September 23, 1999

On this bright September afternoon, Zion Square, at the bottom of Jerusalem\’s downtown Ben Yehuda outdoor mall, is the usual confusion of pedestrian traffic — shoppers, students, soldiers, tourists, all hurrying about their business in every direction. A few minutes after 1 p.m., a small group of men and women joins the throng, bringing a little flock of children and strollers into the middle of the square. One of the men somewhat uncertainly unrolls a hand-lettered sign that says, in Hebrew, \”Prayer Vigil,\” and the group stands in a tight circle, reading psalms from prayer books in low voices.