What is the Western Wall (Kotel)?

What remains

The Second Temple stood on the Temple Mount until the Romans destroyed it in 70 CE. Herod had enlarged the mount by surrounding it with huge retaining walls. The western section, nearest to where the Holy of Holies stood, survived and became the focus of Jewish prayer. The plaza shows about 60 metres of it; more continues underground in the Western Wall tunnels.

Why it is holy

The Midrash teaches that the Divine Presence never departed from the Western Wall (Shemot Rabbah 2:2), reading “behold, He stands behind our wall” (Song of Songs 2:9). God said of the Temple: “My eyes and My heart shall be there perpetually” (1 Kings 9:3). For centuries Jews came to weep over the destruction – hence the old name “Wailing Wall”, which Jews rarely use.

Praying at the Kotel

The plaza is an open-air synagogue with separate sections for men and women. People pray, read Psalms, celebrate bar mitzvahs and leave notes (kvitlach) in the cracks; the notes are collected twice a year and buried on the Mount of Olives. Many have the custom to tear their garments on first seeing the site of the Temple in its destruction, and to walk away backwards without turning their back on it.

Some history

Jordan held the Old City from 1948 to 1967, and Jews could not reach the Wall. Israeli paratroopers reached it on 28 Iyar 1967 (Jerusalem Day). Because of the sanctity of the Temple Mount itself, the halachic authorities debate whether one may go up onto it today; the Kotel is the place all agree on for prayer.

Visitors

Visitors of every faith are welcome. Modest dress is expected; men cover their heads (paper kippot are provided). On Shabbat photography is not allowed.