November 13, 2008
The stones in front of the temple echoed with the footfalls of hundreds of sandals and bare feet as worshipers from far and wide gathered for the Sabbath day sacrifice during the Passover weekend. I stood reverently on the temple steps listening to the hushed voices echoing off the walls, my head filled with turbulent thoughts. Nearly twenty Passover’s had seen me stand on these same steps, watching the same crowd, anticipating the same solemn ceremony, and yet today something was different. The holy men standing above me knew it, too, although they seemed to hold their heads higher and puff their chests bigger than usual.