What is the Western Wall?

Summary

The Western Wall, a sacred Jewish site in Jerusalem, is explored in this script, detailing its history as part of the Temple Mount platform built by King Herod. The wall's layers reveal historical periods, from Herodian to Umayyad and later Islamic eras. It's a place of prayer and pilgrimage, with a significant history of Jewish devotion and modern conflicts over religious practices. The wall's transformation from a narrow alley to an open plaza after the Six-Day War and its role as a site for prayer notes highlight its enduring spiritual significance.

Takeaways

• 📜 The Western Wall, also known as the Kotel in Hebrew, is a significant Jewish sacred site located in the Old City of Jerusalem.
• 🏗️ Named for being part of the Western retaining wall of the Temple Mount, it was constructed during King Herod the Great's renovation of the Second Jewish Temple in 1st century BCE.
• 🔨 The wall's construction involved flattening Mount Moriah and building subterranean arches to support the platform, reflecting the ambitious nature of the project.
• 🗿 The Western Wall is a historical 'layer cake' with visible Herodian era blocks at the bottom, followed by Umayyad period blocks, and smaller stones from later Islamic periods.
• 🌐 The entire Western Wall extends for almost 500 meters, with parts of it being underground due to the difference in ancient and current street levels.
• 📜 Jews gather at the Western Wall due to its proximity to the Holy of Holies, considered the holiest site for Jews and the dwelling place of God's presence.
• 🕍 The Western Wall became the closest accessible site to the Holy of Holies after the destruction of the Temple by the Romans in 70 CE.
• 📜 The tradition of praying at the Western Wall likely predates the 16th century, with early Christian sources mentioning Jewish prayers around the Temple ruins.
• 🕋 The Western Wall's significance is further highlighted by the construction of the Dome of the Rock by the Muslim Umayyad dynasty over the former Jewish temple site.
• 🏙️ The current open layout of the Western Wall plaza was created after the Six-Day War in 1967, which involved the controversial leveling of the Moroccan Quarter.
• 📖 Prayer notes are a popular practice at the wall, with the Kotel Heritage Foundation offering online prayer submission and physical placement by others.

Q & A

What is the Western Wall and why is it significant to Judaism?

The Western Wall, also known as the Kotel in Hebrew, is a segment of the Western retaining wall of the Temple Mount platform in Jerusalem. It is significant to Judaism as it is the closest accessible point to the Holy of Holies, the holiest site for Jews, where God's presence is believed to dwell.

When was the Western Wall constructed and by whom?

The Western Wall was constructed under the reign of King Herod the Great during the 1st century BCE as part of an ambitious project to renovate the Second Jewish Temple.

What is the historical significance of the Temple Mount platform?

The Temple Mount platform is historically significant as it was built on Mount Moriah, the site of the creation of the world according to Jewish tradition, and where Abraham almost sacrificed Isaac. It was also the location of the Second Jewish Temple before its destruction in 70 CE.

What architectural features can be seen in the Western Wall?

The Western Wall displays layers of history with Herodian era blocks at the bottom, followed by Umayyad period blocks from the 7th and 8th centuries, and smaller stones from later Islamic periods.

How long is the entire Western Wall and what parts of it are visible?

The entire Western Wall extends for almost 500 meters. However, only a small segment is commonly seen in pictures and accessible to the public, with a significant portion being underground due to the difference in ancient and current street levels.

What is the significance of the Western Wall tunnels?

The Western Wall tunnels provide access to parts of the wall that are not visible above ground and contain some of the largest stones in the wall. They also offer a closer proximity to the Holy of Holies and have become a popular place for prayer.

When did the tradition of praying at the Western Wall begin?

While the exact origin of the tradition is not known, it is believed to stretch back hundreds of years before the 16th century, when the Ottoman Sultan Suleiman officially permitted Jews to pray there.

How did the Western Wall's accessibility change after the Six-Day War in 1967?

After the Six-Day War in 1967, the Israeli army gained control of the Eastern part of Jerusalem from Jordan. In a controversial move, they leveled the Moroccan Quarter and displaced its residents, creating the open layout of the plaza that is seen today.

What are some of the religious practices observed at the Western Wall today?

Today, people visit the Western Wall to pray, read the Torah, celebrate Bar Mitzvahs, and place prayer notes between the cracks of the stone. The Kotel Heritage Foundation even allows for remote prayer note submissions.

What controversies surround the Western Wall regarding gender and religious practices?

The Western Wall is an open-air Orthodox synagogue with separate men and women's sections. Women's advocacy groups, such as Women of the Wall, have pushed for more egalitarian prayer practices, including women reading from Torah scrolls and wearing tefillin, which has sparked conflict with ultra-Orthodox Jews.

How are the prayer notes placed in the Western Wall treated and disposed of?

Prayer notes are removed from the wall twice a year and, as it is forbidden to destroy them, they are buried on the Mount of Olives in a manner similar to that of a damaged Torah scroll or prayer book.