August 31
— Last Shabbat in Israel/Jerusalem
— Prayer services in Yeshurun Shul & in Mea Shearim
— Almost no traffic during Shabbat
— The international boundary at Mandelbaum Gate
The Mandelbaum Gate was the international boundary between East and West Jerusalem.
August 31, 1957 Saturday night
Dear Mom, Dad and Alan,
I spent a very pleasant Shabbos in Jerusalem. I went to the main Shul in the morning. It was packed & only standing room could be had. The city traffic was dead except for people walking & UN & diplomats cars.
In the afternoon I took a walk to the International boundary at the Mandelbaum Gate. The place looked like a fortress but on the way back you saw Jews & Arabs living within arm’s reach of one another across an international boundary. Now Jerusalem has arisen as the stores open & traffic begins again.
As yet I don’t know the date I will be home. I guess I will by tomorrow morning & will write then. In any case, with Gods help I will be home before Rosh Hashanah.
Last night I went to a Shul in Meah Shearim where the real fanatically religious Jews live. It sure was an experience.
I guess by now you should stop answering my letters since I won’t be here to receive them. Hoping everyone is feeling well.
Love,
Bob
Comments:
August 31, 1957 Saturday night
“I spent a very pleasant Shabbos in Jerusalem. I went to the Main Shul in the morning. It was packed & only standing room could be had.”
My father mentioned that he prayed in the “Main Shul”. At that time, the central and main shul in Jerusalem was “Yeshurun”, located on King George St., which built in the 1930’s.
In 1958, a new, central and “main shul” opened in Jerusalem known as “Heichal Shlomo”.
In 1982, an even bigger “main shul” opened adjacent to Heichal Shlomo, known as the “Jerusalem Great Synagogue”.
All three synagogues are in operation today.
Since 1967 however, the most popular place to pray has been the Kotel.
“The city traffic was dead except for people walking & UN & diplomats cars.” “Now Jerusalem has arisen as the stores open & traffic begins again.”
From sunset on Friday night, for a full day, Jerusalem was closed down for the Shabbat. Jerusalem opened up following the conclusion of Shabbat on Saturday night.
“In the afternoon I took a walk to the International boundary at the Mandelbaum Gate.”
Mandelbaum Gate separated East and West Jerusalem from 1948 to 1967. East Jerusalem including the old City and the Kotel were controlled by Jordan when my father was there.
“Last night I went to a Shul in Mea Shearim where the real fanatically religious Jews live. It sure was an experience. “
My father’s description of “fanatically religious Jews” was not referring to all the Orthdox Jews of Mea Shearim. He probably was referring to the ultra extremists “Netura Karta”, who opposed the State of Israel and burned Israeli flags.
