The Western Wall, Jerusalem

03/04/2024

这 Western Wall in Jerusalem, Israel, is the holiest shrine of Judaism and is revered by Jews from all over the world.

It is commonly known as the “Wailing Wall” and is the only surviving part of the Second Temple of Jerusalem, which was destroyed by the Romans in 70 AD. More precisely, it is a section of the western wall of the Second Temple, built in 19 BC by Herod the Great to protect the temple complex. Today, this wall is the sole fragment that remains of the sacred site.

The wall is located at the foot of Temple Mount, in a large plaza in the Jewish Quarter of Jerusalem. Two thousand years ago, Temple Mount was the center of religious life for the Israelites. Now, the top of the mount hosts Muslim shrines, including the Dome of the Rock and the Al-Aqsa Mosque, while the Jewish shrines of the Temple Mount no longer exist.

Visiting the Western Wall:

Entrance to the plaza is free (2024).
All visitors must pass through a metal detector and a security checkpoint, where lines usually move quickly. Free toilets are available near the checkpoint.
The wall is divided by a metal fence into two sections: the left side for men and the right side for women.
Men must cover their heads; if you don’t have a head covering, a disposable one is provided for free.
Visitors should behave calmly and quietly, as many religious Jews come here to pray.

About the Wall:

The accessible fragment of the Western Wall is 57 meters long, though the total wall extends 488 meters. Most of it is hidden beneath modern buildings.
The visible height of the wall is 19 meters, while the original Second Temple wall was 32 meters high. Over time, the ground level has risen, burying part of the structure.
The wall consists of 45 horizontal stone layers: 17 underground and 28 aboveground. Most stones are massive, weighing 2–6 tons, and the largest stone measures 13 meters long and weighs 570 tons—an engineering marvel even by Egyptian pyramid standards.

Traditions:

Today, visitors of all faiths continue this tradition, and over a million notes are placed in the wall every year.

About 300 years ago, Jews began inserting notes with prayers into the cracks of the wall.