It's Starting To Look Nothing Like Christmas
It's the morning of December 25th. Christmas Day. Every year on this date, I can remember being incredibly aware that it is Christmas. Not because I have presents to run downstairs towards, or checking to see if there is snow outside the window we keep the tree.
I had no tree, which never upset me. I didn't want one. I am always aware of the presence (see what I did there?) of Christmas, because in North America, it's EVERYWHERE. Malls, schools, community centers...
Today is different. Today, we drove from Kibbutz Ohalo on the Kinneret to Jerusalem.
Other than one or two comments from group mates, I had no idea today was Christmas. No lights. No big red plastic Santa's, or reindeer, or sleighs. Just people, Jewish people going about the errands they need to complete before Shabbat.
I entered the Old City this morning for the second time in my life with a different edge than my previous visit in 2007. As soon as I descended the stone stairs and turned the corner, all my uneasiness
slipped off my shoulders. Seeing the Kotel is more uplifting than every Disney channel original movie put together. It is the ultimate Judaic symbol of perseverance and resilience. So I went through security and spilled into the plaza, heading straight for the men's entrance to the wall. I wrapped myself in my tallit and tefillin, and began to pray, forgetting entirely about Christmas...