What Makes the Wailing Wall So Holy?

Israel Unearthed

So what makes the Wailing Wall (Also known as the Western Wall) so holy? Before answering that question let me give you a short overview of the famous Wailing Wall. So the Western Wall is an ancient limestone wall in the Old City of Jerusalem. But what is visible these days is a relatively small segment of a far longer ancient retaining wall; known also in its entirety as the Western Wall.


In This Photo: The wall was originally erected as part of the expansion of the Second Jewish Temple begun by Herod the Great, which resulted in the encasement of the natural; steep hill known to Jews and Christians as the Temple Mount; in a huge rectangular structure topped by a flat platform; thus creating more space for the Temple itself, its auxiliary buildings, and crowds of worshipers and visitors.

So What Does Make the Wailing Wall So Holy? 

The Wailing Wall’s holiness in Judaism is a result of its proximity to the Temple Mount. There you can find the Foundation Stone; the most sacred site in the Jewish faith; which lies behind it. The original, natural, and irregular-shaped Temple Mount was gradually extended to allow for an ever-larger Temple compound to be built at its top. This process was finalized by Herod. The Western Wall is considered closest to the former Holy of Holies; which makes it the most sacred site recognized by Judaism outside the previous Temple Mount platform.



So what I am trying to say is that there is nothing really holy about the Wailing wall by itself. In fact, it’s getting its sanctity from the proximity to the Holy of Holies and the Foundation. In other words, where the Second Temple uses to be back then. Another interesting fact about the Western Wall is that what you see today is not really the original Wall from the time of Herod. If you want to see remains from Herod the Great, you’ll need to get really close because only the very bottom of the Wailing Wall is the original wall. Most of it is buried underground.

arik-about

Hi! My name is Arik, an Israeli native who dedicated his life to sharing my passion for the Holy Land with those interested in knowing more about this incredible piece of land. I’m the Chief Guide at ‘APT Private Tours in Israel’.

Did you know the Hoopoe is Israel's national bird?! For more cool info about Israel, join our ever growing community and get exclusive travel tips, and giveaways!

Simon Peter

RELATED POSTS

Muhammad’s Night Journey

According to Islam, the Islamic prophet Muhammad took a miraculous journey during a single night around the year 621 CE. Read all about it!

Flavius Descriptions of John the Baptist

Flavius Descriptions of John the Baptist are distinctly different from those in the New Testament. This post is all about this subject.

Western Wall

The Western Wall, Also known as the Wailing Wall, often shortened to 'The Kotel' is an ancient limestone wall in the Old City of Jerusalem.

Tel Dan in the Bible

Tel Dan in the Bible was an important city in the Bronze and Iron Age. these days it is an impressive archaeological tel located up ...

The Nativity of Jesus

The nativity of Jesus or Birth of Jesus is described in the biblical gospels of Luke and Matthew. So the two accounts agree that Jesus ...

Sermon on the Mount

The Sermon on the Mount is a collection of sayings and teachings of Jesus Christ; which emphasizes his moral teaching found in Matthew.

Heroism in Judaism

This post is about Heroism in Judaism. I try and examine the concept of heroism, and ask along my guided tours, who is the hero?

The Incarnation of Jesus

The Incarnation of Jesus Christ is one of the most fundamental beliefs of Christianity. It is the belief that the Son of God, who existed ...

Sukkot

Sukkot, the Feast of Tabernacles, is a vibrant and joyous Jewish festival celebrating harvest season and historical events.

Islam

Islam, one of the world’s major religions, is a faith with a rich history, diverse traditions, and millions of followers across the globe. In this ...

Need help?

Skip to content