bar mitzvah at kotel- one more question

tinker-belle

Tue, Feb 24 2009, 10:22 am

Hi. Have any of you made your son's bar mitzvah at the kotel? This is our first family trip (and my first time back in Israel in 25 years) and I'm a bit nervous about the logistics. We are in touch with the western wall heritage place, but I'm still not sure where do I go? Which gate? Does he put on tefillin before entering? Is there any way I can be sure to get the spot right near the mechitza, it will be such a shame if we travel this far and I wouldn't be able to see or hear my son lein. Any input/advice would be great!

shalhevet

Tue, Feb 24 2009, 11:14 am

tinker-belle wrote:

I'll try and answer, but I don't know anything about making a bar mitzva there, just from knowing the kotel.

You can enter the plaza from either the Jewish Quarter (down the steps) or from Sha'ar Haashpot.

I don't think it's a good idea to put on tefillin before entering, because he still has to cross the plaza and there are (not always modestly dressed either) women there.

I can't imagine there is a way to ensure a spot right near the mechitza - it's first-come, first-served.

sped

Tue, Feb 24 2009, 11:25 am

I don't know your general plan, butthe earlier you get there, generally, the better it will be - and the more serious, too. I see that those who want quiet, serious davening tend to come really early (this is Israel, so early is early) before the noise and big partying goes on. I never made a bar Mitzvah there, but on Mondays and Wednesdays I know it's best to daven really early.
You're also best off not during the summer or December break.
As far as which gate, assuming you will be taking a taxi or a bus, the driver will definitely know where topgo for the Kotel!

sped

Tue, Feb 24 2009, 11:25 am

Mazel tov! I don't know your general plan, butthe earlier you get there, generally, the better it will be - and the more serious, too. I see that those who want quiet, serious davening tend to come really early (this is Israel, so early is early) before the noise and big partying goes on. I never made a bar Mitzvah there, but on Mondays and Wednesdays I know it's best to daven really early.
You're also best off not during the summer or December break.
As far as which gate, assuming you will be taking a taxi or a bus, the driver will definitely know where topgo for the Kotel!

Tamiri

Tue, Feb 24 2009, 11:41 am

I have made 2 bar mitzvas and one hanachat tfillin there so far (2 more coming up IYH). If you get there early enough, before the major crowds (by 8-8:30 latest) you should not have a problem securing a podium. Even if you have to wait a bit for another party of people to finish using theirs. You can then push it over to the mechitza. The women should be "in position" even before pushing the podium over. You can secure your place with a few chairs, but make sure to be on them.
Once the men get themselves set-up, the men start to put on their tfillin and begin the davening.
If you are there early enough, you can do the whole thing for free. Or, you may opt to pay someone to come early and reserve a spot.
Take a look at aish.com, I think they are the ones with a camera on the kotel. You can see what it looks like now. The whole entrance to the kotel is NOTHING as you remember it from 25 years ago. The whole Jewish Quarter is stunningly rebuilt. You can access the kotel thru the Jewish Quarter or thru the regular gate, where the busses stop (can't remember, maybe Zion?). Depends on how you plan on arriving that morning.
Keep in mind that there is a security check at either entrance (Jewish Quarter and Gate) which sometimes can take a couple of minutes.

tinker-belle

Tue, Feb 24 2009, 5:12 pm

Hi. We are actually going for an August bar mitzvah- we planned on all meeting up at 8:30AM. Is this too late? (some people are traveling an hour to get there). Do you think I should go ahead and pay someone to reserve the spots for us? Can you recommend anybody and do you know how much that would cost? Thanks so much.

Tamiri

Wed, Feb 25 2009, 12:06 am

One of ours was August, too. Remember: it gets hot. Not hot, but HOT HOT HOT. If you call it for 8:30, you probably won't start much before 8:45 and it's going to get nasty.
One option is to pay and have a little minyan at the southern wall (if I am not mistaken, that is what it's called, other ladies here may know more). It's a little area accessed thru a museum or something like that (can't remember exactly) with a small davening area for the men and women, and it mostly stays in the shade. Still hot (we were there 2 years ago August) but better than the regular kotel as far as sun goes. It's not right near the actual kotel. Maybe google it..
Anyway, I would call for 8. You can start by 8:15 or 8:30. If people are coming from an hour away such as Petach Tikva or Ramat Gan, leaving earlier will have them travelling during a quieter hour than rush hour. Israelis wake up early anyway, generally speaking, and good friends/relatives probably won't care. If they do care, they always have the option of the brunch afterwards, which I assume you are offering, and to skip the minyan at the kotel. Once upon a time there was also a parking issue, but I think there is now a big lot with a shuttle to the kotel. Other mothers here will know more than I do.
I don't know who does this for hire, but you can probably post on the Janglo list and get a bunch of responses. You may need help with setting up a place for a meal, someone to play music at the meal etc. and there are people who do this for a living.

Marion

Wed, Feb 25 2009, 2:24 am

The southern wall/Robinson's Arch is an option. Keep in mind, however (as we learned the hard way last August) that it is NOT wheelchair or stroller friendly. Lots of stairs! You do have to access it through the visitors' centre.

I remember when we were waiting to meet our group that there were several bar mitzvahs that morning. All seemed to have an "escort" from the museum to the kotel; complete with darbuka.

The Kotel is accessed through the Jewish Quarter (stairs) or Sha'ar haAshpot (Dung Gate). All the busses go to the Dung, and security is fairly heavy. The security check through the Gate is separate lines (men/women); the one at the stairs is not (or was not, last time we were there). The museum/visitors' centre is outside the security area, and if you go in through there you will not have a security check.

ValleyMom

Fri, Feb 27 2009, 12:59 am

Our son's Bar Mitzvah was at the KOTEL and it was AWESOME!!!
My humble suggestion:
Hire my video guy...
He went to the kotel at the crack of dawn and saved us the BEST bimah---alongside the woman's section right next to the Kotel. This way we women, grandmothers, bubbies, aunts, cousins etc. saw and heard everything. I cried!
Having someone else handle the little details freed me to really enjoy and have my moment of nachas bliss at the Kotel. It was an experience I will treasure forever.
Do a google search for Daniel Sass Video, Israel. He is very talented and very reliable. I have suggested in to several other people and they all agree with me.
Good Luck and Mazel Tov!!!!