The Wailing Wall (Western Wall), Jerusalem

  The Wailing Wall, Jerusalem
by iblatt
 
  • The Wailing Wall, Jerusalem
      The Wailing Wall, Jerusalem
    by iblatt
  • The Wailing Wall, Jerusalem
      The Wailing Wall, Jerusalem
    by iblatt
  • The Wailing Wall during the Passover holiday
      The Wailing Wall during the Passover...
    by iblatt
  • View of the Wailing Wall from the Jewish Quarter
      View of the Wailing Wall from the Jewish...
    by iblatt
  • The Western Wall
      The Western Wall
    by TravellerMel
 

70 Reviews of The Wailing Wall (Western Wall)

Sort by: Most recent | Most helpful

Write a Review
WESTERN WALL
mtncorg profile photo

2.5 out of 5 starsHelpfulness

mtncorg 3126 reviews
Dome of the Rock lying beyond the Western Wall

Western Wall/Wailing Wall, this is the Judaic Jerusalem equivalent of the Christian Church of the Holy Sepulchre and the Moslem Dome on the Rock. Of course, it predates the other two sites. This is an exposed stretch of the retaining wall Herod the Great built to support the Second Temple, destroyed by the Romans. The large plaza to the west of the wall was bulldozed in June 1967 to allow easier access - before houses literally abutted the wall. The Western Wall is divided into male and female areas. It is a popular spot for bar mitzvahs. Photography - except on Shabbat - is permitted, but use some discretion.

Written Apr 6, 2005

Related to:
 Religious Travel
 Archeology
 Historical Travel

Was this review helpful?

A Solemn moment
CADUM profile photo
CADUM 74 reviews
West wall.

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.

Written Mar 13, 2005

Related to:
 Historical Travel

Was this review helpful?

The Western Wall
sswagner profile photo

2.5 out of 5 starsHelpfulness

sswagner 770 reviews
Western Wall

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.

Written Jan 6, 2005

Related to:
 Historical Travel
 Religious Travel

Was this review helpful?

The Wailing Wall
mafi_moya profile photo

3.5 out of 5 starsHelpfulness

mafi_moya 482 reviews
Man praying against the Wall

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.

Updated Nov 11, 2004

Related to:
 Historical Travel
 Religious Travel
 Architecture

Was this review helpful?

Wailing Wall - The Western Wall
oshatz profile photo

2.5 out of 5 starsHelpfulness

oshatz 13 reviews
The Western Wall

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.

Updated Nov 10, 2004

Address: Jerusalem's Old City

Website: http://www.trekker.co.il/english/israel-kotel.htm

Related to:
 Historical Travel
 Archeology
 Religious Travel

Was this review helpful?

The Western Wall (Kotel)
JonPTP profile photo
JonPTP 6 reviews
The Western Wall

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.

Updated Oct 21, 2004

Related to:
 Religious Travel
 Archeology
 Historical Travel

Was this review helpful?

Rock of Ages
gilabrand profile photo

4.5 out of 5 starsHelpfulness

gilabrand 295 reviews
1 more image

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.

Written Oct 19, 2004

Related to:
 Archeology
 Religious Travel
 Historical Travel

Was this review helpful?

Western Wall
freya_heaven profile photo

2.5 out of 5 starsHelpfulness

freya_heaven 1730 reviews
Hassidic Jews, Western Wall

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.

Updated Sep 9, 2004

Related to:
 Historical Travel
 Religious Travel

Was this review helpful?

Western Wall
freya_heaven profile photo

2.5 out of 5 starsHelpfulness

freya_heaven 1730 reviews
Us, Western Wall

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! (~_~)

Updated Sep 1, 2004

Related to:
 Religious Travel

Was this review helpful?

The Kotel: The Western Wall
Carmela71 profile photo

3.5 out of 5 starsHelpfulness

Carmela71 2996 reviews
Women section

This is the remain of the outer wall of the Second Temple's courtyard.

Jews from all over the world for centuries come here to pray and mourn as well as to tuck their written pleas and prayers into its crevices. (Or order them via email or fax!)

You need to cover yourself here as well.

The wall is a part of the Temple Mount built by Herod the Great

Updated Mar 22, 2004

Related to:
 Historical Travel

Was this review helpful?

Top 3 Hotels in Jerusalem

The King David Jerusalem  Jerusalem

 5 Reviews and 273 Opinions  Without doubt, the King David Hotel is the most famous and prestigious hotels in Israel and possibly... 

 Hotels in Jerusalem

The American Colony Hotel  Jerusalem

 4 Reviews and 199 Opinions  While the American COlony may not have all the amenities of a mammoth 200-room chain hotel, but it... 

 Hotels in Jerusalem

David Citadel Hotel  Jerusalem

 5 Reviews and 272 Opinions  Twas my first visit to Jerusalem and I selected this hostel to stay at because of the write-up in my... 

 Hotels in Jerusalem

The Place

The Wailing Wall (Western Wall)

The Wailing Wall (Western Wall) tips and photos posted by real travelers and Jerusalem locals.

  Write a Review  
Experience Jerusalem
 

The People

212 Members Live Here
 
Our Members Say
 profile photo

 This is the remain of the outer wall of the Second Temple's courtyard.Jews from all over the world for centuries come here to pray and mourn as well as to tuck... 

212 members live in Jerusalem

 

Questions and Answers

cliveozy profile photo

Q:  Hi first time to isreal booked a week in sep to tel aviv, but have just read horry storys on the internet about getting through... 

leics profile photo

A: There are a zillion internet horror stories about all sorts of things but that does not mean they are true. Many are not (propaganda), most are over-exaggerated for... 

Read 19 Replies

postQuestion_button

Top Jerusalem Writers

1

Jerusalem–the Foundation Stone of three Religions

Kuznetsov_Sergey profile photo

 I've got some interesting experiences in Jerusalem. I'd love to share with you the 103 tips I've written, the 535 photos uploaded, and 10 travelogues I've created. 

2

The Spirit of Jerusalem

gilabrand profile photo

 The pull of Jerusalem is hard to describe. There is something magical about this city. You either love it or you hate it - and if you hate it, chances are you haven't allowed yourself to get to know... 

3

Jerusalem: Monotheism's Controversial Capital

jadedmuse profile photo

  Shalom. Marhaba. Toda. Shukran.. Where am I? Israel? Palestine?!? "Michele, don't go to Jerusalem right now, aren't there problems in Ramallah? Aren't there shootings taking place in the... 

4

Jerusalem - The capital of Israel

ophiro profile photo

 Right now i am updating my Jerusalem page so come back from time to time.  

5

The most special city in the world

iblatt profile photo

 What can I say about Jerusalem that has not been said before? I think it is the most interesting and wonderful city in the world. Well, of course I can't be objective. This city means so much to me.... 

View all rated pages

View newest pages

Build your own Jerusalem page

Travel Editors for Jerusalem

Goner profile photo