The Old City | Shorashim - Israel with Israelis

The Old City

Ari Shapiro

Today, after spending the morning in Tel Aviv, and visiting Shuk HaCarmel (Carmel Market), we drove to Jerusalem to see the historic Old City, which was the highlight of the trip for me so far. As someone who regularly prays for the reconstruction of this Holy City, it was amazing to be back after four years away. We started our tour at a lookout, with those who had been before leading those who hadn't to a shocking and stunning first view of the walls.

We, then, approached the Zion Gate, stopping to see an ancient building containing a church, mosque, and synagogue all together. We saw Joseph's tomb there, and I helped my friends to put on tefillin with some Breslov Hasidim. We then entered the walls, built by Ottoman sultan Suleiman the magnificent, and walked through the streets of the Jewish quarter,  stopping at a rooftop overlook and ancient Byzantine ruins, before finally reaching the Western Wall. It was incredibly powerful to touch the stones that Jews have prayed at for thousands of years.

I was overwhelmed by the powerful emotions that flowed over me as I prayed for peace in Israel, the Middle East, and the world. As we left the Old City, I talked to some of the other people in the group, and was impressed that some people with little to no background in spirituality or prayer felt profoundly movers by their time at the wall.

Overall, I was very glad to have experienced the old city anew with my new Shorashim friends!