The Ring, the Wall and a Local Call

Last Monday, I was feeling kind of tired, but I knew that if I didn't go to the Old City to pick up my middle-finger ring, a birthday present from Rafi, then I would probably not get to Hadaya for at least another week. Just in case you were wondering, I just wanted a ring from Hadaya. It is merely for decoration. So, I went to the Old City, and picked it up. It's perfect! Below please find pictures of my new ring, and a picture of me and the ring of which the FCC just would not approve.

Look at me...

...I'm in Hebrew (a line from the Song of Songs) and I'm pretty...

...and I'm Sara Beth's lovely new Hadaya Ring...

[Image removed, because I am, apparently, an adult.]

...and look, she's NOT engaged...

Anyway, on my way out of the Old City, I decided to walk by the Kotel, the Western Wall. There was a sign there, telling me that God lives there -- right there at the wall. I didn't see God, but it's always nice to see the place where we direct our prayers.

The Divine Presence is here, so you best be wearing a skirt. (I was.)

When I was in Rome, Aaron and I got off the bus across the street from the Colosseum. I asked him what it was like to switch buses to get to school right in front of an ancient ruin. He said that he has to remind himself that it's not just some place where he switches bus lines, and that it's a historical landmark. So, too, when I went to the wall. This visit wasn't spiritual for me, but it was a reminder, as my cousins put it, that the most important of ruins in Jewish history, for me, is a local call.

Just a little reminder that I live a quick walk from the Old City. I could get here in like 20 minutes, on foot.

A picture of the Southern Wall, or as I call it, the Davidson Kotel, because the guy who funds my grad school also funds the Egalitarian end of the Western Wall. Shout out to Uncle Bill!

It was REALLY sunny. Behind my head is the Southwestern tip of the former exterior wall of the Temple, built by Herod. I learned this week that Herod was crazy, but he was good for ancient public works.