I would describe today’s theme as “old versus new”. We spent our entire day in Jerusalem, and began by exploring the ruins of the Second Temple and the Old City. Joined by Rabbi Michael Unterberg, this tour helped strengthen our understanding of the ancient connection of Jews to our homeland. Following a visit to the Kotel, as well as various art exhibits at the Israel Museum and the Shrine of the Book, we ended at Mamilla shopping mall. There, we bore witness to the way in which our connection to the land of Israel continues to thrive to this day.
One of the most fascinating parallels between the ancient old city and the bustling streets of modern Jerusalem lies in the architecture. While exploring the Old City, Rabbi Mike drew our attention to the uniformity of the stone with which everything in Jerusalem is built – a smooth, marble-like rock known simply as “Jerusalem Stone.” Rabbi Mike also pointed out the alcoves from which shop owners would sell their wares. When we visited Mamilla shopping mall in the evening, it was impossible not to notice the similarities between the empty and ancient walkways of the Old City and the bustling, modern shops of today’s Jerusalem.
By structuring our day from old to new, we were able to visualize and understand the relationship that Jews have had with Jerusalem for thousands of years, and now continue to strengthen in the modern day.