HaKotel HaMa'aravi and the enduring stones of Jerusalem

HaKotel HaMa'aravi, known in English as the Western Wall, is an ancient stretch of masonry on the western side of the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, where huge stone blocks anchor a sacred platform and frame a plaza of prayer.

The Western Wall as a surviving structure of the Temple Mount

HaKotel HaMa'aravi is a retaining wall built to support the elevated plateau of the Temple Mount, the hill long associated with the First and Second Temples of Jerusalem.retaining wall surrounding the Temple Mount The wall dates back to the large expansion of the mount undertaken under Herod the Great in the first century BC, when massive stone courses were laid to form supporting sides around Mount Moriah.platform built by Herod around the Temple Mount

The Western Wall stands within the Old City of Jerusalem, on the western flank of the Temple Mount above stone-paved alleys that lead into the open plaza facing the masonry.Western Wall in the Old City of Jerusalem In a Jewish religious context, the name Western Wall often refers to the exposed section used for prayer, yet the structure in its full extent is part of a longer stone barrier running along the western edge of the mount.488-metre-long retaining wall on the western side of the Temple Mount

Stones, scale and layout of HaKotel HaMa'aravi

The exposed portion of HaKotel HaMa'aravi visible in the plaza is around 50 m (164 ft) long and about 20 m (66 ft) high, though the wall extends deeper below the present ground level and continues beyond the open area.measures about 50 metres long and about 20 metres high At eye level, the lowest courses are formed by large limestone blocks, characteristic of the Herodian period, carefully dressed and laid in horizontal bands that express both weight and precision.ancient retaining wall of the built-up hill known as the Temple Mount

Above the early stonework, later layers of masonry rise in different sizes and finishes, marking post-classical repairs and extensions carried out across centuries of changing rule.exposed portion of the Wailing Wall faces a large plaza in the Jewish Quarter The visible section forms one part of the longer western retaining wall, which disappears behind surrounding buildings and continues into underground tunnels where further stretches of stone can be seen along guided routes.retaining wall runs far beyond the open area used for prayer

Prayer, pilgrimage and the Old City setting

HaKotel HaMa'aravi stands close to the boundary between the Jewish Quarter and the Temple Mount esplanade, reached on foot through narrow streets that open out into the broad plaza in front of the stones.plaza facing the stones near the Jewish Quarter The wall serves as a place of prayer and pilgrimage in Judaism, where visitors approach the masonry, recite prayers and often place written notes between the stones.place of pilgrimage and prayer sacred to the Jewish people

Because entry to the plateau above is subject to religious and administrative restrictions, HaKotel HaMa'aravi has become the holiest site where Jews can directly gather in front of the Temple Mount retaining wall.holiest place where Jews can pray due to entry restrictions on the Temple Mount The plaza itself is divided into sections for different groups, with approaches from the Old City streets and views of the larger urban fabric of Jerusalem rising around the sacred enclosure.Western Wall located in the Old City of Jerusalem at the foot of the western side of the Temple Mount

Visiting HaKotel HaMa'aravi: what travellers from Western Europe should know

• HaKotel HaMa'aravi lies within the Old City of Jerusalem on the western side of the Temple Mount, reached on foot through the streets of the Jewish Quarter and adjoining districts.
• The plaza in front of the wall is paved and largely level, yet reaching it involves walking along uneven stone alleys and negotiating steps and ramps within the Old City.
• The official languages are Hebrew and Arabic and the currency is the Israeli shekel.
• Entry requirements depend on your nationality; UK travellers can check the FCDO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice, Irish travellers the Department of Foreign Affairs at ireland.ie.

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Frequently asked questions about HaKotel HaMa'aravi

Where is HaKotel HaMa'aravi located within Jerusalem?

HaKotel HaMa'aravi stands on the western side of the Temple Mount inside the Old City of Jerusalem, close to the Jewish Quarter and reached through stone-paved streets.

What can visitors expect when they reach the Western Wall?

Visitors arrive in a broad plaza facing the limestone masonry, where people approach the wall to pray, observe or take in the layered stonework and the surrounding Old City skyline.

What makes HaKotel HaMa'aravi distinctive among Jerusalem’s sacred places?

HaKotel HaMa'aravi is a surviving Herodian retaining wall of the Temple Mount and the holiest accessible site of prayer in Judaism, combining ancient stone courses with a living ritual focus.