First Shabbat

We celebrated out first Shabbat in Israel! This first Shabbat was so super special because 1. it was our first one in Israel and 2. we went to the Kotel!!!! As soon as we got to the Old City, it was like I had never left from last year.  I walked right in alongside my friends and immediately began recognizing the shops and streets.  Then, we made our way to the place on the wall where it is "acceptable" for men and women to pray together.  This is where we held our very first Shabbat services as EIE Aviv '16.  Yes, I know so super cool.  Even though we were sitting freezing our butts off at the service (we sat on cold concrete steps ha ha) (not funny), the feeling of being at the wall for our first Shabbat was indescribable.  Post Shabbat services, we went to the other section of the Kotel where the men and the women have to be separated.  Let me paint you a picture, the men's side is a Gucci purse and the women's side is a satchel from Walmart.  If you aren't picking up what I'm putting down, the men's side of the wall is about double the size and quality as the women's (not even salty lol).  But that didn't diminish the great first of many Shabbats I will experience with my new, but already best friends. 

Honestly, seeing the men's side being so much bigger does kind of make me personally feel bad.  I understand that in traditional Judaism, it seems slightly out dated and misogynistic that the wall is still unequal.  Anat Hoffman, a known fighter for women's rights in Israel and leader of Women of the Wall, is an inspiration for me as a reformed Jewish woman.