Today we went to the Haas Promenade, the City of David (where we walked in the tunnels of a water aquaduct that was incredible (how did people possibly carve this out thousands of years ago??) and went to the Kotel. I had a really meaningful experience there--it may have been the first time I felt emotion that was completely real and genuine that did not seem partially fabricated or manifested out of obligation to "feel something."
I also have found my role as a leader to be a source of information about Jewish-feminism. I spoke to the group about the progressive group Women of the Wall (whose goals include women being able to pray in quote unquote "nontraditional ways," meaning chanting, wearing talit, and reading from the Torah, and also being able to pray together with men). WOTW has recently been the catalyst for new legislation allowing women to pray in these ways at the Kotel, and there is a place--at least during the monthly WOTW services--where men and women can pray together, overturning a 2003 Supreme Court decision. I am very excited about this progression, and wish I could be here to take part of the movement. (http://womenofthewall.org.il/)
Shabbat shalom from Jerusalem!
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| Women's section |
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| With our female soldiers |
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