Western Wall (Jerusalem, Israel)

The Western Wall—often called the Wailing Wall—stands in Jerusalem’s Old City as the solemn, limestone remnant of the Second Temple destroyed by the Romans in 70 CE. For centuries, Jews from every corner of the globe have traveled here to pray, slipping handwritten notes into the narrow crevices between its ancient stones. In the wake of the Six-Day War in 1967, Israel cleared the area before the wall to create a wide prayer plaza, carefully divided into separate sections for men and women. Today, that plaza is managed by the Western Wall Heritage Foundation, which oversees both the site’s religious ceremonies and its preservation. Although visitors of all faiths may pause to reflect before its stones, formal prayer is traditionally reserved for Jewish worshippers. Beneath your feet lie massive Herodian foundations, while the weathered upper layers date from later reconstruction and fortification efforts. Archaeologists working around the wall have uncovered ritual baths and hidden tunnels, reminding us of the many lives and rituals the site has witnessed. More than just a historic relic, the Western Wall remains a living symbol of Jewish endurance, faith, and spiritual connection across the ages.