Western Wall

“A thousand prayers folded into the seams of stone”

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Photo: Golasso · CC BY-SA 4.0

Scenes

Prayers gathered before the wallJorge Láscar from Australia · CC BY 2.0

The Old City of Jerusalem and the Temple MountGodot13 · CC BY-SA 4.0

Meaning

A vast wall of stone rises before you, and people quietly slip folded notes into its cracks.

In Jewish tradition it is held to be the surviving section of the Second Temple's western retaining wall, and the faithful come to it on pilgrimage as the closest place of prayer to the ancient sanctuary.

Field notes

Location: Jerusalem · Old City · N31.8° · E35.2°
Best time: At the coming of Shabbat, Friday at dusk, when prayer deepens most
Getting there: Inside Jerusalem's Old City; enter the plaza on foot after a security check.
Etiquette: Prayer areas are separate for men and women, and modest dress is encouraged.

Sources

· Encyclopaedia Britannica
· UNESCO World Heritage

Official site Wikipedia

Photographs are freely licensed works from Wikimedia Commons and similar sources; the author and license appear beneath each image.