The Western Wall (Hebrew: הַכּוֹתֶל הַמַּעֲרָבִי, romanized: HaKotel HaMa'aravi, lit.'the western wall', often shortened to the Kotel or Kosel), known in the West as the Wailing Wall, and in Islam as the Buraq Wall (Arabic: … See more

Construction and destruction (19 BCE–70 CE)
According to the Hebrew Bible, Solomon's Temple was built atop what is known as the Temple Mount in … See more

The new plaza created in 1967 is used for worship and public gatherings, including Bar mitzvah celebrations and the swearing-in ceremonies of newly full-fledged soldiers in the Israel Defense Forces. Tens of thousands of Jews flock to the wall on the … See more

History as place of prayer
Jews were banned from Jerusalem by the Roman authorities after the Second Jewish revolt (2nd century CE) and, although there are … See more

Western Wall
Early Jewish texts referred to a "western wall of the Temple", but there is doubt whether the texts … See more

Archaeology
Transformation into worship area
In September 1983, U.S. Sixth Fleet Chaplain, Rabbi See more

Archaeology
At the southern end of the Western Wall, Robinson's Arch along with a row of vaults once supported stairs ascending from the street to the Temple Mount.
The so-called Isaiah Stone, located under Robinson's Arch, … See more