🕎 Western Wall (Kotel)

About This Sacred Site

The Western Wall (Kotel) in Jerusalem is the most sacred site in Judaism where prayer is permitted. It is the last remaining retaining wall of the Second Temple compound, destroyed by the Romans in 70 CE. Jews from around the world come here to pray, often placing written prayers in the cracks between its ancient stones. The Wall has been a site of Jewish pilgrimage and prayer for centuries and represents the Jewish people's enduring connection to Jerusalem.

Key Facts

• •The visible stones date to King Herod's expansion around 19 BCE
• •The Wall extends 488 meters, but only 57 meters are visible at the prayer plaza
• •Over 1 million written prayers are placed in the Wall's crevices each year
• •The Wall stands 19 meters above the plaza, with 13 more meters below ground
• •It has been a site of Jewish prayer since at least the 4th century CE

Location

Coordinates: 31.7767, 35.2345