Praying at the Wailing Wall
Offering Western Wall prayers at the wailing wall in Jerusalem has been an indispensable part of Jewish custom over centuries.
When do Western Wall prayers take place? The prayers are offered on Friday evenings in Jerusalem's Old City, when you can hear voices singing and other voices joining in.
It is the day of The Sabbath, a holy day for the Jews, when they assemble before the wailing wall, which is their holiest shrine, to offer Kotel prayers.
Why is it called the Western Wall? The wailing wall represents the western wall of the ancient courtyard of a Jewish temple which was demolished by the Romans in AD 70 when the Jewish population rebelled against Roman rule.
Today, only the wall of the ancient Temple remains.
Once King Solomon's great temple stood on the courtyard.
The temple got destroyed several times and was rebuilt many times, but now just a part of the wall stands.
This structure just outside the Temple Mount and is regarded as the holiest site in Judaism.
Why do people pray here? People offer Western Wall Prayers because the belief is that it is the spot closest to the holiest room in the old temple which is the Holy of Holies for Jewish people.
Today, a Muslim mosque stands on the site.
The offering of this type of prayers started around AD 200-300 because the Rabbis opined that God's presence still lingered at the site of the Holy of Holies.
Unfortunately, a lot of wrangling has taken place between the Muslims and Jews over the centuries, and the tension between the two communities increased when the Jews started coming back to the terrain in the 1800's.
What happens here? Jewish people from all over the world come to offer Wailing Wall Prayers at the wailing wall.
Many people write out their prayers on pieces of paper and place them between cracks in the western wall.
Men put on their hats to show respect.
Many devotees wail or cry to lament the loss of the great temple, which is why the wall came to be called the Wailing Wall.
Celebrations and religious gatherings are also conducted at the wall.
The entire area has been under Jewish control since 1967 when the Arab-Israeli war took place.
Important tips for visiting the western wall
When do Western Wall prayers take place? The prayers are offered on Friday evenings in Jerusalem's Old City, when you can hear voices singing and other voices joining in.
It is the day of The Sabbath, a holy day for the Jews, when they assemble before the wailing wall, which is their holiest shrine, to offer Kotel prayers.
Why is it called the Western Wall? The wailing wall represents the western wall of the ancient courtyard of a Jewish temple which was demolished by the Romans in AD 70 when the Jewish population rebelled against Roman rule.
Today, only the wall of the ancient Temple remains.
Once King Solomon's great temple stood on the courtyard.
The temple got destroyed several times and was rebuilt many times, but now just a part of the wall stands.
This structure just outside the Temple Mount and is regarded as the holiest site in Judaism.
Why do people pray here? People offer Western Wall Prayers because the belief is that it is the spot closest to the holiest room in the old temple which is the Holy of Holies for Jewish people.
Today, a Muslim mosque stands on the site.
The offering of this type of prayers started around AD 200-300 because the Rabbis opined that God's presence still lingered at the site of the Holy of Holies.
Unfortunately, a lot of wrangling has taken place between the Muslims and Jews over the centuries, and the tension between the two communities increased when the Jews started coming back to the terrain in the 1800's.
What happens here? Jewish people from all over the world come to offer Wailing Wall Prayers at the wailing wall.
Many people write out their prayers on pieces of paper and place them between cracks in the western wall.
Men put on their hats to show respect.
Many devotees wail or cry to lament the loss of the great temple, which is why the wall came to be called the Wailing Wall.
Celebrations and religious gatherings are also conducted at the wall.
The entire area has been under Jewish control since 1967 when the Arab-Israeli war took place.
Important tips for visiting the western wall
- There may be a security check, so be prepared for opening bags or body frisks
- Be respectful and show reverence, since the Wailing Wall is considered a sacred place of worship
- Dress appropriately and don't smoke
- Don't take pictures on the Sabbath days which start on Fridays at sunset and goes on till Saturday night.
The Kotel prayers are sacred for all.
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