Holy Sifrei Torah Room

Two years had passed, since the last time we had the opportunity to visit. It had been our custom to travel yearly for my parents Yortzeit and the Agudah Yarchei Kallah. That had stopped with the onset of Covid. Now that the opportunity presented itself once again to travel, we decided to go for Shvuous, with the intention of spending the entire Yom Tov in the old city of Yerusaliyim. There was much to be thankful for. For us, the Kosel was the best place, to express our gratitude to Hashem for sparing us and our family. Towards the end of our second day chutz Yom Tov, I went to the Kosel to study Torah, with the intention of staying there till after Marriv. The Kosel was packed that afternoon, as Jews from all over Eretz Yisroel, who were unable to travel the first day, were coming now to be Olei Regel. Since it was a hot day, I chose to learn in the inner sanctuary. There it would be cooler, less noisy and easier to study peacefully.

A short distance from the entrance to the left, is a library section where Jews study Torah. Adjacent to it, on the right side, is a special room where all the Sifrei Torah of the Kosel are safely kept. For some unknown reason I ventured into the library section. Upon turning to the right, I found myself facing a room lined with eight open Aronei Hakodesh. From a distance I noticed that they were all filled with Sifrei Torah. Approximately a dozen other Sifrei Torah were resting on a large table in the center of the room. The Sefer Torah Gabbi of the Kosel, just happened to be checking and organizing all the Sifrei Torah that were used throughout Yom Tov. Due to their volume of use, careful records were kept of every Sefer Torah and the Aron in which each Sefer was kept. Was mesmerized by the sight of so many Sifrei Torah in one place. So I approached the Gabbi and explained that I was a visitor from out of the country and would appreciate, if he would allow me to enter the room and browse around. Surprisingly he consented. On seeing all the various old and new Sifrei Torah from all over the world, with all their magnificent adornments, from all different segments of the Jewish nation, a deep spiritual yearning overcome me. What a special privilege Hashem just granted me, to be able to visit this Holy room. So I took the chance to ask the Gabbi, if he would also allow me to kiss the Sifrei Torah in every Aron Hakodesh. Surprisingly he said yes. I started at the right side of the room, working my way around, kissing each Sefer Torah in each Aron. There must have been a hundred or more Sifrei Torah in total. Finally at the end, overcome from the awesome spiritual experience I prayed to Hashem, for my family and the redemption of the Jewish People.

Those unforgettable fifteen minutes were one of the holiest moments in my life, etched in my memory forever. Just imagine for a moment, standing in a room, surrounded by over one hundred Sifrei Torah, brought to the Kosel from all the exiled Jewish communities in the Diaspora. Was thinking, where else in the world is there such a Holy room? The Kosel is the holiest place on earth, that the Jewish People cherish. Our tradition is, that the Shechina is always there and has never left. Such a Holy room in such a Holy place, has to be the Holy of Holy’s in our present exile.

What prompted me to be there at that specific time and to wander off to that chamber, I will never know. What I do know however is that, no spiritual effort goes unnoticed by Hashem. Perhaps because I specifically made the trip from America, with the intention of dedicating the entire Yom Tov to learning and davening at the Kosel, Hashem granted me this unique opportunity.

Next time you are at the Kosel, try to visit that Holy room. You may not be able to kiss every Sefer Torah inside each Aron, but you will hopefully be able to at least kiss each Holy Aron Hakodesh, loaded with the Jewish People’s most prized treasure.