WESTERN WALL

The Wailing Wall or Western Wall(HaKotel, "Western Wall" in Hebrew) is a sacred place for Jews all over the world (the most sacred site in Judaism being the Temple Mount where the Esplanade of the Mosques is located). At all hours of the day and often at night, the faithful come to meditate, like a large open-air synagogue, and deposit in the interstices small papers on which they have made wishes.
The

usual term "Wailing Wall" refers to the pilgrims who, during the Ottoman period, came there to mourn the destruction of the Temple and the exile of the Jewish people. However, since the establishment of the State of Israel, the name "Western Wall" is more common.

Although the Western Wall is primarily known as a sacred site for Jews, it also has a notorious significance for Muslims, as it supports the esplanade on which the Dome of the Rock stands.

History

. Built about 2,000 years ago, this 80-metre-long section is in fact only part of the western wall of the Temple built by the ambitious King Herod the Great, whose total length was nearly 500 metres. It stood 60 m high, but the upper 20 m have been destroyed, and the lower 20 m are buried underground. The Kotel extends under arcades beneath the Muslim Quarter, and can be walked along in a 488m tunnel which was opened to the public in 1984 (guided tour by reservation only). This tunnel was discovered in the 19th century during excavations by British archaeologists.

The stones of the Western Wall are made of limestone, their edges cut to form a contour around each of them. This is the typical style used by King Herod, who ruled in the 1st century BC under Roman rule, and who built the wall in such a way that it supported the Temple Mount.

Celebrations and ceremonies

. You will certainly be struck by the religious fervour among the faithful, especially on Shabbat night. Bar mitzvahs are also held twice a week on Monday and Thursday mornings. Notice the women, who are not allowed to enter from the men's side, throwing candy to the young boy. The ceremonies follow one another at an incredible pace.

Security measures

. Soldiers at the entrances to the square check bags and, if necessary, will remind you of the instructions to be followed. The presence of tourists is tolerated, even in the space reserved for the prayer, provided that they are correctly dressed: a kippa is given to men at the entrance and small scarves are distributed to women. It is possible to take pictures.

A bridge that is a source of politico-religious controversy. Erected in 2004, after the collapse of a previous passage, the access ramp to the Mosque esplanade, which houses the third holy place of Islam, passes partly over the Wailing Wall, the main pilgrimage site of Judaism. The structure was deemed unstable by Israeli engineers and its closure in 2011 led to a wave of Palestinian protests. This wooden walkway allows non-Muslim visitors, as well as Israeli forces, to access the Esplanade of the Mosques (Muslim worshippers use other accesses). While you are there, take the opportunity to admire the beautiful view of the Wailing Wall.