milk. She said that she is so poor and thus cannot afford wine. The Rabbi thought for a while, gave her 300 $ and told her to buy herself some wine. The woman was happy and went home.

The wife of the Rabbi who had watched the scene was upset, as her husband had just given away 300 $. She asked him for the reason and whether a smaller amount wouldn't have been enough to buy wine. The Rabbi responded that when the woman asked him for replacing wine with milk, he understood that the woman also doesn't have meat for the Seder night. 

One has to look behind the facade and not only listening to what a person says. One has to read between the lines and when someone asked you for help, he may not tell you the whole truth out of shame. Our duty, however, is to look behind the facade and realize the real need of the person asking for help.

Pessach Atmosphere

 Sukkot October 2011: The masses squeezing through the Jewish Quarter in the Old City.

Photo: Miriam Woelke

B"H 

The first day of Pessach is over, however, the Diaspora adds a second day. Tonight, Israel is back to normal but most Israelis are off from work this week. I am not and have to slave around. 

I was thinking about going to Jerusalem this week. Birkat HaCohanim (Blessing of the Cohanim) at the Kotel (Western Wall) and walking around in the Jewish Quarter of the Old City. Simply enjoying the holiday atmosphere and fulfilling the Mitzvah of "Aliyat HaRegel" on Pessach. Nevertheless, I changed my plans because thousands of Jews are going to stream into the Old City. It will be so crowded that one can hardly move. Let alone the traffic jams at the entrance to Jerusalem. The result is that I am either staying at home on my day off or that I am going somewhere else. Why not taking a trip into nature instead of going with the masses ?

Summer has started early this year and the hot humid weather has reached Tel Aviv. 25 degrees Celsius and the beaches are packed. 

Rabbi Akiva and his students

B"H

A historical version of Rabbi Akiva and the death of his students

http://shearim.blogspot.com/2011/04/rabbi-akivas-students-and-omer.html

Police considering closing down the "Be'Chadrei HaCharedim"

B"H

The Israeli police are considering to close down the Internet site "Be'Chadrei HaCharedim". Due to the investigation where leading employees of the site are being accused of threatening and bribing people, arrests have been taking place. The website is being accused of demanding money from Rabbis and haredi communities. When the money is paid, negative reports and comments would be removed. One of the victims is supposed to be Dudi Zilberschlag. 

No doubt that other haredi sites such as KIKAR SHABBAT or LADA'AT gaining profit out of the scandal about the "Chadrei HaCharedim". 

Happy Passover - Chag Sameach

 Burning of the Chametz - Bi'ur Chametz in Bnei Brak (2011)

Photo: Miriam Woelke

B"H 

After all the Pessach cleaning there is only one more thing left: To wish you all a great and kosher Passover ! 

There were quite a few readers clicking on an a former article where I wrote about HOLIDAY PRESSURE. I assume that there are many Jews out who still don’t have a Seder place. What I suggest is that you contact your closest Chabad Shaliach, as Chabad arranges thousands of Seders throughout the world. Otherwise don’t get depressed and make yourself a nice evening. Prepare some special food, read the Haggadah and eat a piece of Mazzah. I am doing something with friends and find it much more comfortable than being invited at a family and sitting around a table where I don’t know most of family members. Just in order to have a Seder. I am not that type of person anymore. 

Those of you who are in Tel Aviv: Chabad and further Synagogues are arranging quite a few Seders tonight. Contact Chabad or the Synagogue in Ben Yehudah Street (across the Shufersal and the gym). 

Chag Sameach to all of you !!!

YNET purchases part of KIKAR SHABBAT

B"H 

PASHKEVIL is quoting the Israeli economy site "Globes": YNET (the Internet news site of Israel’s secular paper YEDIOT ACHARONOT) is about to purchase a certain percentage of the Israeli haredi news site KIKAR SHABBAT. 

A secular newspaper having a share in a haredi website ? I suppose that KIKAR SHABBAT is welcoming the fresh cash floating in and YNET may find its way to attract haredi readership. We will see how it goes when the deal is really taking place.