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The Western Wall is the holiest places where Jews are permitted to pray. It’s located in the Jewish Quarter of the UNESCO World Heritage listed Old City of Jerusalem.
Also known as the Wailing Wall, the Wall is the western part of the Temple Mount, which is under the jurisdiction of Muslims through Status Quo. It formed part of the expansion project of the Second Temple begun by Herod the Great in 19 BC.
Visiting
Visitors the Western Wall must dress appropriately. No photos are allowed on Saturdays or Jewish holidays. The wall is open 24 hours a day.
Western Wall Plaza
After passing through a security check, we entered Western Wall Plaza. This open area was controversially created in 1967, just 48 hours after Israel took Jerusalem in the Six-Day War.
A small neighborhood known as the Moroccan Quarter stood just four meters (13 feet) from the Wall. The entire neighborhood was bulldozed, leaving 106 Arab families consisting of 650 people without a home. The area for Jewish prayer was enlarged from just 120 square meters (1,300 square feet) to 2,400 square meters (26,000 square feet).
Sections
There are separate sections for prayer at the Wall. The men’s section is to the left and the much smaller women’s section is to the right. Kippahs are provided to men who don’t have one.
Western Wall Tunnels
To get a more in-depth look at the Wall, take a guided tour through the Western Wall Tunnels. A 488 meter passage through the Wall gives insight on the construction of the Temple. It’s also the closest anyone can get to the Holy of Holies on the Temple Mount. Tours last about 75 minutes long and must be booked well in advance. We had planned to do a tour but our schedule was packed too tightly. Adult tickets cost ₪38 (as of May 2023).
Temple Mount
Visitors will notice a wooden elevated walkway on the right side of the Western Wall. This is the visitor entrance leading up to the Temple Mount. There are long queues and security checks, and visitor hours are limited for non-Muslims. We didn’t have a chance to visit, but we were told to go as early in the day as possible.
