It is so wonderful to be back here in Jerusalem on a visit for a dear friends wedding.
After arriving last Thursday evening and meeting up for dinner with other friends who travelled here for the occasion, those Israel stories begin rolling in one by one. Walking down the street, with random people sitting along the interior of restaurants, their faces visible through the long glass windows, I see so many people I know.
Friday, barely at the crack of dawn, when its still dark outside, I approach the Wailing Wall to say hello to this group of righteous women, those early morning Psalm murmurers of Jerusalem. It is rosh chodesh, and I want to leave before the Wall becomes its usual throng of seekers coming to the Wall to pray.
A few hours later I decide to take a walk around Soccer Park (Gan Soccer). As I enter, a little boy of about four is walking toward me, sobbing. He is holding onto his bike, and a silvery gray husky is walking along with him.
I ask him where his Aba (father) is.
The child cant speak, he is so upset and terrified. As he must have been taught, he refuses to speak with me, a stranger.
After a few minutes of trying to calm him down, washing his face at the park water fountain and conveying that I am on his team by asking him questions such as where he last saw his Dad, what his Dads name is, what was he wearing and were there any other identifying signs he would like to share so I can try to find him (the boy said his father was holding a little baby), he calmed down for just a moment.
The rest of this article is available in the IJN’s print edition only. Contact Carol to order your copy at (303) 861-2234 or email carol@ijn.com.
