Western Wall

Western Wall. The Western Wall, known in Hebrew as the *Kotel HaMa'aravi*, is an ancient limestone wall in the Old City of Jerusalem. It is a remnant of the western retaining wall of the Temple Mount, the holiest site in Judaism, constructed under the rule of Herod the Great. For centuries, it has served as a principal site of Jewish prayer and pilgrimage, embodying profound religious and national significance.

History

The wall's construction is attributed to the ambitious building program of Herod the Great, who expanded the Second Temple complex around 19 BCE. Following the destruction of the Second Temple by the Roman Empire under Titus, the retaining walls survived. Over subsequent centuries, the wall's vicinity became a focal point for Jewish mourning and aspiration, notably after the Crusades and during the Mamluk and Ottoman periods. The site's modern political history intensified after the 1948 Arab–Israeli War, when it fell under Jordanian control, denying Jewish access until its capture by Israeli forces during the Six-Day War in 1967.

Religious significance

In Jewish eschatology, the wall is venerated as the closest accessible point to the Holy of Holies, the inner sanctum of the ancient Tabernacle and Temple in Jerusalem. It is considered an everlasting symbol of the divine covenant and Jewish resilience. While the entire Temple Mount is the focal point of holiness, rabbinic tradition holds that the Shekhinah (divine presence) never departed from the wall, making it a unique place for supplication. This sanctity is also acknowledged within some streams of Christianity and Islam, the latter regarding the adjacent area as part of the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, or Haram al-Sharif.

Structure and archaeology

The visible section of the wall stretches approximately 488 meters, though the public plaza exposes only a 70-meter portion. Its construction features massive Herodian ashlars, characterized by their distinctive drafted margins. Archaeological excavations, such as those led by Benjamin Mazar and Ronny Reich, have revealed extensive underground sections, including the Western Wall Tunnel, which expose the wall's full original height and ancient streets like the Herodian Street. Discoveries such as the Wilson's Arch and the Warren's Gate provide insight into the Second Temple period engineering and the complex's historical topography.

Role in Jewish worship

The site functions as a great outdoor synagogue, where daily prayers, Bar and Bat Mitzvah ceremonies, and major holiday gatherings are held. Practices include the insertion of written prayers, known as *kvitlech*, into the wall's crevices. The Western Wall Heritage Foundation oversees religious services and maintains the separation between a larger men's section and a smaller women's section, in accordance with traditional Orthodox practice. On Tisha B'Av, thousands gather to mourn the Temple's destruction, and during Sukkot, a mass Priestly Blessing is conducted.

Political and social status

The wall is located in East Jerusalem, an area whose sovereignty is disputed under international law. It is administered by the State of Israel and the Western Wall Heritage Foundation. The site is a recurring flashpoint in the Israeli–Palestinian conflict, with tensions often centering on access, prayer rights, and archaeological work. Controversies include disputes over egalitarian prayer by groups like the Women of the Wall and reactions from the Haredi establishment, as well as broader geopolitical claims by the Palestinian National Authority and the Islamic Waqf in Jerusalem.

Category:Jerusalem Category:Jewish holy places Category:Herodian architecture Category:1st-century BC establishments in the Roman Empire Category:Retaining walls