Western Wall

The Western Wall, or Kotel, dates back to the late Second Temple period, constructed around 19 BCE as part of King Herod the Great's ambitious expansion of the Temple Mount. It was never intended to be a holy site on its own; rather, it served as one of four massive retaining walls designed to support the enormous artificial plateau upon which the Second Temple stood. The precision of the Herodian masonry, featuring massive limestone blocks fitted together without mortar, remains a marvel of ancient engineering that has survived for over two millennia. Following the Roman destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple in 70 CE, the Western Wall was the only significant remnant left standing of the complex. Over centuries, it became the focal point of Jewish pilgrimage and mourning, as it was the closest accessible point to the Holy of Holies, the most sacred inner sanctum of the former Temple. This enduring connection transformed the wall from a mere architectural support into a profound symbol of resilience and the spiritual heart of the Jewish people throughout their long diaspora. In the modern era, the wall's significance has only grown, particularly after the 1967 Six-Day War when Israel gained control of the Old City. The small, narrow alleyway that previously faced the wall was transformed into the large public plaza seen today, accommodating millions of visitors of all faiths annually. It now serves as a site for national ceremonies, Bar Mitzvahs, and daily prayers, where the tradition of placing handwritten notes into the crevices of the stones continues to connect the present with the ancient past.