Jerusalem - Western Wall (Wailing Wall) Kotel HaMa'aravi

Continuing past the Porat Josef Synagogue in Jerusalem, we come to the holiest Jewish site, the Wailing Wall or Western Wall (Kotel HaMa'aravi), as it is now officially known. This massive stretch of wall, 48m/52yds long by 18m/60ft high, is part of the retaining wall on the southwest side of the Temple platform. Since 1967 a densely built-up area in front of the wall has been cleared to make a large open space. The section of this area nearest the wall has been railed off and ranks as a synagogue, in which men go to the left and women to the right. This is where great religious ceremonies take place and army recruits are sworn in. The Wailing Wall was so called because of the Jews' laments for the destruction of the Temple. In the past it was the only part of the Temple area from which they were almost always excluded. Nowadays pious Jews do not go up on to the Temple Mount, as they are now able to do, since the position of the Holy of Holies, which could be entered only by the high priests, is not known.