Hold Up
I want to back up a bit to yesterday and talk about the Western Wall. I'm still finding it hard to accurately put into words how profound the experience was. The day started like most others: wake up early, head to a different city, walk around a while (which apparently was 10 miles yesterday, if anyone's interested).
Things got more somber as we got closer to the Wall. When we were at a point when we could actually see it, there was a noticeable change in the group's atmosphere. When I started inserting my prayers into the crevice of the Wall that was so willing to receive them, I felt something immense, chilling, inspiring, and awesome in the literal sense of the word. It washed over me. That feeling continued through our trek in Jerusalem, on the bus, until we gilt to the hotel.
As I listened to the conversations of my new friends around me, I could tell the significance of what I had just experienced was in the most others as well. I couldn't help but notice as we were walking away from the Wall the Garden of Redemption sign standing near yet another jaw dropping vista. I like to think this sign was placed in that location on purpose. I took it to mean that we, as Jews, have completed a responsibility by visiting the land of Israel and praying at the Western Wall.
As a result, G-d has listened, and, more importantly, heard us. He is redeeming us of our imperfections as we pass through this sacred right, and we should start doing the same. More than ever before, I felt a unity with everyone on this trip: we all come from so many different backgrounds and places in life and have had so many unique experiences, but at this time, I feel as though G-d is giving us all permission for us to just let go of our mistakes and imperfections and to just be ourselves the way He made us -- as the best possible version of ourselves. Obviously I can't speak for the whole group, but for me at least, I feel as if I have an even better sense of who I am, who I can be, and how to go about marrying those two identities.
