On Ancient Walls and Lamentations

Jews affiliated with Masorti Judaism gather at the temporary
prayer platform in Robinson's Arch archaeological park, for a
service that will start after sunset. 

Last night, Clara and I joined a small group from our congregation, which in turn joined with Jews affiliated with Masorti (Conservative) congregations from around Israel, for a gathering at the Western Wall in Jerusalem.

As you may remember from my writing about it a few weeks back, or from other sources, there has been a controversy surrounding a compromise hammered out between the Netanyahu government, the Rabbinate, the non-Orthodox movements, the Jewish Agency and representatives of diaspora Jewry, to build a permanent prayer pavilion at the southeast corner of the Western Wall, in the archaeological park known as Robinson's Arch, for prayer services that don't meet the Orthodox rabbinate's parameters:  mixed male-female groups, or women wanting to wear tefillin (phylacteries) and read Torah.  All three practices are proscribed in Orthodox Judaism.  Non-Orthodox have been defying the rabbinate in holding non-conforming services at the main Western Wall plaza for years, on the basis that the Wall belongs to all Jewry - not just the Orthodox.  These service usually take place on Rosh Hodesh, and result in violence and arrests.  The compromise was to designate an area in the vicinity of Robinson's Arch for the non-conforming prayer, and to build a permanent prayer pavilion, or platform.  A temporary platform has been built and is in use, but it is not suitable because it is not handicapped-accessible.

As night falls, a crowd of 300-400 has gathered for the non-
Orthodox service including the chanting of the Book of
Lamentations.

The non-Orthodox movements, and a number of allies such as Natan Scharanskiy (currently head of the Jewish Agency) and members of the government, were up in arms, and there were a number of demonstrations against the government.  I did not participate, because I'm not one for demonstrations.  And this is just not a hot-button issue for me, although I don't appreciate the government changing its mind and going back on its word, apparently because the Hareidi parties had threatened to bolt the coalition which would force new elections.

But this felt right to me, to 'demonstrate' by asserting our rights by being at the wall on this most somber of occasions.  So Clara and I joined the group, and we're glad we did.

There's something beyond apprehension about the stones of Jerusalem, something mystical that one cannot quite quantify.  So so sit on the stones that the Romans tossed down from the Temple Mount so many centuries ago, to chant the Book of Lamentations, just felt more emotional, more moving than doing it in the synagogue.

Our group numbered several hundred, but it was clear that there were thousands of Jews in the Western Wall Plaza just north of where we were.  When we finished and began to disperse, there was an incredible traffic jam getting away from the Old City.

Interestingly, as our service ended a number of Orthodox Jews (so surmised from their dress) entered our part of the wall.  This was not to interfere with what we were doing, but to gain free entry to the archaeological site, where one normally has to pay an admission fee.  As few noticed that there was an 'alternative' reading of Lamentations and dirges just ending, and several seemed to ask respectfully why what we were doing was different.  Of course, the answer was that it wasn't particularly different, except for the mingling of men and women during the service, and the inclusion of women's voices among the readers.

Surely, just as there was a 'political' dimension to our presence at Robinson's Arch, there was also a political overtone to the large Jewish presence at the Wall last night.  This was after all the tensions over the past two weeks over who controls security on the Temple Mount.  Interesting that there were a number of Muslims in the crowd at the Western Wall.  I wonder why it was not intrusive that they had to pass through metal detectors - as did everybody else - to get in?

It was interesting that, just as the chanting of Lamentations was underway and strong, it was time for the final evening Muslim prayer; the sound of the Muezzin's call to prayer blended with the voice of the reader leading the chanting.  And for some reason, it didn't sound like a clash!  Rather, the voices and their minor-key wails seemed to blend nicely.  Too bad it wasn't Sunday; we might have heard the bells of the Christian basilica join in the chorus.  At such moments, when you're not watching the nightly TV news, it is possible to envision a future when the various religions can share the Holy City.  That that has not yet happened, much less the sense that all Jews can equally share their own portion of it, is reason enough for lamentation.