(Please note: it is currently Shabbat in Israel. This blog post was written before Shabbat and prepared online in Canada for release Friday afternoon EST).
Day 4 of our trip was an incredible day. We woke up in Jerusalem. A number of people joined me at the Kotel to pray as the sun rose. It was incredible! Over 1500 other people, men and women, were praying at that time.
The day started early. We heard from Rabbi Levi Cooper about a fascinating topic, women voting. It was something discussed in Israel far before any other country brought up the idea. He shared the Rabbinic responsa on the topic.
Colonel Eli Bar-On, who headed the legal department of the army, then met with us and related how Israel deals with asymmetrical warfare when it's not balanced being that Israel is a country battling terrorist organizations that are not real entities. It was very deep, very powerful, and gave a good picture of what Israel faces from a legal point of view.
From there we visited the supreme court of Israel. We sat upon a case and also heard from the former President Asher Grunis, who actually studied in Canada. I find it fascinating how the judicial system in Israel is respectful of Canada, and very often refers to Canada, sometimes even more than the United States, in comparing how the system works in Israel.
Grunis shared with us personal stories and insights in how he sees things shaping and developing within the law.
Afterward, everyone had a night of leisure on their own. We took a late night tour of the ultra-Orthodox neighbourhood of Meah Shearim. We got to taste some of the foods, and saw how the people get ready for Shabbat. The little streets and corners had the smell of Challah and pastries baking, and we tasted some Challah, and had some Cholent.
It was an incredible day with a lot of things to think about, connecting to Jerusalem in a very special way. Breathing its air, walking its streets. Wow!
When you're in Jerusalem, life is felt a lot deeper.
