Mt. Carmel Moments: There's More to the Wall Than Meets the Eye!

The Western Wall Plaza

Approach to the wall is divided into the men's
and women's sides.

Few places in Old City of Jerusalem are visited as frequently or as revered as much as the Western Wall, also known as the Kotel, the Wailing Wall, or Al Buraq by the Muslims (due to the tradition that Mohammed used to tie there his winged steed by that name). Often people view it as a surviving section of Herod's Temple, but what is the Western Wall and why is it so important?

The plaza is very busy during Passover.

A drawing of the Southeastern corner of Herod's Temple
shows the entrance to the Temple at the time and the
beginning of the Western Wall.

The first Temple was built by Solomon, son of King David, in the 10th century B.C. and was destroyed by the Babylonians in 586 BC. The Second Temple was dedicated in 519 BC and was a mere shadow of the splendor of the first Temple. Herod the Great greatly expanded and enlarged the Second Temple and its surrounding grounds during his lifetime in about 19 BC, restoring much of its early splendor.

That same area today is known as Robinson's Arch

The Western Wall is a remnant of the wall that surrounded the courtyard of the ancient Jewish temple. Most of it was constructed during Herod's lifetime. However, excavations have shown that it was not completely finished during that time and that remaining sections were added later. Archaeology confirms claims by the historian Josephus Flavius that it was not completed until the time of Herod Agrippa II, Herod the Great's great-grandson. The term Western Wall refers not only to a large exposed section facing a large plaza in the Jewish Quarter that runs about 187 feet (57 meters), but also to unexposed sections that run along the whole length of the Temple Mount, including through areas in the Muslim Quarter. The total length of the wall is 1600 feet or 488 meters. It has been a site for prayer and mourning over the fate of the Jewish Nation for centuries but, with the growth of the Zionist movement in the 1920s, it has become an increasing source of friction between Jews and Muslims as its popularity has grown. After Israel's War for Independence, it came under the control of the State of Jordan, and Jews were banned from the wall for 19 years until the Old City was captured by Israel in the 1967 War. Three days after that war, the Moroccan Quarter around it was bulldozed, in a very controversial move, destroying the homes of 106 Arab families to make room for the plaza that now stands at the foot of that area of the wall. Since then, it has been a sacred place of worship for modern Jews and a popular destination for all who visit the Holy City.

A Famous Photo of the First IDF Soldiers to Reach
the Wall in 1967 and Those Men Today

Soldiers Praying at the Wall

A Look at Above Ground Sections of the
Western Wall Today

The exposed section of the Wall stands about 62 feet or 19 meters high; however, its total height from the foundation is considerably higher. It is constructed of huge limestone layers, 28 of the 45 being above ground. The different stones weigh from 1.8 to 7.3 tons each and the blocks from Herod's period are easy to identify, as they have a chiseled stone border, which was a trademark of Herod the Great's construction. It is easy to spot these stones beneath the sections that were added later by the Ottomans after they conquered the city. There is much more that I could add to the history and controversy that surrounds this area of the city, but I will leave comments to this.

The Entrance to the Below Ground Kotel Tunnel

However, there is an even more interesting area to be explored underground. In the 19th century British researchers Charles Wilson and Charles Warren, along with other researchers, did their best to measure the Western Wall. However, they were unable to complete the task as much of the wall was underground. Following the 1967 war, the Ministry of Religious Affairs immediately began the job of exposing the total length of the Wall. It was a difficult project involving structures that had been built upon ancient ruins, passing through neighborhoods, water holes and even areas of sewage collection. The task was huge and required careful supervision by structural engineers, archaeologists, and, of course, experts in Jewish Law. It took twenty years to complete, but gradually wonderful areas of the Jerusalem of 2000 years ago were exposed. Giant Herodian stones and Roman roads were unearthed along with the remains of other types of construction from the Hasmonean, Muslim and Herodian eras.

Descending into the Jerusalem of 2000 Years Ago

Chiseled edges are a clear sign of
Herodian construction.

Lessons in Jerusalem of the First Century Given by
Our Guide, an emigre from New York City.

Today, these tunnels are available to worshippers and tour groups. The opportunity to visit hidden parts of subterranean Jerusalem is an amazing treat for those who take the time to reserve a tour into the hidden parts of ancient Jerusalem.