Yerushalayim Fills to Capacity
Weeks before Elul, the streets were abuzz with rumors about the expected influx of tourism for the Yomim Noraim.
Demand for apartments skyrocketed and the community did its best to prepare, but nothing could have prepared the residents of Yerushalayim for the procession of flights that carried tens of thousands of families into Israel from the United States, Europe, and even South America.
It seemed that the population of Yerushalayim had doubled within a few days, and the joy in the streets was tangible. One could scarcely hear a word of Hebrew spoken on the streets, which positively bustled with guests from abroad, to the point that a boy from Bnei Brak visiting Yerushalayim was heard asking his father, Do they celebrate the second day of Yom Tov in walled cities too?
There’s Nothing Like Yom Tov in Yerushalayim
Yerushalayim was soon draped in the festive atmosphere of the Yomim Tovim, the air filled with exultation at the veritable Kibbutz Galuyos of Yidden from across the Diaspora celebrating together. From the Arbah Minim shuk to the emotional prayers in the Chassidic Batei Midrashim, from the Kapparos to Hakafos Shniyos at the Kosel, it was an elevated spiritual Yom Tov experience, one that will surely accompany our guests and their families well into the long, cold winter season.
Beautifying a Shul “טוב שם משמן טוב”
As always, the majority of the festivities was centered on the strip between Romema and the Jewish Quarter, with Jerusalem Estates at its heart. Jerusalem Estates worked well in advance for the arrival of the masses, who would be building their Sukkahs and welcoming guests throughout the Yomim Tovim. On the ground floor, a special area was allocated for the seasonal tefillos, meaningfully named Heichal Yaakov Eliezer for Harav Yaakov Eliezer Rajchenbach z”l, one of the founders of Jerusalem Estates, who passed away several months ago.
This Makom Tefillah, established for the comfort of our residents, proved to be a beautiful and befitting place for davening, and while temporary, greatly added to the special communal atmosphere created here in Jerusalem Estates.
“וַיִּיקַץ יַעֲקֹב מִשְּׁנָתוֹ וַיֹּאמֶר אָכֵן יֵשׁ ד’ בַּמָּקוֹם הַזֶּה… אֵין זֶה כִּי אִם בֵּית אֱלֹקים וְזֶה שַׁעַר הַשָּׁמָיִם.”
Yaakov awoke from his sleep and said, “Surely Hashem is present in this place… This is none other than the abode of G-d, and that is the gateway to heaven.”
We wish all of our guests a warm Tzeischem L’Shalom, and L’Hitraot!
וְשא נֵס לְקַבֵּץ גָּלֻיּותֵינוּ וְקַבְּצֵנוּ יַחַד מֵאַרְבַּע כַּנְפות הָאָרֶץ.
“Raise the banner to gather in our exiles and let us gather together from the four corners of the earth.”
Wishing you and yours a healthy winter,
The Team at Jerusalem Estates
