Jerusalem has become another home. Over the last five years, my ministry as a Jesuit, and my research as an archaeologist, has made of our Pontifical Biblical Institute in Jerusalem an important base for me. Despite its complexity, which can make Jerusalem tiring, I still must admit a deep fascination with the city.

This photo I share, however, comes way back from my first visit to Jerusalem back in 1999, with a group organised by my then archaeology professor. Enough to say that the original is a colour slide, on 35mm positive film. The photo was taken on a Canon EOS500, which I had bought off my brother (his photography blog here) as he moved on to a better model.

We spent our last days in Jerusalem, and a visit to the Western Wall (or the Kotel) was, of course, a must. Our guide made it a point to get us to experience the place when many come to celebrate their Bar Mitzvah here, having done the celebration in their home synagogue the previous Saturday. Jewish tradition still considers the Western Wall as the holiest shrine, since the Lord’s presence (the Shekinah) has never left the site.

The photo, I think, manages to pick some of the energy, vitality and joy of the occasion.