A Connection to the Western Wall

By Samantha Simon and Olivia Zelling, NFTY in Israel Participants, Bus 9

After being in Jerusalem for a few days, we took a trip to the old city to learn about  historic Jewish sites. While times have changed and our religion has adapted, many traditions have remained the same. The Western Wall is a prime example of just that. The women and men were separated, the larger of the sides was for the men. Women were expected to wear conservative clothing, while men could wear whatever they wished. Although separate, people from different religions and races united for a common purpose: finding a connection to something bigger than themselves. Though the wall no longer supports a holy temple, it serves as a holy space for people to express their hopes and dreams. Every crevice of the wall contained a piece of paper with a wish – whether it be for themselves or someone else. Although each of us was only able to have a moment at the wall, we all felt a connection to our ancestors and realized how our history is still relevant.