The Kotel
A few days ago, I spent part of the morning in the Old City of Jerusalem. I was standing in front of the Kotel [the Western Wall] and was looking around the plaza. I realized how many different types of Jews (and some non-Jews) were there, seeking to connect with the Creator. There were those whose connection to Judaism (in the religious sense, as distinct from ethnic/cultural ‘Jewishness’) seemed, at least by appearance, to be peripheral and those whose appearance met all the stereotypes for the “Ultra-Orthodox” Jew. There were those who appeared to be clearly American (or other) tourists and those who appeared to be native Israelis. There were people who appeared to represent the spectrum of Jewish identity.
I use the word “appeared” here hesitantly. Something I have learned from the taxi drivers here is that using appearance as a basis for assessing religious piety or commitment can be very misleading and inaccurate. Yet despite these reservations, I felt that the Kotel was a perfect place to work on Ahavat Yisrael [loving all types of Jews]. As I looked around, I tried to reflect on the diversity and continuum of Jewish commitment and expression that was around me, and to realize that all of these individuals had come, just as I had, to the Kotel seeking to enhance their connection with Hashem. The contemporary disunity among the Jewish people, even (or perhaps especially) among different groups within Orthodoxy, is disquieting. This is something I will need to reflect on more and try to instill within myself a greater sense of Ahavat Yisrael.