The First Temple in Jerusalem is mentioned as the ‘The House of Yahweh’ in ancient writings found in Israel.

Amidst the cool stones of the Western Wall, little prayers lay curled up between yellowing pages of hopeful notes. From all over the world, people write down their innermost feelings and burry them in the gaps along the face of the Western Wall.

The Western Wall forms part of the retaining wall of the Temple Mount and is considered the holiest place in the world for Jews. It is here that thousands of crinkled notes can be found stuffed into its cracks.

For centuries, Jews would inscribe their prayers on the Western Wall’s bricks, but during the British Mandate period, it was decreed that the Western Wall may not be defaced. A new solution had to be found for people to continue leaving behind lasting memories of their prayers, and the famous tradition of prayer notes was born.

There is, however, much dispute about the origins of inserting notes into the Western Wall, with Rabbi Getz, Rabbi Zalman Koren, Rabbi Gedaliah of Semitzi and the Ramban all recounting different ‘first’ instances of prayer notes in the Western Wall.

These letters are treated as holy, so twice a year the Western Wall’s Rabbi pries over 100 bags of notes from the bricks, and takes them to be buried.

As well as inserting one’s notes in person, letters to the Western wall can be sent via the Western Wall website, email or fax, where they are printed anonymously, on size 4 typeface in an illegible font to prevent anyone reading them, and hand-placed into the wall. The Western Wall Rabbi also receives hundreds of letters annually, addressed to "G-d, Jerusalem,” and of course, an entire department exists in the Israeli Postal Service for the thousands of letters sent to Israel simply addressed “to G-d,” which are all put in the wall, too.

Pope John Paul II, Pope Benedict XVI, Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump have publicly placed their prayers into the wall. But most famously, in 2008 when Barak Obama inserted his note into the wall, it was removed and publicized by an Israeli newspaper, to the anger of many.

Not everyone agrees with the idea of putting notes into the Western Wall. Some say that this practice “pollutes” the holy space and others even argue that it might be idolatrous.

But what is for certain is that the practice of placing notes into the Western Wall is a source of comfort, hope, and encouragement for so many thousands of people who have no where else to turn.

National Library of Israel

“The Western Wall”, Jerusalem

30.) My Jerusalem Western Wall (kotel) sweater. Wore it there many times, this picture from 2016. #sambarsky #sambarskysweaters #sambarskyknitter #knit #knitting #knitter #art #artist #sweater #intarsia #handknit #westernwall #wailingwall #jerusalem #israel #jerusalemisrael #wall #kotel #kotelplaza #yerushalayim #ירושלים #כותל #ישראל (at Western wall Jerusalem) https://www.instagram.com/p/CkzeiUJtrle/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Israel - Holy Places In Jerusalem (1/2)

Jerusalem isn’t that huge, but full of spots, which considered to be holy to religions as Jews, Christians and Moslems, and if you want so, also the many markets, which could be considered as places to worship the capitalism 😉 To visit most places and get more informations i joined a tour group for the day.. Tour guide Tania lead the group to the many interesting places. Starting in the Armenian…

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#Repost @kyou.jo • • • • • • 어느 산맥에 이어지지 않은 덩그러니 홀로 선 그런 산 하나, 저 멀리 수평선 가까이 와딴섬같은 삶, 그 누구에게서도 나오지 못했고, 방패가 되어줄 사람들도 없이, 어둔 밤 길을 가야 하는 사람처럼 되어버렸다. 스승이 필요했고, 감싸줄 사람이 필요 했는데, 그러지 못한 시절들. 그렇게 또 헤쳐나가야야만 하는 세월들 #israel #jerusalem #oldcity #oldcityjerusalem #westernwall # #blackandwhite #documentary #documentaryphotography #life #여행스타그램 #여행사진 #bethlehem #베들레헴 #wildness #koreaphotography #torahstudy #drawing #judaica #judaicaart #Ukrainewillwin https://www.instagram.com/p/CkOwx1mIO0l/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

ברכות מישראל pt.2 🇮🇱 (En Gedi, Jerusalem, Jaffa) • PRESTO DISPONIBILE IL PODCAST! • #israel #israel2022 #greetingsfromisrael #shalom #toda #jerusalem #jaffa #gerusalemme #ebrei #emilioebreo #vivvia #engedi #oasis #oasi #cascate #murodelpianto #westernwall #arabianquarter #jewishquarter #surfinisrael #templemount (at Jerusalem) https://www.instagram.com/p/CjnCYEctiIX/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Wailing Wall @countryside_gallery #decormolding #wailingwall #truviewglazing #barmitzvah #acrylicspacers #westernwall #preservationmounting #israel #conservationframing #holytemple (at Countryside Gallery & Custom Frame Design) https://www.instagram.com/p/CjM5qDXufGm/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Spent some time in the Old City. Y’all know the deal, lots of prayers and lots of crying, but always a beautiful time. #israel @maccabiusa @maccabiah #westernwall (at Jerusalem, Israel) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cf47YJ-Mt5q/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

And The Artist Is (SOLD ARCHIVES)

EUGENE ALEXIS GIRARDET

(1853 - 1907)

The Wailing Wall

Oil on canvas

28 3/4 x 19 inches

Signed

https://rehs.com/Eugene_Alexis_Girardet_The_Wailing_Wall.html

#eugenegirardet

#frenchart #frenchartist #wailingwall #westernwall #jerusalem #koteł #middleeast #figurativeart #paintingoftheday #frenchacademicart #rehsgalleries #fineart #soldart #academicart #instaart #artoftheday #paintingoftheday

Breaking news from Jerusalem, Israel, preparations for the Third Temple are accelerating at a breathtaking pace. Join us, as we unveil shocking blueprints and stunning 3D animations that bring the 3rd Jewish Temple to life! Witness the grandeur, the intricate details and a vision of the future of Jerusalem, Israel.

Beneath the ancient stones of the #WesternWall, or #Kotel, a newly wedded couple bows their heads, their silent prayers weaving with the echoes of a thousand generations. Today is not just a day of union for them. It's the start of a journey together, one that begins on the mysterious yet intriguing festival of Tu B'Av.

Tu B'Av, the 15th of Av, is a uniquely special day on the Jewish calendar. A search of the Shulchan Aruch, the Code of Jewish Law, might not reveal much. There are no prescribed observances or customs, aside from the omission of the tachanun (confession of sins) and an instruction to increase one's study of Torah. Yet, this seemingly ordinary day holds a magic that's been recognized for ages.

On this day, the Talmud tells us, the "daughters of Jerusalem would go dance in the vineyards," a celebration of love and life that transforms the mundane into the extraordinary. Young men who did not yet have a wife would attend, not just to watch, but to find a companion to share their life's journey with. Yes, on this day, love is not just celebrated, but sought, chased, and hopefully, found.

The Talmud declares Tu B'Av as the greatest festival of the year, surpassing even Yom Kippur! It's a mystery, much like the full moon that marks this day in the month of Av - a symbol of future redemption, an essence that remains elusive to our yet unredeemed selves. The unknowable may be mystifying, but isn't that the allure of love too? Isn't it the thrill of the chase, the anticipation of the mystery unfolding that makes love all the more precious?

So, whether you are newly wedded like our couple at the Western Wall or still searching for your special someone, take this Tu B'Av to heart. The stars are aligning, the vineyards are waiting, and love is in the air. It's your time now - time to embrace the mystery, to seek the unknowable. Love may be a puzzle, but every piece found, every step taken brings you closer to completing the beautiful picture.

Photo Credit: Diamond Images Photography

Rabbi Yisroel Bernath

Jerusalem, The Western Wall, the holiest site in Judaism, a portion of the ancient limestone wall that remains from the Second Temple times. The faithful reach for the large stones to leave prayer sheets in the cracks. — #jerusalem #wailingwall #westernwall #kotel #kosel #judaism #jewish #israel #oldcity #circulation #black #white #bnw #bnwphotography #blackandwhite #monochrome #bnwphotos #moments_in_bnw #moments_in_photography #moments #moments_in_streetlife #bnwcaptures #bnwart #bnwartphoto #bnwartphotograhy #streetphoto_bw #streetphotography_bw #bnwstreetphotography #streetphotography #blackandwhitephotography