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“Miracle at Midnight”

There are certain customs that set the cream of the crop apart. Tikun Chatzot is one of those.

Tikun Chatzot, literally “The Midnight Rite”, is a custom upheld by the particularly devoted, where prayers are said for the return of the temple and commiseration with the Divine Pain of Israel’s exile is contemplated.

The saintly kabbalist, Rabbi Shalom Sharabi (1720-77), the “Rashash”, organized and led a nightly Tikun Chatzot ceremony at the Kotel. It was a heartbreaking and simultaneously inspiring affair. However, before the Rashash attained international acclaim he sat alone.

This is the story of how he gained recognition:

The Qadi of Jerusalem, an important Muslim judiciary figure had recently moved into a home close to the Kotel and the Rashash’s sob-filled prayers were keeping him up at night. He said a small troupe of soldiers to investigate. When they returned and told him that the rabbi was responsible for the Qadi’s sleepless nights. His response was swift: Kill him.

The soldiers, armed with curved saber, went out to carry out the task. How many seasoned killers does it take to put an end to an elderly rabbi. They unsheathed their swords, crept up in approach and…

Dropped their swords, raised their hands up overhead, and stood frozen.

Obviously, they were unable to return to the Qadi, who, in turn, became nervous and went to check out the situation for himself. He strapped up his sandals, got his staff and went out. The scene left him slack-jawed: twelve soldiers with their weapons on the floor and hands in the air and a few meters away, the Rashash, sitting on the floor and crying. The Rashash looked up and his eyes met the Qadi’s. The Qadi felt an earthquake, soon realizing that it was his own body that was trembling in fear.

Now realizing what kind of godly individual he had threatened, the Qadi begged for forgiveness and the release of his soldiers. The Rashash agreed, and now indebted, it was the Qadi that first spread the message of the Rashash’s holiness and mystical power.

“The Kotel Kisses me back”

He looked immersed in his prayers, like everyone else. But it was his mythically long, blizzard-white beard that magnetized me closer. But he wasn’t praying at all  Upon closer inspection he was kissing the ancient stones. Gentle kisses. And he wasn’t stopping.

Out of sheer curiosity, not disrespect, I asked him “How long do you plan on continuing?” He answered, “What can I do? The stones kiss me back. How can I leave?”

“Governor’s daughter”

Reshid Akif Pasha, a major Turkish dignitary at the turn of the last century, had one daughter who was engaged and approaching her wedding day. During her engagement she fell ill, and the doctors could not connect her symptoms to a root cause. Her prognosis was grim.  An elderly Jewish lady of Spanish descent suggested praying at the Kotel. Akif Pasha agreed and traveled with a delegation to pray at sunrise. Following the prayers they returned home.

He walked up the steps to his front door, still surrounded by his posse. He knocked. And who answered? His brittle, bedridden daughter. But she was up on her feet, with a radiance on her face. She told them that she had prepared breakfast. The shock hit like wrecking-ball. With his eyebrows raised as high as they could go, Akif Pasha spun on his heels and exited his courtyard without another word.

With his attache in tow, Akif Pasha went to the first rabbi he could find, grabbed him by the lapels of his coat with a wildness in his eyes. The stare was deep and seemed to last an eternity Then a different energy washed over him, he bowed his head and released his grip. “There is no other God than the God of Israel. Just know that.”

“The Wall and the Trash”

Salim the Resolute was a fascinating Ottoman conqueror and sultan who brought the entire middle east under his rule. In the year 1516 He set up his main offices in the center of the recently captured Jerusalem.

One day he noticed a woman dumping garbage in a massive heap right below his window.

As a ruler of most of the known world, this brazen act of disrespect flared his anger. He ordered her in for questioning. After some pressure she divulged her secret: “I come from Bethlehem. My family is of Roman descent. My ancestors were among the destroyers of Jerusalem and the exilers of the Israelites.”

“One thing irritated my forefathers more than anything. They had succeeded in destroying nearly every last trace of the Jews. Yet, no matter how hard they tried they couldn’t destroy the Western Wall of the Temple Mount.”

“So my family has a tradition. From time to time we haul our collected trash to Jerusalem to this spot. It has become a massive heap, and we can’t see what’s underneath, but apparently we’ve buried the Wall… which is the best we can do, seeing as the stones have proven indestructible.”

The Sultan saw an incredible opportunity. He took dozens of gold coins and personally buried them deep in the pile of garbage. He then send messengers throughout Jerusalem to spread the news: Take the garbage home. Sift through it. The gold you find is yours.

And within days the Kotel emerged whole and pristine after sleeping in dirt for more than a millennium.

“The Legend (MUST read!)”

Two brothers – one single, the second married with a growing family – split an inheritance from their father. They each received a wheat field on opposite sides of a mountain to support themselves. They would work all day and often spend the night under the stars.

One such night, the single brother lay awake, thinking. “My brother and I have equal sized fields and produce yields of identical measure. But I only need to support myself, while he needs to feed a wife and children. I’ll take ten bushels over to his storehouses.” So in the thick of night he gathered his gift and tip-toed over the mountain.

But when he awoke the next morning he tallied his storehouse and found that no produce was missing. The ten bushels he gave away seemed to still be present. He scratched his head and went on with his day.

That night, on the other side of the mountain, the married brother was reviewing his day. 24 hours before he had realized that while he had no problem supporting his family with his yield, perhaps what was holding his brother back from marriage was a lack of funds. “I’ll take ten bushels of mine and place them in his silo.” He too tiptoed in secrecy, shrouded by the night to deliver his secret gift. But, in the morning, he too found his silo full, as if the gift was never given.

To make sure the whole thing wasn’t a dream both brothers set up similar experiments: to re-attempt the gift giving. And yet, they still found their silos just as full in the morning. Both brothers arrived at the same conclusion: it must be a heavenly sign of approval.

One night, as the married brother carried his gift on his shoulders, he saw a figure – mirroring himself, coming over the peak of the mountain towards him. From the distance, the moonlight was not enough to make out who it was, but he was strikingly familiar. Only when they were nearly face-to-face did the brothers, each bearing gifts, recognize each other.

In that magical moment, everything was understood. Each had thought only about the wellbeing of the other. The outpouring of love and understanding between them at that moment rattled the heavens and reached God’s throne. It was this place that would eventually be selected to the home of the Temple in Jerusalem and its Western Wall, the Kotel.

“A place of joy”

One winter night, well after midnight, two friends walked into the Kotel plaza. One was a hospital administrator and a famous doctor, the other a well-known philanthropist. As they approached the wall the pair witnessed a man with cheeks stained by an eternity’s-worth of tears. The streams flowed into his wispy beard, making it glisten. The agreed between themselves to help this man in whatever way necessary. When the emotional waves persisted they approached and offered their help. The doctor said, “If you or a loved one is ailing, I can help.” The philanthropist mirrored the sentiment, “If you or a loved one is in financial distress, I can help.” He replied, “Thanks, but no thanks. I didn’t arrive at this enchanted place because of pain or strife. I’m actually coming from a wedding. Tonight I was lucky enough to marry off my youngest son. I’ve raised my family and I’m overburdened with endless gratitude. The tears you see are simply the appreciation and thanks flowing from my soul. I had to bring this moment, these feelings, these tears straight to the source”

“Barrak Obama”

Undoubtedly, the Kotel is focal point of all spirituality of the world, and dignitaries, politicians and celebrities all embark on pilgrimages to this historic sanctum. President Obama made a trip during his 2008 presidential run. He planned to visit at five in the morning, before the visit would disrupt the Jerusalem hustle bustle. However, this tactic avoided one traffic issue and created another logistical complication in its stead. Dozens of precious Jews – “Vatikin” – come and offer their morning prayers just as the sun pokes its first rays over the wall. This custom has been continued without interruption for generations. Technically speaking, the swath of personnel and these saintly petitioners wouldn’t be able to coexist.

The question was brought before the eminent Halachic decisor of the generation, Rabbi Yosef Shalom Elyashiv zt”l. He ruled that the United states is a kingdom of grace and kindness and for a one-time exception, preference must be given to Obama.

He arrived at dawn and, as is customary, inserted a note of prayer between the ancient cracks. Hours later, a curious local dug deep and found the note. This is what it said, “Forgive me my sins, and help me guard against pride and despair. Give me the wisdom to do what is right and just. And make me an instrument of your will.”

“Donald Trump”

In may of 2017, the ever newsmaking president Donald Trump landed in Israel and took a direct helicopter to the holy city, making the Kotel his very first stop. He was accompanied by top aides and representatives, as well as his daughter Ivanka. With a large Kippah proudly on his head, he approached the Kotel and recited two chapters of Psalms (Tehilim).

After the visit he revealed to the press that the visit was profoundly inspiring and it would leave a mark on his soul forever.

If you didn’t know, the President is hugely influential on Twitter, and his account is amongst the most followed in the world. Following his visit, the profile banner associated with his account featured the leader of the free world in a moment of meditative prayer at the Kotel. What a message!

“Prime Minister José María Aznar”

Upon his visit and an in-depth tour to the Kotel, then President José María Alfredo Aznar López opened a book of Psalms and read chapter 23, “The Lord is my shephard, I shall not lack.” He candidly revealed that he shares a moment with his family each day, reciting this particular passage in unison.