Express Mail to G-d

Living in Jerusalem, I can say that going to the Kotel (or the Western Wall) is pretty convenient. When I am in the Old City, I always try and make a stop at the Wall. People go there to pray everyday. Many people can only visit once in their lifetime. If I can make it once a month, I'm perfectly content and grateful for the opportunity.

Every visit to the Wall is unique. Sometimes I see people that I saw the month before. Every so often I see a woman weeping. Perhaps someone is ill, a child, sibling, best friend. Or I see tourists from all over placing the obligatory note into the universal fax machine programmed to reach G-d and G-d only.

Even if I don't have something to pray for, I always make an effort. Standing in the sweltering heat with my head leaning on the smooth stones, I always manage to pray for someone or something. Why waste the moment?

The part that I always find difficult though is leaving the Wall. Women are lined up in a row at the exit with plastic cups in hand, all pleaing for tzedakah (which means "charity"). Occasionally, they will have cut red strings, sometimes with a charm on it. These strings are a "souvenir" of sorts. You gave them a couple shekels. They can buy themselves something to eat. They give you a string and hopefully by looking at that string, you will be reminded of the mitzvah (good deed) you have performed, and will do it again to someone somewhere else. A Jewish pay-it-forward, if you will.

I remember asking a friend once, "If you only have so much change in your wallet, who do you give your money to?" She couldn't answer me.

Today, I tried to split up my money among the 5 or so women lined up. The last one I gave to, gave me more than just a red string. She gave me a prayer. And that was more than I could have ever asked for.