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Table of Contents
The Western Wall is known as the “Wailing Wall” in the West and the “Buraq Wall” in Arabic. It is an ancient limestone wall in Jerusalem’s Old City.
See the fact file below for more information on the Western Wall, or you can download our 29-page Western Wall worksheet pack to utilize within the classroom or home environment.
Key Facts & Information
ETYMOLOGY
- The western wall or also called the Wailing Wall was derived from the Hebrew word Kotel and Ma’aravu, which means wall.
- Western Wall is a translation of the Arabic title for the wall, el-Mabka, or “Place of Weeping.” This description arose from the Jewish practice of visiting the site to mourn and grieve the destruction of the Temple and the loss of national freedom it symbolized.
HISTORY
- In 586 BCE, the Temple Mount was demolished by the Babylonians, and the Second temple, known as Herod’s Temple, finished its construction by 516 BCE.
- The Western Wall was created during the enlarging and renovation of the second temple by Herod the Great in 19th BCE.
- The Herodian temple was destroyed by the Romans in 70 CE along with the rest of Jerusalem during the First Jewish-Roman War. Jews were banned from entering Jerusalem in 135 CE after being defeated by the Romans. However, during Tisha B’Av, which is an annual fast day to commemorate the loss of the Temple at the Wall, they were permitted to visit the city once a year when the empire began to become Christian under Constantine I.
- Jews from Galilee wrote to the Byzantine empress Aelia Eudocia in 425 CE requesting permission to pray by the Temple’s ruins.
- In 1517 during the Ottoman period, Jews were given formal permission to worship at the Wall. Mimar Sinan, an Ottoman architect, constructed an oratory for them. In 1625, organized prayers at the Wall were addressed.
- The 1967 War. Israeli paratroopers entered the Old City on the second day of the 1967 Six-Day War and took control of the Temple Mount and the Western Wall.
- Several days later, the houses of the Mugrabi Quarter were bulldozed to make way for the large plaza that now stands in front of the Western Wall, allowing thousands of worshippers to visit at once.
- Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Dayan agreed that the Muslim authorities (the Waqf) would retain control of the Muslim holy sites on the Temple Mount. To avoid conflict with the Muslims, Jews were allowed to visit freely, but they were not allowed to pray there.
- The Western Wall Today. The Western Wall is the holiest of Jewish sites and is always crowded with worshippers, many of whom place prayers in its crevices. While the lower half of what is now visible dates from Herod’s reign, the upper portions of the Wall were added in the seventh century CE.
- The Wall thrums with history and spirituality, regardless of whether the people are Jewish or gentile. People pray for themselves and should dress modestly (men must cover their heads when approaching the Wall), and respect is expected.
- Visitors can enter the Western Wall Tunnels, which show the extended parts of the structure in addition to the external part of the Western Wall.
LOCATION, HEIGHT, AND STONES
- The Western Wall is located in the Old City of Jerusalem, on the western side of the Temple Mount.
- This Wall faces a large plaza and a praying area.
- The overall height of the Wall at the Western Wall Plaza, measured from the ground up, is approximately 105 feet, and the above-ground portion, standing, is about 62 feet.
- The Western Wall is made up of 45 stone courses, 28 of which are visible above ground and 17 of which are below ground.
- During the Herodian period, the first seven layers above the ground of the Western Wall were constructed. Huge meleke limestone blocks were used to build this portion of the Wall.
- The stones’ margins range from 2 to 8 inches (5 to 20 centimeters) wide, with a 1.5-centimeter depth (0.59 in).
- When the Byzantines retook Jerusalem from the Persians in 628, they destroyed the remaining pilasters that adorned the upper section.
- A large stone staircase once led to the Temple Mount’s southwest corner, continued along the western wall, and then turned east to provide access to the mount. Only a few courses of stone remain halfway up the Wall from the original staircase, which has long since been destroyed and is now known as Robinson’s Arch.
RITUALS
- Status as a synagogue. The wall has the status of synagogue which means a place for the Jewish people’s house of worship. When approaching the Wall, men and married women need to cover their heads and dress appropriately.
- Before leaving, it is customary to walk backward away from the Wall to demonstrate its sanctity.
- Contact with the Wall. Some codifiers of Orthodox Jewish law forbids people from sticking their fingers into the Wall’s cracks because they consider the Wall’s width a part of the Temple Mount itself and thus holy. Removing small chips of stone or dust from the Western Wall is also prohibited.
- Barefoot approach. It was once customary to remove the shoes before proceeding to the Wall. However, because the plaza area is outside the Temple Mount holy precinct, there is no need to remove one’s shoes when standing by the Wall, and the tradition of going barefoot there has faded over time.
- Prayer Notes. People tuck small pieces of prayer paper between the gaps in the Wall. Jews regard the Wall as a representation of God’s presence, and many believe that God can see what is written on it. The prayers are collected every two years and then interred on the Mount of Olives.
FLORA AND FAUNA
- The Western Wall is home to a variety of creatures, including small lizards that live among the stones and swallows, sparrows, and doves that build their nests within the cracks.
- The Western Wall is home to six different types of plants.
- Henbane. The most prominent plant on the Wall is this Henbane. Shikaron, or “drunkenness,” is the Hebrew name for this plant, which is not surprising given that it is intoxicating and poisonous.
- Thorny Caper. It has purple and white leaves and is possibly the most beautiful plant on the Western Wall.
- The Western Wall’s capers and every other plant that grows out of the stone’s cracks are unaffected and contribute to the Wall’s beauty. The Western Wall’s rocks provide extremely tangible support for the roots of these plants.
- Other plants in the Wall include Horsetail Knotgrass, which serves as a remedy for snakebite, and Phagnalon, a small plant dispersed throughout the Wall.
- Sicilian Snapdragon is frequently found on the higher sections of the Wall. Podosnoma, the second common plant, and a typical rock plant, can penetrate stone with its roots to extract water.
SIGNIFICANCE
Western Wall contains a significant portion of Jewish history. The Jews regard the Western Wall as a holier place than the other three remaining support walls because of its proximity to the Holy of Holies in the temple.
CONVERSATION
- The Western Wall Heritage Foundation examined the Wall’s condition and discovered that the structural integrity of the stones was deteriorating.
- The Israel Antiquities Authority conducted a thorough physical and engineering study which resulted in the submission of a construction plan.
- The top sixteen courses of stone on the Wall, which were built during the Ottoman era, were conserved because they were prone to weathering and disintegration.
- The treatment consisted of removing any crumbling or cracked brickwork, sealing the top of the Wall, stabilizing stones, filling cracks and cavities with lime-based mortar, pointing up seams with lime-based mortar, removing all flora except the thorny capers, and herbicide-treating it.
Western Wall (Israel) Worksheets
This fantastic bundle includes everything you need to know about the Western Wall across 29 in-depth pages. These ready-to-use worksheets are perfect for teaching kids about the Western Wall, known as the “Wailing Wall” in the West and the “Buraq Wall” in Arabic. It is an ancient limestone wall in Jerusalem’s Old City.
Complete List of Included Worksheets
Below is a list of all the worksheets included in this document.
- Western Wall (Israel) Facts
- Wall Card Information
- Follow the Rituals
- Western Wall’s Timeline
- Term Check
- The Living Things
- Think And Create
- Layers Of The Past
- Then And Now
- Wall Facts
- Preserving History
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Western Wall?
The Western Wall, also known as the Kotel or the Wailing Wall, is an ancient limestone wall located in the Old City of Jerusalem. It is the remaining part of the Second Temple, which was destroyed by the Romans in 70 CE. It is considered a sacred site by Jews, as it is the closest point to the Temple Mount, the most sacred site in Judaism.
Why is the Western Wall important?
The Western Wall is considered a sacred site by Jews because it is the closest point to the Temple Mount, the most sacred site in Judaism. Many Jews visit the Western Wall to pray and to place written prayers between the stones of the wall.
What can you see at the Western Wall?
At the Western Wall, you can see the ancient limestone wall, as well as the Western Wall Tunnel, which exposes the full length of the wall. You can also see the Western Wall Plaza, where people gather to pray and place written prayers between the stones of the wall.
Can you visit the Western Wall?
Yes, the Western Wall is open to visitors and can be visited by anyone. It is a popular tourist destination and is open to people of all religions. Visitors should be aware of the dress code, which requires modest dress, and the opening hours, which vary depending on the day.
What is the tradition of placing a note in the Western Wall?
It is a Jewish tradition to place written prayers between the stones of the Western Wall. This is done by writing a prayer or wish on a small piece of paper and placing it in the cracks of the wall. Many people believe that by doing so, their prayers will reach God more easily.
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Link will appear as Western Wall Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, January 11, 2023
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