Western Wall

The wall is a Jewish holy place located in Jerusalem. It is also called The Wailing Wall. During Roman Times, it formed the western wall of enclosure the courtyard of the Jews’ holy temple. The wall is about 160 feet (49 meters) long and about and about 40 feet (12 meters) high. Archaeologists have discovered that 19 rows of stones extend about 20 feet (6 meters) underground. The Western Wall is part of the supporting system that is 486 meters long.

In the 700’s the Arabs who ruled Jerusalem permitted Jews to assemble at the wall on the evenings before their Sabbath and before their fest days. In services at the wall, the Jews recalled their traditions and suffering.

Jews continued the worship at the Western Wall after the British won control of Jerusalem during World War I (1914-1918). In 1948, Jordan captured the section of Jerusalem where the wall stood and prohibited Jews from the new state of Israel from using it. The Jews regained access to the wall when Israel captured the Jordanian section of Jerusalem in the Arab Israel war of June. Since then, it has become a place of pilgrims and prayer and symbol of Jewish unity and survival.

For more information on the Western Wall click on the links below