The Western Wall

Construction of the Western Wall began in 19 BCE, when Herod the Great ordered the expansion of Temple Mount, the nearby structure revered as the most sacred site in Judaism because the Foundation Stone is located there. The wall was not completed during his lifetime, and additional layers were added from the 7th century and on.

According to the Jewish sages, the gate of heaven is located at Temple Mount, and as the Western Wall is the closest accessible remnant of the wall that surrounded the Temple’s courtyard, pilgrims travel from near and far to pray at the sacred wall. There is evidence of Jewish pilgrimage dating as far back as the 4th century. Visitors of all religions can partake in the tradition of writing a prayer to God and placing it in the wall’s crevices.

A number of activities provide supplementary information about the Wall, and are recommended for any visit to Jerusalem. A tour of the tunnels below the wall provides a new perspective, and gives a sense of the scale and scope of the imposing walls. Note: The tunnel tours require visitors to walk through cramped spaces, so those with claustrophobic tendencies should steer clear.

Shabbat is celebrated Friday evening in a moving ceremony at the wall. To welcome Shabbat, there is a special prayer meant to encapsulate the emotion a groom feels when he sees his bride for the first time: joy, longing, and love.