Hard to Recognize Our First Home in Israel, So Changed!

When my husband and I first made aliyah as newlyweds, we lived in Jerusalem's Old City. The term "Old City" was in our address. In 1970 there was no "Rova Yehudi," "Jewish Quarter." The few Jewish families and Jewish institutes were scattered around among the Arabs, sort of like the Jews who live in what's known as "the Moslem Quarter" today, with one big difference. We had no security in those days.  Life was much safer before this "peace" business began.

We lived in the Maon Betar, with students, mostly post-army. They were from all over, Israeli-born, French, South America etc. We had a small apartment, and my husband was responsible for upkeep. Others shared large and not so large rooms. It was on the corner of Rechov Hayehudim and Rechov Plugat Hakotel. We had our own kitchen, but the others shared one downstairs. There was a time that the army used it for soldiers visiting Jerusalem, and our youngest was there. Now it's used by the Netiv Arye Yeshiva. I haven't been in there since 1971.

When we were in the neighborhood the streets/paths were just mud, dirt. Towards the end of the time we lived there, those mud streets, not for vehicles, were dug up to modernize the infrastructure. There were also Arab squatters in the homes, which were Jewish. During the Jordanian Occupation, 1948-1967, Jews were not allowed to live or even visit.

Now it's a light, lovely neighborhood with lots of Jews and Jewish business.

Yes, it's right near the "Wide Wall"

Ladies: Escape The Heat!

I found myself with just too much time on my hands the other day, when I was in Jerusalem. Of course, only later that night did I remember what I should have done and had planned on doing... Well, since I had finished studying Bible/Tanach Al Haperek, the Matan program, with my study group, near Mamilla Mall around 12:30, and had an early dinner date in Piccolino with another friend, it made sense to stay in Jerusalem.

Of course, I wanted to burn as many calories as possible and rev up my metabolism before eating out. The only real problem was the strong summer sun/heat. Of course, I could have just taken a bus to a mall and marched around, but I did not want to spend money.

The Old Jerusalem City Walls beckoned me, and I remembered that it was always much cooler and comfortable in the Old City, so I decided to go there and also pray at the Kotel. By the time I got to the Kotel, after a nice side-trip to our old haunts, where we had lived as new immigrants and newlyweds, I was exhausted, drenched and probably more than a bit dehydrated. The idea of sitting outside under the scorchingly hot early afternoon sun did not seem like a good idea. Luckily I remembered "the room."

On the right side of the wmn's Kotel area you'll see a few steps and a door to a small room. Decades ago, when I was in Israel as a student, I loved to sit there to pray and reflect. The only downside was the size, rather small, and the fact that there always seemed to be a mildew smell to it. But it did seem to be the best option, so I went in. NO SMELL! Also, it wasn't crowded. Since I'm not a "Kotel fan," I had no need to sit close to the Wall. I prefer praying in nearby Tel Shiloh!

"And the biggest surprise by far...*"

On the wall there was an air-conditioner!

So, not only is the Kotel the only place in downtown Jerusalem where women can pray and say Tehillim, Psalms, with dignity, but now we have a "weatherproof" protected room where we can escape the sun, wind and rain.

*Who knows where this line is from?