The Wailing Wall (Western Wall), Jerusalem

Standing in front of the west wall you can see just the top of the Dome. When I was at the wall it was pretty busy with tourists, locals, and Rabbis. A parade was being practiced for as well. There is a section where you can approach the wall and there are people nearby to tell how to do it properly.

Welcome to the most holy Jewish site in the city. This wall is all that remains of the retaining wall that held the temple complex. There has not been a Jewish temple on site since 70AD. This is now an open air synagogue. If you are a visitor like me, you will need to wear the head covering. There will be some available for you to borrow before approaching the wall. Males go to one place while females go to another. Behind this wall is the Temple Mount which contains the golden Dome of the Rock. The most holy Islamic site in the city is adjacent to the holy Jewish site, and historically this has meant trouble. If you want to see the focus of the troubles with the "peace process", here is where you need to go. A visit to the wall will be a fascinating part of your trip here. Notice the cracks in and between the stones. Probably every nook and cranny will contain a folded prayer note. if you wish, you may bring your own written prayer here and insert it into the stones. It was quiet when I showed up here. Someone did ask for a donation while i was at the wall. They apparently thought I gave too little--oh well, you cannot please everyone. When we approached the Western Wall via the Dung Gate, there was understandably a security check point. Be prepared for this when you visit.

The towering Western Wall is the last remnant of the ancient Jewish temples that stood on the Temple Mount. It was built by King Herod, as an addition to the Temple of Solomon, and is considered the holiest shrine in Judaism. It's also a reason for great sorrow due to the rest of the temple's destruction by the Romans (hence the nickname "Wailing Wall")

On Shabbat thousands of people pray in what is effectively an open-air synagogue, but during the weekdays it's quieter and a bit less impressive. Many worshippers write prayers and messages on paper and stick them between the cracks of the enormous building blocks. Many of the more religious visitors do actually wail and cry as they sink their heads against the rock face.

It's open 24 hours a day, with separate entrances for men and women.

Jews around the world turn their eyes to the Western Wall, also know as the Wailing Wall, which is the closest location to the place where the temple used to stand where Jews can pray. The wall we know today was a part of the temple's western wall, hence its name. Believers leave notes in the cracks between the wall's stones.

This is the western retaining wall of the Temple Mount, where the Biblical Jewish temples stood. It is the most important religious site for Jews, aside from the Temple Mount itself. Jews from around the world and from all streams of Judaism can be found here. The Sabbath (Shabbat) is a particularly good time to visit.

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The Western Wall (Kotel) is constructed of limestone. The edges of the stones have a kind of chiseled border around them, a design typical of King Herod (first century BCE) who built the wall as a retaining wall for the Temple Mount. Notice that there is no cement or mortar holding them together. As you look up, the stones get smaller. This is because stones were added over the centuries. The base of the wall is actually about twenty feet below ground.

One of the stones is more than 40 feet long, and weighs 400 tons. This is the largest stone ever quarried by man - nothing near its size exists in Greece, in the pyramids, or in Manhattan. No crane today can even lift such a stone. How it got there is an engineering marvel. Others stones are over 100 tons. These stones can be viewed in the archeological tunnels that have been opened in the past few years.

One theory is that the quarry was located to the north of the Temple Mount and at a higher elevation, so that the builders could push the stones into place using the lever and pulley systems existent at the time.

The Western Wall, known in Hebrew as Kotel hama'aravi is a wonderfuly atmospheric place to visit, especially on a Friday night, when it is humming with activity. One Shabbat, I was there a group of youths came down singing & dancing, which was great.

Its open to all, Jewish or not, understandably, there are check points on the all the entrances . Men & women are segregated for prayer. The larger (and more shaded!!) area on the northern end is for men & the smaller area for women.
If you look closely at the photo you can see peices of paper in the cracks in the temple wall, these are written prayers.

There is seating opposite the Western wall, where one can sit & the people watching is fascinating.

Derek & Myself, on my flying visit to Jerusalem, 2 years after I left the Kibbutz.

Weird to be back, but we were there so briefly (& I was feeling really ill) I did not get the feel of the place again. I am obviously meant to return! (~_~)