Why is the Western Wall so Important to Jewish people?

You have likely seen photos of this iconic wall located in the heart of the Old City of Jerusalem. And if you've ever been to Israel, you've almost certainly been there and seen the many people praying at it!

The Western Wall (called Ha Kotel in Hebrew) is an old retaining wall built during the Herodian period that was used to support the Temple platform, an extension of the Temple Mount - considered to be the holiest place and spiritual epicenter to the Jewish people (also where the Holy of Holies was located!). It is named the Western Wall, due to the fact that it was... well, the western wall!

While the Western Wall was not a part of the Temple itself, it is considered to be holy due to its close proximity to the former Temple. Jewish people can’t pray on the Temple Mount today due to entry restrictions, so the Western Wall is considered to be the next best thing.

The wall is sometimes called the Wailing Wall, referring to the practice of Jews weeping at the site over the destruction of the temples. However, this phrase was widely coined by Christians during the Roman rule, when the Jewish people were completely barred from Jerusalem except to attend Tisha B'Av, the day of national mourning for the destructed Temples. Hence, most Jewish people (especially the religious) do not call this holy place the “Wailing Wall,” and while it is widely used, some Jewish people might find it offensive. 

If you were to look closely at the Western Wall, you would see thousands of tiny crumpled up pieces of papers - prayers! To learn more about this tradition, click HERE.