Finally, I am sitting down to write the post we have all been waiting for: Visiting the Kotel!
"Kotel" was a new word for me. Most of you, who have been to Israel many times, probably know that it is also known as the Western Wall or Wailing Wall.
"You should do everything you want to do at the beginning of your trip!" Aunt Sheryl advised. "Don't wait, or it just might not happen."
It was something she had learned on her travels. - wise advice, especially with our limited time in Israel as well as limited energy. Also, this trip wasn't a typical tourist vacation. It was a family reunion! With dozens of cousins to meet we planned to prioritize people over places.
So, after a day of rest, we were ready to explore. "You might want to bring an umbrella. It's supposed to rain." Aunt Sheryl suggested. "What kind of rain?" I asked. I live in rainy, western Washington and my coat always does just fine keeping me dry. But the rain in Jerusalem, Israel just might be different than what I am used to!
The Old City of Jerusalem was #1 on our list. And the Western Wall was first!
Some people say it really wasn't part of the temple, especially not Solomon's temple. But it IS a very old wall, very close to where the temple once stood. People have been praying at that wall for a very long time. Some of my ancestors visited that very wall, and now I was really, actually going there!
Aunt Sheryl pointed out places of interest as we drove past hills and valleys. It wasn't long until we saw the walls of Jerusalem: 🎶 "Shalom, shalom Jerusalem!", "Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem"
Songs and Psalms I had been singing since childhood ran through my head...
The Gate
As I stepped off the bus, I remembered Aunt Deb's advice (Luke's Aunt). She told me that I don't need to think of myself as a visitor on this trip. I should walk with my head high as the daughter of the King! So, I did. "I belong here." I told myself and I walked through a gate and entered that glorious city!
I stood there for a minute drinking it all in. "I can't believe I'm here!" I turned around to see which gate we had just walked through. It was called: Dung Gate. I giggled. I am entering the Holy City, for the very first time, through the gate once used to remove the poop?! 🤣
The Wall
Soon we came around a corner and there was THE WALL!!!
It wasn't as big as I imagined. Does the city stretch when more people visit?! I wondered, as I remembered the many pictures I had seen of concerts and celebrations at The Wall. There weren't very many people there the day we went. -probably due to the war and the storm. We went to the women's side. I found a chair and got comfortable. I pulled out my little Bible (Yes! The one from my great grandma) and a prayer I had carried from home, that my husband wrote. I also jotted down prayers for a couple of other people. I took a deep breath, prayed and left the crumpled pieces of paper in a crevasse in the rock.
"I'm not superstitious, God. I know YOU are everywhere! I know you can hear my prayers from Washington State just as well as you can hear them from in front of this wall. You don't dwell in a temple made with hands. BUT I also know that this place is special to you. Many miracles have happened within these walls. You chose Jerusalem. You chose Israel. So much happened right here! Jesus loved this city. This is where his family, his brothers, sisters, and his disciples walked. This city, still called: "The City of Peace", in spite of all of the wars that have been fought here... Help me to love her too."
I wasn't there long. Aunt Sheryl wanted to show me a better, drier place for praying long prayers. We followed her through some doors, but they didn't lead into a building. There were tunnels! We followed the path around and she took us to a place that was special to her. It was right outside of a room that some archaeologists believe is very close to where the Holy of Holies was. They weren't open for tours though, so, we went up to a room where Jewish women were praying. Below them, Jewish men were praying and holding classes for the soldiers. I think it was Psalm 122 that I read in that room. Aunt Sheryl said we could leave, if we were ready, but she wanted to stay longer. So, Aunt Anita and I went back into the tunnel. I found a private little side tunnel, as close as I could get to the Holy of Holies. And there I sat and lingered. I sang songs about the Holy place and Psalms David wrote about longing for the sanctuary. David said he would be happy just to be a doorkeeper in the Lord's House. It was here! Maybe not this exact spot, but very close! I prayed for all of the people on my heart and left the burdens, I had brought, right there in that little cubby. It was a beautiful, intimate moment. When I came out, my aunts were waiting for me. Aunt Sheryl was touched by my tear-stained cheeks. She held me close to her heart and I sobbed. It was good to be home. I mean HERE! It was good to be here. Visiting this place. I wasn't home. My home was on the other side of the world... "You're not a visitor." I remembered Aunt Deb's cheery voice saying. I decided not to try to figure it out. I'm okay with mysteries being left unsolved sometimes and just embracing the awe of not understanding everything. -trusting that the King of Kings knows everything. He was, is and is to come. 🎶 "...take the coal, cleanse my lips, here I am..."🎶
[I would rather linger and embrace these moments in a few special places than rush around and try to see everything. Now that I am home, I keep thinking about other sites I didn't get to visit, and would have liked to, 😔but I know we didn't have time. I'm glad we went at the pace we did.]
Aish HaTorah Center
Then, we walked to a building with a tall, locked gate. For ten shekels they let us in. We walked up steps and meandered around until we came to a large rooftop balcony. We could see the Wall, the Temple Mount, Mt. Olives and all around. There was a model of Solomon's temple as well.
I looked at the clouds above that hill covered in olive trees - a large cemetery on one side. That's the spot! There is the valley below! I'm a terrible photographer. So, I just enjoyed the view. My mind shifted to Zechariah 14:4. I tried to picture my Lord appearing in those clouds and the mountain splitting. Wow! What would that look like?! This would be a great spot to watch it all go down! Kind of like Johnston Ridge was a good spot to view Mt. St. Helens erupting, maybe, but an awesome view all the same! (I think it was called Aish HaTorah Center. I would highly recommend it. It's an amazing view. I will add my pictures, even though they aren't very good.)
I enjoyed the model of the temple. I don't know where it stood, exactly. I tried to imagine it on the hill behind the model. I'm sure the terrain looked a lot different during Solomon's time!
It had been raining a bit off and on, but soon it started to pour! I had the image of the temple fresh in my mind as we walked down the steps with water trickling in little rivulets between our feet. I wished I had memorized Ezekiel 47. As we meandered through the little streets and the rain increased in intensity, I imagined it was deeper than it was: -"to my ankles" We stopped to get something to eat. I didn't feel hungry. My aunts were excited for me to try everything, so I got a salad with a falafel AND shawarma! I was stuffed! The sun came out for a bit, and we continued walking. We came across a menorah and I asked for a picture next to it. I guess it is supposed to be a replica of the one in Solomon's temple. I recognized the area behind it from some videos I had watched in preparation for this visit! I don't know what the area was called, but it's pretty cool to see it in real life. Soon it started raining again. -"to my knees" We ducked under the Jaffa Gate hoping the downpour would slow down. It didn't. We decided to brave the downpour and make a run for the bus stop. The road was wide on the other side of the gate -"to swim in"! I thought, as I imagined the water was as deep as it was wide. "Rain is a blessing!" "Water flows from the temple"... "out of our bellies...." ...knowledge of the Lord will cover the earth as the waters cover the sea..." I wasn't sure where all of those verses were located, but they happily flowed through my brain. I hoped I had remembered to put my Bible back in the plastic bag. I was soaked, in spite of my waterproof coat. I wasn't sure how water resistant my backpack was. But I didn't feel cold.
We explored Jerusalem late into the night, going to a few shops... we located the cemetery, but it was locked. This is the day we visited the hospital too.
I think that's about all we did that day. I guess I should mention it was Wednesday, February 5, 2025.
Oh, and everything in my backpack stayed dry! Thank you to my neighbor for giving me the backpack. It was perfect!
Psalm 122
Here is Psalm 122 KJV so you don't have to look it up. I feel like I could have written something similar on that Wednesday, over a month ago.
1- I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD.
2- Our feet shall stand within thy gates, O Jerusalem.
4- Whither the tribes go up, the tribes of the Lord, unto the testimony of Israel, to give thanks unto the name of the LORD.
5- For there are set thrones of judgement, the thrones of the house of David,
6- Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee.
7- Peace be within thy walls and prosperity within thy palaces.
8- For my brethren and companions' sakes, I will now say, Peace be within thee.
9- Because of the house of the LORD our God I will seek thy good.
Conclusion
I will leave you, my dear readers, with a question: Is Jerusalem holy? If so, what is it that makes it holy? The earth is the LORD's! He made all of heaven and earth. If it isn't holy, why do so many people want to control it?
Many people say we are living in "Biblical times" meaning we are living in a time when prophecies are being fulfilled before our very eyes and miracles are happening that are very similar to the ones recorded in the Bible.
The thing about miracles is: Hard times come first. If times are good, there is no need for a miracle.
Keep watching and praying friends!