western wall western wall wall hebrew pronunciation arabic wall place ancient limestone wall relatively small segment far longer ancient retaining wall known entirety western wall wall originally erected expansion second jewish temple resulted natural steep hill known jews christians large rectangular structure topped huge flat platform creating space temple auxiliary buildings western wall considered holy connection status quo policy wall place jews permitted pray site jewish faith lies original natural irregular shaped gradually extended allow larger temple compound built process finalised enclosed mount rectangular set retaining walls built support extensive earth fills needed natural hill regular shape box like structure built vast paved surrounded temple retaining walls western considered closest temple makes sacred site recognised judaism outside half wall total height including courses located street level dates end second temple period commonly believed built bce recent excavations indicate work finished time died bce large stone blocks lower courses courses medium sized stones added era small stones courses recent date especially ottoman period term western wall variations narrow sense section traditionally jews prayer called wall referring practice jews site destruction temples period christian roman rule jerusalem jews completely barred jerusalem attend day national mourning temples day jews holy places term wall exclusively christians revived period non jewish control establishment british rule day war term wall jews increasingly consider broader sense western wall refer entire meter long retaining wall western classic portion faces large plaza jewish quarter near southwestern corner rest wall concealed structures small exception section called segment western retaining wall traditionally jewish known western wall derives particular importance having fully obscured medieval buildings displaying original stonework little western wall religious terms little western wall presumed closer presence god underground warren gate reach 12th century wall site jewish prayer pilgrimage centuries earliest source mentioning specific site place worship 16th century previous sites jews mourning destruction temple periods access city prohibited lay east mount mid-19th century onwards attempts purchase rights wall immediate area jews successful rise movement early 20th century wall source friction jewish muslim communities worried wall jewish claims jerusalem period violence foot wall commonplace particularly deadly riot jews killed injured arab israeli war eastern portion jerusalem occupied jordan control jews completely expelled including jewish quarter jews barred entering years effectively banning jewish prayer site period ended june israel gained control site following day war days establishing control western wall site israeli authorities create space western wall plaza etymology early jewish texts referred western wall temple doubt texts referring outer retaining wall called today western wall western wall actual temple earliest jewish use hebrew term western wall referring wall visible today 11th century poet ben wall descriptions place appeared regularly english literature 19th century french german term translation arabic place traditional arabic term wall description stemmed jewish practice coming site destruction temple time 19th century arabs began referring wall wall based tradition inside wall place muhammad winged tradition based states prophet angel gate mosque meaning gate location entry gate identified muhammad varied centuries eastern southern walls southwest corner finally western wall specifically immediately adjacent place jews israeli archaeologist concluded muslim association western wall began late nineteenth century response renewed jewish identification site location dimensions western wall commonly refers foot exposed section ancient wall situated western flank section faces large plaza set aside prayer entirety ground portion western wall stretches feet hidden residential structures built length revealed sections include southern wall measures approximately metres shorter section known located close iron gate wall functions retaining wall supporting ample built bce project create artificial extension small quasi natural plateau stood transforming rectangular wide visible today western wall plaza total height wall foundation estimated feet exposed section standing approximately feet high wall consists stone courses ground underground seven visible layers period section wall built enormous limestone blocks possibly cave situated muslim quarter kilometres northwest weigh short tons weigh extraordinary stone located slightly north wilson arch measuring metres weighing approximately tonnes short tons framed fine borders margins measure centimetres wide depth measuring centimetres period upper metres wall metre thick served outer wall double temple platform upper section decorated remainder destroyed byzantines jerusalem courses consisting smaller dressed stones date period muslim 8th century courses small stones period muslim 16th century later known story layers wall added sir accessibility people disabilities plaza wall accessible people mobility difficulties gate access directly considerable number steep steps access cars restricted parking nightmare disabled visitors advised arrive taxi public transportation guide dogs permitted individuals january jewish woman denied access wall women section men section long presence prevented police women section associated site administration group female volunteers guard entrance women section preventing entry visitors dressed idea orthodox standards women director community center lesbian gay bisexual community noted long experience unique gender separation western wall harmful people story know religious people wanted pray couldn said battle access community long difficult history construction bce according solomon temple built atop known 10th century bce destroyed bce second temple completed dedicated bce great began massive expansion project addition fully rebuilding temple artificially expanded platform stood doubling size today western wall formed retaining perimeter wall platform israeli archaeologists announced surprising discovery roman coins death found foundation stones wall came coins inside ritual bath building project filled create base wall located southern section indicate finish building entire wall time death bce find confirms description historian states construction finished reign king great grandson given information surprise mainly regarded fact unfinished retaining wall area mean parts splendid monumental staircase leading completed lifetime surprising fact usually thorough builders cut corners filling ritual bath placing foundation course directly bedrock scholars doubtful interpretation offered alternative explanations example later repair work temple destroyed romans rest jerusalem jewish roman war rise early centuries roman defeat bar revolt jews banned jerusalem evidence roman emperors 2nd 3rd centuries permit visit city worship mount empire christian constantine given permission enter city year ninth day month lament loss temple wall written suggests probably stone jews come year depart imperial decree rome barred jews living jerusalem year permitted return fate people comparable accounts survive including commentary written 4th century christian sources reveal jews encountered great difficulty buying right pray near 9th jews wrote byzantine empress seeking permission pray ruins temple permission granted officially permitted jerusalem middle ages jewish authors 10th 11th centuries write jews purposes relates ben gave money oil sanctuary western wall wrote place walls called gate mercy come jews pray wall open court account gave rise confusion actual location jewish worship suggest benjamin fact referred eastern wall gate mercy mention near detailed account temple site shortly period existed site states wall standing great thick stones larger seen buildings antiquity rome lands shortly siege jerusalem son successor established land adjacent wall charitable trust named important mystic dedicated settlers taken residence houses built metres away wall mention islamic tradition site 14th century manuscript refers old gate southwestern wall ottoman period turkish ottomans conquered jerusalem held relate magnificent quest locate temple site order area swept western wall washed discovery late 16th century ordered construction imposing fortress wall built entire city stands today time jews received official permission worship site ottoman architect built arranged prayers wall mentioned time centuries land close wall built public access wall labyrinth narrow issued forbade jews wall cautioned raising voices displaying books allowed pay visits old writing mid-19th century records wall visited brothers feast festival large space foot densely filled perform time visited numbers friday afternoon nearly day visits old sultan constantinople approach shall denied privilege special tax insignificant time increased numbers people gathering site resulted tensions jewish visitors wanted easier access space residents complained noise gave rise jewish attempts gaining ownership land adjacent wall late 1830s wealthy jew named attempted purchase houses near wall unsuccessful jewish sage bombay tried purchase 1850s settled jerusalem arranged benches tables brought wall daily basis study groups organised led years formulated plan facing wall acquired intention establishing establish ancient practice guards honour according positioned rented house near wall paid men stand guard mount set lasted short time lack funds arab resentment paid adjacent wall baron conceived plan purchase demolish merit honor jewish people proposed purchase considered approved ottoman governor jerusalem jerusalem permission obtained highest secular muslim religious authority proceed transaction shelved authorities insisted quarter construction type place trees planted area additionally jews control area meant power stop people plaza activities including driving cause disturbance reports place scheme failure jewish plan foster detrimental arab reaction hebrew publisher failed effort purchase lost assets attempts purchase jews outbreak world war came fruition months following ottoman_empire entry world war turkish governor jerusalem offered sell consisted houses jews order area available prayer requested sum muslim families create public garden wall jews city lacked necessary funds months later muslim arab pressure turkish authorities jerusalem jews forbidden official decree place benches light candles wall sour turn relations taken managed ban overturned reported closed wall measure issued wall cited jewish contingent proof rights wall muslim authorities responded arguing historic sanctions jewish presence acts tolerance shown muslims positive rights british rule december british forces captured jerusalem turks pledged sacred building monument holy spot shrine traditional site pious customary place prayer whatsoever form religions maintained protected according existing customs beliefs faith sacred leader anxious enable jews access sacred site approached british military governor jerusalem colonel sir offered modern terms purchase area foot wall occupants enthusiastic idea hoped money improve muslim education appeared promising negotiations broke strong muslim opposition wrote decades later acceptance proposals years including wall pavement comic arab band jewish prayer culminating horrible early jewish arab dispute wall occurred muslim authorities carrying minor repair works wall upper courses jews agreeing works necessary appealed british supervision newly formed wall ancient effort lease included wall plan eventually buying negotiations begun secret jewish judge financial backing american millionaire chairman colonel explained aim quietly evacuate occupants houses later necessary demolish create open space seats aged sit withdrew price excessive plan came advice demanded british wall jews british refused reported high commissioner palestine believed western wall come jewish control wondered great jewish philanthropist bought september disturbances status quo agreement issued mandatory authority forbade placing benches chairs near wall occurrence ban ottoman decree soon retracted intervention district commissioner jerusalem arab request implement ban led british officer stationed wall making sure jews prevented sitting jews permitted separate sexes screen practice flexible emerged screens time time large numbers people gathered pray september day british police resorted removing force screen separate men women prayer women tried prevent screen dismantled beaten police pieces broken wooden frame clubs chairs pulled elderly episode international news jews world objected british action chief jews jerusalem issued protest letter behalf community strongly condemning holy site communal leaders called general strike large rally held following angry crowd attacked local police station believed british officer involved commissioner described screen violating ottoman status quo forbade jews making construction area informed jewish community removal carried orders receiving complaint arabs concerned jews trying extend rights wall ultimately intended possession british government issued announcement explaining incident blaming jewish wall stressed removal screen necessary expressed regret ensuing events widespread arab campaign protest presumed jewish intentions designs possession mosque swept country society protection muslim holy places established responding arab fears declared statement declare jew thought rights holy places arab recognise rights jews regard places palestine holy committee demanded british administration wall jews october onward organised series measures demonstrate arabs exclusive claims ordered new construction british granted arabs permission convert building adjoining wall mosque add appointed perform islamic prayer rites directly wall seen jews prayed wall jews protested tensions increased british inquiry disturbances investigation principal issue western wall dispute rights jewish bring wall convened provided documents dating turkish regime supporting claims repeated chief verify apparatus permitted failed response refused arguing jews right pray wall restrictions subsequently november government issued entitled western wall jerusalem memorandum secretary state colonies emphasised maintenance status quo instructed jews bring accessories permitted turkish times months later complained chancellor jews bringing benches tables increased numbers wall driving nails wall hanging lamps palestine riots summer ordered opening southern end wall sac led prayer area wall narrow alley dropping construction projects vicinity restricted access wall resulted jewish protests british remained indifferent august attacks individual jews praying wall jews demonstrated shouting wall day jewish fast youths raised flag sang wall day august organized mob muslim arabs descended injuring burning prayer books fixtures notes rioting spread jewish commercial area town followed days later massacre jews killed injured arab riots subsequent process riots arabs killed british police far deadliest attack jews period british rule palestine international commission response riots appointed commission determine rights claims muslims jews connection western wall determine causes violence prevent future approved commission condition members british jews requested commission following actions recognition claim wall holy place jews jews palestine jews world decree jews shall right access wall devotion prayers accordance ritual interference decree shall continue jewish services conditions characteristic sacred custom carried centuries infringement religious rights decree drawing regulations necessary prayers shall entrusted shall assume responsibility matter discharge responsibility consult world suggest commissioners approve plan mandatory power necessary arrangements properties occupied vacated authorities accepting lieu certain new buildings erected eligible site jerusalem charitable purpose given fulfilled commission noted jews claim wall pavement concluding speech jewish counsel minutes page head member ottoman parliament public figures join movement openly testified commission stated judged today stands nation deprived dear sacred emergence land graves graves great kings graves holy site glorious temple taken witnesses remains tiny portion wall borders place temple bare stone wall nation stands open sky heat summer rains winter heart god heaven commission concluded wall adjacent pavement solely owned muslim jews right free access purpose times subject limited objects brought wall forbade blowing illegal muslims forbidden disrupt jewish driving animals means held position recorded april master came pray morning present produced small chair rest moments sooner sat arab officer appear pull chair away 1930s conclusion young jews ban year blew resulting arrest prosecution usually fined sentenced imprisonment months commission determined violence occurred racial animosity arabs consequent disappointment political national aspirations fear economic future rule arab israeli war old city wall controlled jordan article viii armistice agreement provided israeli jewish access following nineteen years despite numerous requests israeli officials jewish groups united_nations international bodies attempt enforce armistice agreement jordan refused clause israeli arabs israeli jews visit holy places territories exception christians participate christmas ceremonies sources claim jews visit wall traveled jordan option israeli stamped soldiers tourists found point wall viewed place jews gathered pray thousands pilgrims mount closest location wall israeli control substitute site traditional blessing ceremony takes place wall sign rule street sign arabic english stones ancient wall attached metres separate tiles said arabic english wall israeli soldiers arrived wall june attempted hebrew lettering reported june ben went wall looked road sign right come proceeded act signaled climax capture ability jews access sites emotional event related david ben israeli rule present following israel victory day war western wall came israeli control brigadier proclaimed capture israel relinquish wall stance supported israeli minister defence chief staff general described moment israeli soldiers reached wall moment day war great victory moment command reached stones feeling emotion place moment like staged moment planned advance prepared prepared providence directed thing loudly pain comrades fallen way words prayer heard western wall stones years silence tears mourning shouts joy singing hours capturing wall military explicit government order hastily proceeded demolish entire stood metres wall mosque built jerusalem oldest islamic schools named sons pulled way plaza survived time people consisting arab families ordered leave homes night refused began demolish structures causing casualties old woman buried houses razed area according later israel sixth president took credit destruction neighbourhood visited wall found toilet attached decided remove came conclusion evacuate entire area wall historical opportunity return knew following saturday june jewish festival want come pray completed narrow pavement accommodate maximum day transformed enormous plaza hold excess months later pavement close wall excavated depth half meters exposing additional courses large stones complex buildings wall southern end plaza included house family occupied 16th century spared destruction demolished section wall dedicated prayers extended southwards double original length metres metres space facing wall grew metres dusty plaza stretched wall small approximately square metres area wall grew square metres entire covering square metres acres new plaza created worship public gatherings including bar celebrations swearing ceremonies newly fledged soldiers tens thousands jews flock wall jewish holidays particularly fast marks destruction temple jerusalem day commemorates jerusalem delivery wall jewish hands conflicts prayer national monument began little year israel victory day war site accessible jews july planned group international convention jerusalem appealed prohibited organization hosting mixed gender services wall committee internal affairs backed jewish convention attendees come countries fashion orthodox hold services wall follow traditional jewish law segregated seating followed non orthodox perspective wall shrine jews particular branch judaism robinson arch southern end robinson arch row supported stairs ascending street come direct control wall site opened religious groups hold worship services approved ministry major men women prayer areas wall need area apparent repeated attacks activists belonging group called women wall petitioned secure right women pray wall restrictions directive israel supreme_court women reading publicly wearing traditional prayer plaza instructed israeli government prepare site robinson arch host events site inaugurated august hosted services reform conservative groups services judge ruled israeli supreme_court ruling prohibiting women carrying wearing prayer women wall prayer gatherings wall deemed disturbing public order november government approved scheme improve access infrastructure site stone located robinson arch carved inscription hebrew heart shall bones shall flourish like april israel leader spearheaded concept expand robinson arch area area people perform worship rituals based orthodox interpretation jewish tradition august new square foot prayer platform named plaza completed plan access platform hours rest area park closed visitors controversy question authority prayer area announcement come authority future government appointed council include non orthodox representatives january approved plan designate new space available prayer controlled women wall welcomed decision chief jerusalem said creating mixed gender prayer section paramount destroying chief said create alternate plan wilson arch initiated major renovation effort wall goal restore area wilson arch covered area left facing wall open prayer plaza order increase access visitors prayer restoration men section included house addition new library heating winter air conditioning summer new room built maintain preserve wall new construction included women section overlooking men prayer area women use separate area services held inside arch time july oil burning eternal light installed prayer hall wilson arch eternal light installed area according requests years olive oil lamp placed prayer hall custom jewish represent temple jerusalem continuously burning fire altar burnt offerings temple especially closest place ancient flames number special worship events held renovation taken advantage cover temperature control enhanced security addition recent programs early event occurred september modern renovation time sixth fleet chaplain arnold allowed hold unusual service service conducted wall time israeli control included men women sitting minute service included blessing recited representative present responding press service authorized special welcome wall arab israeli war named proceedings wall death given position theology ritual judaism tradition teaches western wall built foundations laid biblical king solomon time temple compiled late antiquity refers western wall temple destroyed mentions rome unable western wall divine oath promising eternal survival quotes 4th century scholar said departed similarly writes divine presence rests western wall medieval claimed today surviving wall temple cautioned jews approaching enter temple state contemporary believe traditions reference western wall accordingly wall inherent secular scholars believe traditions originally western wall temple gradually applied surviving retaining western wall mount discusses mystical aspect hebrew word discussing significance praying wall cites writes word meaning wall parts numerical value god meaning mount refers temple western wall eighteenth century scholar writes destruction temple god removed presence sanctuary placed remains honour told great jewish including experienced revelation wall wall jews attach wall contemporary orthodox scholars rule area wall status treated respect view upheld authority charge wall men married women expected cover heads approaching wall dress appropriately departing custom walk backwards away wall saturdays forbidden enter area electronic devices including cameras orthodox jewish warn fingers cracks wall believe breadth wall constitutes retains permit claim wall located outside temple area past visitors write names wall based verses drive nails practices stopped determined actions compromised wall practice existed pilgrims intending travel abroad hack chip wall sand cracks good luck charm late 19th century question raised permitted long appeared jerusalem newspaper concluded according jewish law permitted practices stopped constituted recently rules forbidden remove small chips stone dust wall twigs vegetation grows wall contain cleaning stones problematic point view graffiti sprayed tourist left visible months began away old custom removing shoes approaching wall 17th century collection special prayers said holy places mentions coming western wall remove shoes bow moses wrote good custom approach white oneself submission gate heaven wall remove years custom standing wall ceased need remove shoes standing wall plaza area outside judaism western wall sole remnant place pilgrimage jews closest permitted accessible site spot judaism lies according opinion jews set foot sin historians archaeologists authorities believe rocky dome rock foundation stone located directly opposite exposed section near fountain spot site temple stood mourning temple destruction according visiting seeing site temple bach 17th century instructs sees situated wall king david built gates sunk ground destroyed broken bars king princes nations law find vision lord scholars write applicable jerusalem jewish control disagree pointing fact controlled muslim sit temple site increase feelings distress hasn seen wall days prevailing custom avoided visits festivals according person seen wall days holy temple glory praised burned destroyed prayer wall stated temple jerusalem prayed throne glory gate heaven situated open hear prayer jewish law silent prayer recited facing jerusalem temple ultimately god bounty blessing spot generally believed prayer particularly beneficial wall situated closest jacob writes gate heaven near israel prayers ascend high great ancient said jews send prayers direction jerusalem ascend way known remedy finding pray consecutive days western wall practice apparently conceived historical document written distinctly describes western wall place prayer jews late period benjamin wrote place western wall walls called gate mercy come jews pray wall open court arranged prayers wall mentioned time scholar preserved law brought wall occasions public distress testified narrative written went jerusalem writings travellers especially 18th 19th centuries tell wall continued place devotion jews prominent member community jerusalem recalled men women gather circle wall hear delivered great grandmother arrived palestine western wall friday afternoon winter summer stay lighting time reading entire book song songs sit hours past women found sitting entrance wall holding herbs order enable additional hot weather provide cool water women cast lots privilege sweeping washing foot wall ages wall jews gathered express gratitude god pray divine mercy news normandy landings june thousands jews went wall offer prayers success majesty liberation enemy occupied territory october gathered pray safe return kidnapped soldier august saw massive prayer rally wall estimates people protesting israel plan ranged people year large crowds wall commemorate destruction temple gathered month record million people visited site non orthodox prayer late 19th century formal segregation men women found wall conflict erupted july members denied right host mixed gender service site insisted maintaining gender segregation customary orthodox places worship responded claiming wall shrine jews particular branch judaism small vocal women wall launched campaign recognition non orthodox prayer wall form manner prayer violent response orthodox subsequently banned holding services site response repeated arrest women including found law observed urgent need reach permanent solution western wall symbol unity jewish people strife commentators called closure site acceptable solution controversy found israel supreme_court upheld ban non orthodox worship wall government responded robinson arch purposes critics complained restrictions western wall saying israel turned national monument ultra orthodox april ruled long appropriate area prayer prayer according non orthodox custom allowed wall led expansion renovation robinson arch prayer area placed authority august platform named plaza completed facilitate non orthodox worship prayer notes publicised practice placing slips paper containing written prayers wall earliest account practice attributed ibn million notes placed year opportunity mail notes offered number organisations customary visiting dignitaries place notes islam islamic reverence site derived belief prophet tied nearby night journey jerusalem places suggested exact spot centuries preferred location mosque inside wall south end present plaza mosque located ancient came long sealed huge visible directly gate british jew asked egyptian authorities permission ground governor syria wrote evident copy record jerusalem place jews asked permission wall spot included charter god memory jews carried repairs place past jews enabled place charged compiling list place names ordnance survey jerusalem reported street leading including alongside wall belonged court enclosure wrote arabs entire length wall place jews southwards house northwards court claimed corruption word simply neo arabic pronunciation whilst muhammad prayer holy rock said inside wall location mentioned appeared maps wilson survey revised editions maps early 20th century street specified official christianity scholars believe jerusalem came christian rule 4th century respect terms sites refuse dump christians actions modern christian leaders including pope pope visited wall left prayer messages christians restoration respect ancient religious site views jewish jews religious secular consider wall important jewish people originally built hold second temple consider capture wall israel historic event restored jewish access site year gap jews hold opposing views notable adherents dynasty retain views espoused grand approach wall conquest visit site visits 1920s wrote tradition wall jewish prayer site years old jews compelled pray forbidden assembling mount israeli poll carried israel studies indicated israeli jews israel speech israel jerusalem day israeli prime minister declared flag flies israeli flag holy places remain israeli sovereignty forever muslim december saudi_arabia stated muslims christians holy places rights jerusalem jews maintained rights said wall built pray leader northern branch israel wrote western wall parts structures gates compound western wall western tower israeli establishment calls wall wall holy palestinian according jews consider wall place worship declaration issued appointed jerusalem believes wall belongs muslims related stone wall relation judaism jews began praying wall nineteenth century began develop national aspirations year later stated single stone wall relating jews legitimately claim wall historically recommended allow jews pray order quiet means acknowledge wall belongs founder told television connection jews wall recent began 16th century ancient like roots islamic connection november official paper published denied jewish rights wall stated fact western wall jews started site worship declaration writes western wall motif publications public statements heads israel american recognizing difficulties inherent ultimate peace agreement involves status jerusalem official position united_states includes recognition importance wall jewish people condemned statements seek relationship jews area general particular example november obama administration strongly condemned palestinian official claim religious significance jews actually muslim property noted united_states rejects claim incorrect highly provocative
Western Wall