Western Wall & Plaza (Kotel)

 

Introduction

 

The Western Wall Plaza, also known as the Kotel, is the most sacred place in Judaism where large gatherings of Jews can pray and worship.

 

1. The Western Wall was part of the Temple Mount expansion Herod the Great did around 19 BC.

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2. It consists of 45 courses of stone, with 17 still underground and 28 above ground. We'll discuss them later.

 

​3. The Wall is the closest accessible point to the ancient Holy of Holies, making it the holiest place where Jews can pray.

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4. Above the Herodian base, later additions from the Umayyad, Mamluk, and Ottoman periods reflect centuries of rebuilding and preservation.

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5. For centuries, pilgrims from across the world have come to pray here, leaving written notes in its ancient stones.

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6. In this tour, we'll see the following:

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• Crushed stones from the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD by the Romans.

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• Burnt marks on the walls from the destruction in 70 AD.

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• Remains of an arch leading up to the Temple Mount.

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• The access ramp leading up to the Temple Mount for the general public.

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• The layout of the Western Wall Plaza.

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• The history and background of this area.

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• Many other highlights of the area.

 

Location

 

1. The Western Wall, also known as the Wailing Wall (because the Jews weep here during their prayers), is located on the western side of the Temple Mount. 

 

2. The Western Wall Tunnel is accessed on the northern side of the Western Wall Plaza and runs north to the end of the Temple Mount Platform.

 

Western Wall & Temple Mount History

 

1. In order to build the temple on the mountain top of Mount Moriah, supporting walls had to be erected that could be filled in, so there was a large flat place (platform) upon which to build. King Solomon first did this when he constructed the first temple around 950 BC. When the temple was rebuilt under Zerubbabel (537-515 BC), this same platform was used. Later, in 19 BC, King Herod began rebuilding a new massive temple. To accomplish this, he had to enlarge the Temple Mount Platform significantly. When he was done, it measured 985 x 1,575 feet (300 x 480 m.), or the equivalent of 35 football fields in size (35 acres, 14 hectares).

 

2. King Herod put 10,000 men to work and trained 1,000 priests as masons so they could work on the most sacred parts of the temple. The building was begun in 19 B.C. and completed in 10 years, but the work of decoration was not finished until 64 A.D. 

 

3. The temple King Herod built on this massive Temple Mount Platform was enormous in size. Nothing in the known world at that time compared to it in size and beauty. For comparison’s sake, the temple Herod built was three times the size of the Dome of the Rock (which measures 65 feet wide by 115 feet high, or 20 meters by 35 meters), which can still be seen today.

 

4. In 70 AD, six years after the temple was fully completed, the Romans burned down and destroyed the temple at Jerusalem, and it has never been rebuilt since.

 

5. When the Romans destroyed the temple in 70 AD, part of the western side of the Temple Mount Platform survived. For hundreds of years before 1967, people prayed in the small area of the wall that was visible at the time. However, in 1967, following the Six-Day War, Israelis excavated below the ground level of the wall and found two more stone rows. They then cleared the area around the wall to create the Western Wall Plaza that visitors see today. 

 

6. The Western Wall is part of the retaining wall, or support wall, that Herod the Great built in 19 BC when he enlarged the Temple Mount complex to accommodate a larger temple and Temple Mount area. It was a massive undertaking that required exceptional and sophisticated engineering.

 

7. Unlike what many think, the Western Wall was not part of the wall of the temple that King Herod Built.

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8. The Western Wall consists of a total of 45 courses of stone, with 17 still underground and 28 above ground. Following is the history of all the stone courses.

 

• Herodian Period (19 BC): Of the visible part of the wall, only the bottom seven stone courses, consisting of large stones with indented borders, are from Herod the Great's enlargement. There are 17 stone courses still buried underground. Some of these can be seen by entering the Western Wall Tunnels.

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• Umayyad Period (650-700 AD): The following four stone courses date back to the Muslim Umayyad Period.

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• Ottoman Period (1516-1917 AD): The subsequent 17 stone courses date back to this period.

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9. Located beside the Western Wall, on the left side, or northern side of the Western Wall, is a synagogue. Here Jews gather to study, read, and pray. This is one of the Jews’ most holy synagogues due to its proximity to the original Temple, where the Holy of Holies once resided.

 

Places of Interest

 

1. The entire length of the Western Wall is 1,575 ft. long (480 m.), almost a third of a mile (.53 km.).

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2. Massive Stones: At the southern end of the Western Wall are stones that the Romans cast down when they destroyed the city in 70 AD.

 

3. Broken Pavement: The broken pavement of the street that the massive stones crushed when they fell is sobering to see.

 

4. Burn Marks: On the wall remain burnt stones from the fire of the Roman conquest of the city in 70 AD.

 

5. Shop Ruins: There are remains of shops that were part of a large shopping plaza at the southern part of the Western Wall. This is the same wall that Jesus and His disciples would have seen.

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6. Southern Stairs: The Southern Stairs entrance to the temple is where Jesus would have taught His disciples and entered the Temple Mount area.

 

7. Trumpeter's Stone: At the southernmost end of the Western Wall is a significant stone that stood upon the uttermost southwestern corner of the Temple Mount.

 

• It has words written in Hebrew that mean “The Trumpeter’s House.”

 

• A priest would stand at this corner announcing the beginning of the Sabbath and other festival days the Jews celebrated with a loud trumpet blast.

 

8. Isaiah Stone: Right under Robinson's Arch, we can see the so-called "Isaiah Stone." It has a carved inscription in Hebrew with a partial quote or paraphrase of Isaiah 66:14. The carving says: "And them will see, and rejoice your heart, and your bones like grass shall flourish."

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9. In 1967, after the Six-Day War, the Israelis removed old homes and cleared the area around the wall to create the Western Wall Plaza that visitors see today.

 

10. In the Western Wall Plaza area, a walkway bridge can be seen that tourists use to access the Temple Mount.

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11. The Western Wall Plaza is divided into two sections: a men’s and a women’s section.

 

12. The area close to the wall is considered a synagogue, so men must wear a head covering when entering the men’s section.

 

13. Most Jews do not enter the Temple Mount for fear of unknowingly walking in the place where the Holy of Holies might have been. Plus, Muslims do not want them entering their places of worship as well.

 

14. The Western Wall Plaza is the closest large public area to the temple and Holy of Holies for the Jews. Therefore, it is their most holy site.

 

15. On the northern side of the Western Wall is Wilson’s Arch, which is the modern name for a stone arch whose top is still visible today. It once supported a bridge that provided access to a gate level with the surface of the Temple Mount during Jesus' time. Under this arch is a synagogue where Jews pray and read the Scriptures.

 

16. The Western Wall Plaza is only 10% of the entire Western Wall of the Temple Mount Platform. The majority of the wall is accessible by entering what is known as “The Western Wall Tunnels.” We will see that part shortly.

 

17. Western Wall Stone Layers: 

 

• Herodian Period (19 BC): Of the visible part of the wall, only the bottom seven stone courses, consisting of large stones with indented borders, are from Herod the Great's enlargement. There are 17 stone courses still buried underground. Some of these can be seen by entering the Western Wall Tunnels.

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• Umayyad Period (650-700 AD): The following four stone courses date back to the Muslim Umayyad Period.

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• Ottoman Period (1516-1917 AD): The subsequent 17 stone courses date back to this period.

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Faith Lesson from the Western Wall

 

1. It's sad that the closest large meeting area the Jews can get to the place where the original temple used to be located is the Western Wall, which, in reality, is just part of the supporting wall of the Temple Mount.

 

2. It’s sad that because of the Jews’ repeated refusal to heed God’s warnings to obey and follow Him, He sent judgments upon Israel and Jerusalem.

 

3. It's sad that because the Jews rejected Jesus as their Messiah, Jesus prophesied Jerusalem would be destroyed. This was fulfilled in 70 AD. The reality of this destruction is the overarching fact that can be seen all along the Western Wall.

 

4. Because of the Jews' continual disobedience to God, He prophesied that the Jews would be scattered to the four corners of the earth. This was fulfilled in 70 AD.

 

5. God also prophesied that He would bring the Jews back to their homeland in the last days. This was fulfilled in 1948.

 

6. According to many passages in the Bible, God still has a plan for the Jews. He said He would bring them back to their homeland after they had been scattered for thousands of years. He also says that during the Great Tribulation Period, many Jews, if not most of them, will recognize that Jesus is indeed their Messiah and turn to Him in repentance.

 

7. Amazingly, we see the first prophecy fulfilled in that the Jews returned to their homeland and have their own country back. Many civilizations have occupied the Holy Land, but God has fulfilled prophecy in bringing the Jews back to their homeland today.

 

8. The stones here cry out that God’s Word is true and is verifiable through the fulfillment of these prophecies.

 

9. At the Southern Stair entrance area of the Temple Mount is a sad but very true saying, “The Jerusalem Stone, so resilient and supple, bows to the transient follies of humankind, bearing a testimony like a hundred witnesses, and yet, remains silent.”

 

10. We find in all that has happened to the Jews a powerful and sobering message for us today. Obedience brings God’s blessings, but disobedience brings His discipline. 
1 Corinthians 10:11–12: Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come. 12 Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall.
 

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