Showing posts with label Western Wall. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Western Wall. Show all posts

Sunday, January 18, 2009

Shabbat at the Western Wall with a conservative Orthodox Jew

Yesterday was intended to be a day off but it ended up being equally intense as all the rest. I stumbled upon a curious happenstance, a person discussing the validity of Christianity not by the merits of science or necessity, but according to the prophecies in the Old Testament. This was taking place in Christ Church in the Old City where i was supposed to be relaxing over a cappuccino with Justina, another volunteer. Out of what may be in hindsight an overt signal, I sat at the table next to this discussion so that I might listen in. With the time until Shabbat quickly approaching Shlomo (Hebrew form of Solomon) stood up and without saying a word previously asked Justina and I if we would like to attend a Shabbat meal. I was very excited to go and after a little convincing so was Justina. In the meantime I headed down with Shlomo to the Western Wall where the Jews congregate, especially during Shabbat. From the time we left Christ Church until the Shabbat meal itself we discussed endless issues: formation of the New Testament canon and Torah, apocalypticism, messianic expectation, Tanakh prophecy, validity in a diversity of interpretations, original languages, Christian and Jewish theology, delay of the Parousia, the crucifixion, the modern relevancy of Jewish law, the nature of Jesus, the State of Israel, etc etc etc. I was no more than 5 feet from the wall and yet I may as well have been home in California because the attention of Shlomo and I was solely on one another. Though I feel little progress was made the novelty of being able to discuss these things competently was quite a lot of fun for me and I'm eager to have another opportunity to discuss these things openly; all the more if I could find someone more interested in a mutual edification and sharing of knowledge.