Israel Day Five Part II: Bar Mitzvah at the Western Wall

Looking at all the photos I took of day five, it was truly an epic day. It's astonishing really how much history and how many different perspectives you can walk through in the space of one day in Jerusalem. We spent a quiet early morning in the Jewish Quarter, then had a look at one of the most important Christian pilgrimage sites in the world and then walked the streets of the Muslim Quarter. All of this before lunch! After lunch the scope of our encounters were just as broad.


We stumbled upon this very festive scene, a street party celebrating a Bar Mitzvah


It was electric and captivating. This group had hired musicians/entertainers to facilitate the celebration and a videographer to capture the whole thing.


Signs of Jewish worship and celebrations were more visible on this day.




Skull caps for just about anyone!


Fresh squeezed juices can be found all over town.


Once we approached the Western Wall we could hear the sounds of dozens of Bar Mitzvah celebrations.


Israeli army, like school groups, seem to be everywhere.


Professional photographers were everywhere capturing this most significant day in a young Jewish person's life.


I'm guessing I'm in his picture too :)


Washing stations near the Wall where people wash their hands before praying at the Wall.


As with a conventional synagogue, men and women are separated into gender-specific sections. And on Bar Mitzvah days like these, swarms of women can be seen standing on these plastic chairs to catch a glimpse of male family members participating in the Bar Mitzvahs on the other side. To obtain a spot on a chair takes some strategising and patience!


Both tourists and Bar Mitzvah goers looking on.


The much more subdued women's side on Bar Mitzvah day




Slips of paper with inscribed prayers placed in the cracks of the Wall in hopes that the prayers will be heard. With thousands of worshipers and tourists alike you can imagine the Wall would be overflowing with prayer notes if left unattended. Twice yearly the Wall Rabbi has the notes cleared and buried in the Jewish Cemetery on the Mount of Olives.








This prayer note is signed and dated with "Shalom"


I was so struck by this woman. If it hadn't have been for my distance (I shot this with a 200mm lens) I wouldn't have dared shoot this scene. I said a little prayer for whatever she was praying for.








After finally procuring my own chair perch, I took in all the Bar Mitzvah festivities taking place on the male side of the Wall. So much going on, it was difficult to zoom in on any one scene! Before this trip I really hadn't fully understood the Western Wall. It is in fact an outdoor synagogue. Having your Bar Mitzvah here is probably something like a Catholic taking first communion at St. Peter's in Rome.


Young boys here working out how to fashion the phylacteries.






This boy is just finishing up his own Bar Mitzvah, and soon after he is pelted with sweets!


Leaving behind the Bar Mitzvah celebrations we moved on to visit the Jerusalem Arhaeological Park, which extends south of the Western Wall. Remains here date back to the First and Second Temple periods!






The remains of Robinsons Arch, which once supported stairs leading up to the Temple Mount


Herodian Street, the stones the Romans toppled over in destroying the Second Temple did much damage to the street below.










Stairs leading up to southern gates, where moneychangers crowded the temple entrances. Jesus would have walked here.






A hilltop facing Bethlehem with modern apartment buildings behind would be our final stop of the day.




Overlooking Bethlehem we read Luke 2.

Israel Day Five Part I: More Old City

So many photos from day five, too many to include in just one blog post! Even though the Old City is just a third of a mile square, you could literally spend days wandering the narrow streets and back alleys and keep bumping into new and interesting things. The Old City is divided into four distinct quarters, the Muslim Quarter, Jewish Quarter, Aremenian Quarter and the Christian Quarter. Each has a very unique identity and flavour that makes it pretty clear when you've crossed from one to another. There is a palatable tension in the air, and you get the strong sense that members of the different quarters tolerate each other.


Entering the Old City via Jaffa Gate




We first stepped into the quiet, early morning streets of the Jewish Quarter long before the tourist throngs would invade and shopkeepers would solicit.




Early riser begins his day. The others in front are just our small group.












First shop open for business


All signage comes in Hebrew, Arabic and English.
























Wooden crosses leaning outside the Church of the Holy Sepulchre










The Church of the Holy Sepulchre is known as the holiest site in the Christian world. It is considered the best candidate for the crucifixion and burial of Christ, mostly based on tradition. Inside this upper chapel is the traditionally held Rock of Calvary, around which the church was built. Beneath the altar is a hole that allows pilgrims to touch the rock, as this pilgrim is doing here.


The Stone of Unction, a limestone slab, that according to tradition marks where Jesus' body was anointed and prepared for burial


Pilgrims touching the Stone of Unction


Lamps hung over the Stone of Unction


Pilgrims queue up to visit the believed tomb of Christ contained in this shrine.




First century tomb traditionally believed to be the tomb of Joseph of Arimathea


Stepping back into the city streets we land in the Muslim Quarter. Jerusalem is waking up and opening for business.
















Hungry?






An interesting, and rather artistic display of trash. I'm pretty sure I saw something like this at the Tate once.