For members of the Shir Hadash Synagogue, their congregation’s connection to Israel is always physically evident. The eastern wall of the synagogue’s sanctuary in Wheeling is constructed of stone collected from quarries near Jerusalem, in a symbolic representation of the ancient Western Wall in Jerusalem. Recently, two members of the synagogue were able to make the symbolic connection more tangible when they carried handwritten prayers from Shir Hadash’s Jerusalem Stone wall to the real Western Wall.
“The Western Wall or 'Kotel' in Jerusalem is one of the last remnants of the ancient Temple complex and is considered to be one of Judaism's holiest places,” explains Shir Hadash Rabbi Eitan Weiner-Kaplow. “Going way back, Jews have placed notes containing personal prayers between its stones with the hope that these messages will go directly to God. At Shir Hadash, the eastern wall of our sanctuary is our little piece of Jerusalem. There is no grout between the stones. Worshippers are encouraged to write personal prayers and place them in the cracks.”
The symbolic wall is a prominent element of the Shir Hadash sanctuary, which the congregation dedicated when they moved into their new building last August. In planning this design, synagogue leaders hoped that Shir Hadash members traveling to Jerusalem would carry prayers left in the synagogue’s wall and place them between the stones of the Kotel. The first opportunity arose in October, when longtime members Stuart Aizenberg and Sandy Simon of Lincolnshire left on a tour of Israel. At a service on October 18, the congregation sent them off with a special rabbinic blessing and an envelope filled with prayers that had been collected since the opening of the sanctuary.
Aizenberg and Simon visited the ancient temple compound midway through their 17-day trip, where Aizenberg was able to place the envelope of Shir Hadash prayers between the stones. (Under Orthodox Jewish rules, men and women are allowed access to separate areas of the Kotel.) The scene was busy with visitors and religious activities, including a number of b’nai mitzvah taking place in the area. For Aizenberg, who was visiting Israel for the first time, the historical significance of the Wall greatly impressed him.
“Being in Israel did make me feel more connected to my Judaism,” he comments. “We visited so many sites that affected us from a historic and religious perspective. I think that the Shir Hadash wall is a really well-thought-out idea, and we were glad to be able to make that connection for our synagogue.”
Rabbi Weiner-Kaplow hopes that this will be the first of many prayer deliveries by Shir Hadash members. "I am delighted that Sandy and Stuart could be our first couriers bringing our prayers to the Western Wall in Jerusalem,” he says. “This solidifies the bond between our synagogue and Jerusalem, the eternal capital of the Jewish people in our Jewish homeland, the Land of Israel. Because of what Sandy and Stuart started, when worshippers place their notes between our stones, they can be assured that at some point their prayers will reach Jerusalem and be placed within the crevices of one of Judaism's holiest places."
About Shir HadashShir Hadash is a progressive, active, and dynamic congregation, serving the Jewish community in the north and northwest suburbs of Chicago from its synagogue in Wheeling, Illinois. Its inclusive membership welcomes singles, couples, and families. The synagogue attracts members from Northbrook, Glenview, Deerfield, Highland Park, Wheeling, Buffalo Grove, Arlington Heights and Palatine as well as Chicago, Skokie, Park Ridge, Barrington, and Gurnee. Under the leadership of Founding Rabbi Eitan Weiner-Kaplow and an active member board, Shir Hadash presents a “new song” for the Jewish community in worship, education, and cultural connections. Reconstructionism is a progressive, egalitarian, inclusive movement that makes Judaism relevant to contemporary life, while still honoring Jewish tradition. For more information, call (847) 498-8218 or go to www.shir-hadash.org.
