The Wailing Wall is Israel's greatest landmark. Despite the fact that the place is sacred for the Jews, people of any religion are allowed here. Tourists can see the main prayer site of the Jews, see their traditions, and walk through the ancient tunnel.
Historical facts about the Western Wall
The attraction is located on the "Temple Mount", which currently is not, resembling only a plateau. But the historical name of the area has been preserved to this day. Here King Solomon in 825 built the First Temple, which was the main shrine of the Jews. The description of the building has hardly reached us, but the pictures masterfully recreate it. In 422, it was destroyed by the Babylonian king. In 368 the Jews returned from slavery and built the Second Temple on the same site. In 70 AD it was again demolished by the Roman emperor Vespasian. But the Romans did not completely destroy the temple - the wall supporting the ground from the west was preserved.
The Romans, who destroyed the shrine of the Jewish people, forbade the Jews to pray at the western wall. Only in 1517, when power over the lands passed to the Turks, the situation changed for the better. Suleiman the Magnificent allowed Jews to pray on the "Temple Mount".
Since that time, the Wailing Wall has become a "stumbling block" for the Muslim and Jewish communities. The Jews wanted to acquire the buildings surrounding the area, and the Muslims were afraid of encroachments on Jerusalem. The problem escalated after Palestine came under British rule in 1917.
Only in the 60s of the XX century did the Jews gain complete control over the shrine. In the six-day war, the Israelis defeated the Jordanian, Egyptian and Syrian army. The soldiers who broke through to the wall are an example of faith and courage. Photos of the crying and praying winners have spread all over the world.
Why is this landmark called Jerusalem?
The name "Wailing Wall" is unpleasant for many Jews. It was not in vain that the Jews fought for it, and the nation does not want to be considered weak. Since the wall is in the west (in relation to the ancient temple destroyed by the Romans), it is often called "western". "HaKotel HaMaravi" is translated from Hebrew as "Western Wall". And the place known to us got its name from the fact that here they mourn the destruction of two great temples.
How do Jews perform prayer?
Visiting the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem, a tourist will be surprised by the buzz around. A huge number of crying and praying people amazes the unprepared person. The Jews swing vigorously on their heels and quickly lean forward. At the same time, they read sacred texts, some of them leaning their foreheads against the stones of the wall. The wall is divided into female and male parts. Women are praying on the right side.
Currently, celebrations are held on the square in front of the Wall during the holidays in the country. This place is also used for the taking of the oath by the military personnel of the city.
How to send a letter to the Almighty?
The tradition of placing notes in cracks in the wall dates back to about three centuries. How to write a note correctly?
- You can write a letter in any of the languages of the world.
- The length can be any, although it is recommended not to go deep and write only the most important, briefly. But some tourists also write long messages.
- The size and color of the paper does not matter, but do not choose too thick paper. It will be difficult for you to find a place for her, because there are already more than a million messages in the Western Wall.
- Better to think over the text of the note in advance! Write sincerely, from the heart. Usually worshipers ask for health, luck, salvation.
- Once the note is written, simply roll it up and slide it into the crevice. To the question: "Is it possible for Orthodox believers to write notes here?" the answer is yes.
- In no case should you read other people's letters! This is a great sin. Even if you just want to see an example, do not touch other people's messages.
Wailing Wall notes cannot be thrown away or burned. The Jews collect them and burn them on the Mount of Olives a couple of times a year. This tradition is liked by representatives of all religions, and whether this visit helps or not depends on the belief in a miracle.
For those people who do not have the opportunity to come to Jerusalem, there are special sites where volunteers work. They will help in sending a letter to the Almighty for free.
Rules for visiting the shrine
The Western Wall is not just a tourist route. First of all, it is a sacred place revered by a huge number of people. In order not to offend the Jews, you need to remember simple rules before visiting the site.
- Clothing should cover the body, women wear long skirts and blouses with closed shoulders. Married ladies and men cover their heads.
- Turn off your mobile phones, Jews take prayer seriously and should not be distracted.
- Despite the abundance of food trays on the square, you will not be allowed to the Wailing Wall with food in hand.
- Upon entering, you must go through security and possibly a search. Yes, the procedure is not entirely pleasant, but treat it with understanding. These are necessary security measures.
- On Saturdays and Jewish holidays, you cannot take photos or videos against the wall! Pets are also not allowed.
- When leaving the square, do not turn your back on the shrine. This is also important for Christians. Walk at least ten meters "backwards", pay tribute to tradition.
How to get to the Western Wall?
The Wailing Wall is the main attraction for tourists and pilgrims from all over the world, so there will be no problems with transport. Three buses will take you to the Western Wall Square stop (this is the address): # 1, # 2 and # 38. The journey will cost 5 shekels. You can get here by private car, but you will hardly be able to find a parking space. You can also get there by taxi, but it's not cheap (about 5 shekels per kilometer).
Visiting the Jerusalem landmark is free, but donations are welcome. They go to the maintenance of the wall, charity and the salaries of the caretakers. You won't be able to take a walk at the wall at night (except on religious holidays). The rest of the time, the wall closes at the scheduled time - 22:00.
We advise you to look at the Great Wall of China.
The place is sacred to Jews and Muslims. It is believed that events from the Old Testament took place on the Temple Mount. They say that on the day of the destruction of the temples the wall "weeps". Muslims honor the Dome of the Rock mosque, because it was from here that the prophet Muhammad ascended.
Guided tour of the tunnel
For an additional fee, every tourist can go down to the tunnel that runs along the Western Wall near its center and northern part. Here you can see almost half a kilometer of walls inaccessible to the view from above. Interesting facts can be told by archaeologists - they discovered here many things from different periods of history. The remains of an ancient water channel were found in the north of the tunnel. With its help, water was once supplied to the square. It is also interesting that the largest stone of the wall weighs more than one hundred tons. It is the hardest object to be lifted without modern technology.
One of the most revered places for pilgrims from around the world is the Western Wall. The story of the origin of her debt is interesting and bloody. This place is really capable of fulfilling desires, and whether they come true, there is a lot of positive confirmation. It is better to come to the city for a couple of days, because in addition to the wall there are many equally important religious sights and temples. Here you can also buy red threads for the amulet, which have special power.
