Preparing to Atone

Week before Yom Kippur and Jerusalem vibrates with anticipation.  The kids have 4 days of school (Sunday through Thursday) and then a two week Sukkot break - much needed as they are both pretty stressed out about having to face the alien environment each day. However, even with the difficulties, they are anxious to get to school each day, do their homework on time, etc - I am so glad I learned some shortcuts to get around the Jerusalem rush hour traffic!!

I started the week with a visit to Yad VaShem.  Spent 4 hours and did not come close to seeing everything - suffice it to say that the museum blew me away to the point that when I returned the audio tour headset, I completely forgot to get my drivers license back.  Had to return the next day to retrieve it.

I decided to brave the Shuk Wednesday morning to get provisions for the holiday weekend. But first I had to brave the Jerusalem traffic - it can be pretty harrowing as the Israelis tend to drive on the aggressive side - definitely brings out the New Yorker in me.  But I cut my international driving teeth driving a stick shift in London in 1984 (right hand drive, other side of the road, shift with your left hand), so after that Jerusalem is cake.

Crates of live chickens in the Shuk

Big chicken market at the Shuk for the holidays and Kaparot (more on that later).

On Thursday Michelle and I went to an informal memorial concert that my violin teacher held to honor his father, who was a cantor.  He chanted and played with a trio (violin, guitar and keyboards). The guy can really play!  Then we went off to the Kotel with Sharona, Shanie, Toby and Gabriella (Gal took a pass) and about 20,000 other people. Unbelievable scene - people everywhere, partying, praying, hanging out, eating, drinking, shopping.  We stayed until around 12:30 am Friday and things were just getting started!! Apparently the group praying (all 20,000 or so) started a few hours later culminating in a blessing by the Cohanim at 0400 Friday morning.  But the kids were falling asleep on their feet so we went home.  Susan did have her sins transferred to a chicken in a Kaparot ritual (not a bad deal for 20 shekels...but I felt for the chicken).  Whatever you do, don't tell PETA.

Kotel, around midnight on Thursday

Kaparot in the Old City 

The girls in the Old City