Cities - Jerusalem - The Kotel

There is probably no more potent symbol among world Jewry than the Kotel. “Kotel” literally means wall, and it refers to the Western retaining wall of the Temple Mount, on top of which stood the Temple two thousand years ago. No trip to Israel is complete without a visit to the Kotel, and no Jewish site or synagogue can boast of more prayers ascending Above than the Kotel. Jews and others regularly write little notes with their requests (called a “petek” in Hebrew), and place them in the wall.

The first-time visitor to the Kotel won’t necessarily be overwhelmed with emotion. He or she may just sit in front of the Kotel and stare at it for awhile, not knowing what to do. They see a wall of huge stones, apparently from different historical periods, with anywhere from a few to a few thousand people thronging in front of it. There’s a “mechitza,” or separation in the middle, dividing between the men’s and women’s sections. So, what’s the Kotel all about?

It’s about prayer. What you see in front of you might seem like a three-ring circus. There are groups of people forming their own subgroups, each on their own time schedule, and going through some kind of ceremony together. Then, they part and go their own ways. That’s because for these people, Judaism isn’t an institution. It’s a way of life. Each person knows that they have to pray three times a day, and that those prayers have to be in prayer quorums, each called a minyan, of ten Jewish men over thirteen years old. They know that by coming to the Kotel, they will sooner or later find a group of ten men, form their own group, and pray either the morning service (Shacharit), the afternoon (Mincha), or evening service (Ma’ariv, or Aravit), depending on what time of day they come. Everyone in the minyan knows the prayer service, its order, and when to say things aloud or to oneself. It’s not necessary that they know each other, or that they get to know each other. The very fact that ten Jewish souls pray together imparts a special spiritual efficacy to one’s prayers which isn’t present when one prays alone. It’s as if a Higher Authority comes down and bestows its presence on ten Jews in a more powerful way than when one is alone.

Why the Kotel? Why not just pray, or daven (Yiddish for prayer) in your local synagogue or shul? The answer is “absolutely,” that’s what most people do. Nevertheless, many prefer to come to the Kotel, and many more would love to do so, but their schedule or circumstances don’t permit. Those who do come sense a special spiritual presence at the Kotel. After all, it’s as close as most of us can come these days to the actual Temple itself.

Another activity which should not be missed when visiting the Kotel is the “Tunnel Tours.” As one approaches the Kotel, to the left before entering the area of the Kotel itself, one finds the entrance to the tunnel tours, which follow the contour of the entire Kotel wall (western retaining wall of the Temple) as it progresses northward. The length excavated is five times longer than the section of the Kotel where we pray, and passes the place opposite the Holy of Holies. The tour ends after the corner of the northern wall of the Temple compound, and then exits into the Moslem quarter. The tours are extremely interesting and instructive, but are available only by signing up ahead of time. The number to call is the (02) 627-1333. Enjoy!