Miss Yerushalayim - what a babe

Miss Yerushalayim

That's actually my sister, who I dressed for Purim and photoshopped onto Jerusalem stone. I wrapped her in the flag of Yerushalayim and painted her (now blurry) face blue and white. The poor girl got into trouble at her school chagiga for dressing up in a questionably Zionist costume, but nothing compares to how much trouble I almost got into for getting the flag in the first place.

I spent a year in an Israeli seminary. Needless to say my ultra-orthodox school did not celebrate or partake in any Zionist events. We even had a written policy that forbade students from attending rallies, demonstrations or the like. The girls who listened to these rules went through the year as though they were in a sunnier Brooklyn; but I wanted an authentic Israeli experience, so I took my chances.

Yom Yerushalayim eve, a friend and I slipped out of the dorm and headed to central Yerushalayim. We marched all night with this very flag on my shoulders, stopping often to sing and dance (Ezzie has more on the march) . The achdus, the feeling of togetherness and peace and faith in being a people, was palpable. Finally reaching the Kotel at dawn was such a climax, such a height of inspiration, that it's difficult to express in words. My friend and I had to steal back to the school dorm before anyone noticed that we had been gone all night.

Back at school I couldn't tell anyone where I'd been, but I secretly reveled in the knowledge that the Jewish people are as strong as ever, as inspired as ever and still connected in a real way to Hashem who performs great miracles for us. That flag of Yerushalayim lay secretly tucked away with my luggage for the rest of the year. When I got home I wanted to fly it from my rooftop for the world to see just how good I felt about being a Jew. That wasn't practical, so instead I waited until Purim and wrapped my unknowing little sister in it. Ironically, this Yom Yerushalayim she is the one in Israel attending Seminary. I hope to speak to her tomorrow and hear that she too stole away to be part of the greater Jewish experience.

See also: Tsanchanim Bakotel.