Posted on 05/20/2010 12:34:50 AM PDT by jerusalemjudy
It’s 5:00 a.m on Shavuot morning and I’m having trouble finding an empty seat at any shul in Jerusalem’s Old City. Every synagogue is already packed as I make the mistake of lingering a few minutes too long at the Kotel amongst the tens of thousands who have made their way there after a night of learning.
The atmosphere is light, almost light-headed you could say from lack of sleep, as young and old congratulate each other for making it through the night. Only the young yeshiva boys puffing away on cigarettes spoil the atmosphere. Small groups of secular Israelis wander through the crowd. "This is amazing," mutters one woman.
After dropping in at three shuls, I finally find a spot in the hallway of the Ramban synagogue near the Cardo.
(Excerpt) Read more at jerusalemdiaries.blogspot.com ...
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