Western Wall
The Western Wall in Jerusalem is one of the most recognized and historically significant sites in the world. It is the remaining section of the retaining wall that once supported the expanded Temple complex built by Herod the Great around 10 BCE. The Temple itself, known as the Second Temple, was destroyed by the Romans in 70 CE, but this wall endured.
For centuries, Jewish people have come to this site as the closest accessible place to the location of the Temple, making it one of the holiest places in Judaism.
The large plaza in front of the wall is an addition created after 1967, allowing space for gathering, prayer and public events. The wall is divided into separate sections for men and women, and at any time of the day there are people standing at the stones, reading and praying.
When Marty and I visited, we approached the wall with a prayer note and placed it into one of the openings between the stones. Writing something down makes the prayer more intentional and personal.
It is not just the age of the Western Wall, but its continuity. It is not preserved as a relic of the past but is still in daily use. The same stones that were set in place over thousands of years ago continue to serve as a place where history and present-day life meet in a very direct way.
Standing at the Wall, you don’t need an explanation to understand its importance.
It is, in every sense, a place held as sacred by those who come to it.
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