Precious Cargo

I was at the Kosel one afternoon and saw this picture unfolding in such a natural way. If you visit the Kosel on a steady basis, it’s common to see chayalim attending swearing-in ceremonies. They’re usually in uniform but not fully armed. In this picture, a group of religious soldiers, guns slung low and tzitzis swinging, were attending a promotion ceremony. When the ceremony was over it was time to daven and they started carrying out a sefer Torah for leining.

But I saw a different picture. To me it seemed like a group of young religious soldiers guarding the Torah — shielding it and protecting it. I jogged backward, staying ahead of them as they moved forward, until they had shifted into a V formation. Like an honor guard, they surrounded and escorted their precious cargo, with colorful flags proudly waving in the background.

(Originally featured in A Gift Passed Along, Special Supplement: Pesach 5780)