Last night, after shul, I asked a friend to drive to the Kotel with me, to say kinot, hang with the crowd, take in the sights of sad Jews. He said no way and went home, and I gave it up, too, and went home. But some day, if, God forbid, Moshiach is still taking his time about the redemption thing, I’ll go and find a nice spot to sit down, leaning against The Wall.
Look at this folks, shot just last night by the Kotel. How cool is this? In shul there’s usually stiff competition for a spot with an exposed wall, so you can lean nicely while sitting on the floor. But the Kotel is like yards and yards of leaning spots, practically begging for lamentation.
If I were a member of the WOW, I would have shown up at the Kotel for sure, just so people would see that I mean business.
By the way, what happens if a Woman of the Wall forgets to say Ya’aleh V’Yavo? Does she have to start the whole davening from scratch?
See? That’s what I’m thinking about on Tisha B’Av, when I see pictures of Jews at the Wall.
There’s a kind of PC policy in frum circles not to refer to it as The Wailing Wall. Call it The Western Wall, call it The Kotel, but no wailing, please. But on Tisha B’Av I think it certainly earns the Wailing Wall title. (The Whaling Wall would, of course, require men with harpoons standing on top of the wall, looking for prey…)
Just trying to survive a particularly nasty day. Have an easy rest of the fast.