May 11, 2020 Wilson's Arch Riddle Solved The scientific analysis of a handful of charred seeds leads scientists to the date of the ancient arch. Who built Wilson’s Arch? It wasn’t Charles Wilson, a British ordinance surveyor in and around Jerusalem toward the end of the 19th century. The arch, partially visible to all visitors to the Western Wall, has been a prominent fixture in Jerusalem’s landscape for centuries. Some have thought it was originally constructed around the turn of the common era by the Roman king Herod – one of the great builders of history – but others had assigned it a later date, believing it was erected in the Early Islamic Period, some 600 years later. This research was published earlier this week on science magazine. Prof. Elisabetta Boaretto and Dr. Johanna Regev of the Weizmann Institute of Science’s Scientific Archaeology Unit spearheaded the chronological research of a recent archaeological excavation conducted with the expressed aim of solving the Wilson’s Arch riddle. The excavation, located in the Western Wall Tunnels, was led by archaeologist Dr. Joe Uziel, Tehillah Liebermann and Dr. Avi Solomon, on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority and undertaken by the Western Wall Heritage Foundation as part of the tourist development of the site. The Weizmann Institute researchers have been perfecting methods of “micro-archaeology” to characterize the layered deposits and to then determine the connection between any sample that is dated and the archaeological event to be dated, in great detail. “For this project we had to develop a very specific strategy, starting by being in the excavation itself,” explains Boaretto. Prof. Boaretto explains that conducting archaeological research on urban structures like Wilson’s Arch, and in particular determining its age, is much more complicated than in almost any other archaeological setting. In an urban center that is still occupied over 2,000 years later, the structures might be used for centuries, components may have been reused, parts of the structure torn down and rebuilt, and the stones themselves keep their secrets close. Absolute dating of architectural structures, as opposed to relative dating based on pottery and coins, is particularly important to correlate with existing texts and with historical figures. It is little wonder, then, that the history of Wilson’s Arch has remained elusive. One of the key materials the group sought in Wilson’s Arch was remains of the mortar or cement used between the stones. This material was produced at high temperatures and aggregates were added to acquire desired properties; thus, charred seeds can sometimes be found embedded in the plaster. So, the first challenge was to determine whether the charred material was indeed a constituent of the original plaster, and the next challenge was to determine if this plaster was part of the original construction or a later repair. Any seeds found under the bases of the large structures could also be dated and the dates of the seeds are assumed to be older than the construction. Every date obtained was thus the result of a mini-research project. Back in the D-REAMS (Dangoor Research Accelerator Mass Spectrometer) lab in the Weizmann Institute of Science, Boaretto and her team analyzed the plaster and the charred materials they removed from the dig site to study their composition and crystallinity and from there, to determine their age. Seeds found between the large boulders of the arch returned dates prior to the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 CE, during the period when Jerusalem was governed directly by the Roman Procurators, the most famous of whom is Pontius Pilate. According to Dr. Uziel of the Israel Antiquities Authority, "This comprehensive dating of the micro-remains provided an unequivocal solution to a lengthy archaeological riddle – the riddle of the date of Wilson's Arch.” The arch was part of a bridge which led worshippers to the Temple Mount and was built as part of the Western Wall of the compound some 2,000 years ago. Through this joint research project, we were able to determine that the arch, which supported one of the main pathways to the Second Temple, was built in two distinct stages. In its early days, during the rule of King Herod the Great or slightly afterwards, the bridge was 7.5 meters wide. Just a short time later, in the first century CE, the width of the bridge was doubled, reaching a width of 15 meters. “The size and workmanship of the arch attest to the importance of the Temple Mount during the days of the Second Temple, when thousands of people would have taken part in the ceremonies, particularly during holidays,” he adds. The archaeological team also worked on dating another piece of Jerusalem’s history -- a small theater-like structure constructed beneath Wilson's Arch. The radiocarbon dating indicates that the theater's construction was most likely initiated just before a historically significant date -- the outbreak of the Second Jewish Revolt in 132 CE, often known as the Bar Kochva revolt – and not later than Hadrian's death. Ultimately, the group dated 33 samples from many different locations, covering a period of over 1000 years. “The Wilson’s Arch riddle could not have been solved without the use of micro-archaeology,” says Boaretto. “We showed that the extreme accuracy of our lab results, even for the tiniest of samples, can resolve these issues with a high degree of certainty, and we think they might help solve other archaeological puzzles for which radiocarbon dating had not previously been considered to be sufficiently precise.” “From an arch built by Herod, to a theater complex abandoned before it was completed as a consequence of the Bar Kochba revolt, you can take a fresh look at the city's history and place this monumental building in its proper historical setting. That certainly helps solve this riddle,” she says. Further details
May 11, 2020 The Western Wall from Home Bringing the Western Wall Home A variety of activities and films for the whole family so you can sense the Western Wall from home. Further details
May 07, 2020 Getting Organized for the Upcoming Shabbat at the Western Wall We are happy to report that this week, many worshippers returned to pray at the Western Wall, in accordance with the Israeli government’s decision and the cancellation of the restriction of praying only 500 meters from one’s place of residence. The Western Wall Heritage Foundation is organizing the Western Wall Plaza in preparation for the arrival of worshippers this coming Shabbat. Last night, prayer areas were added to the upper plaza in addition to the prayer areas that had already been set up in the prayer plaza this week. As of this Shabbat and the upcoming days – the updated allowance is for up to 500 worshippers at the Western Wall simultaneously. If the prayer areas that have been cordoned off will all become full, worshippers will be requested to wait outside of the entrances to the Western Wall until space becomes available. Entrance to the Western Wall on weekdays is contingent on wearing a mask and having temperature taken prior to entering. Further details
May 05, 2020 Arrival at the Western Wall in light of the new guidelines Returning to the Western Wall The Western Wall Heritage Foundation announces that, due to the government’s decision to cancel the restriction of prayer only at a distance of up to 500 meters from one’s place of residence while maintaining the restriction of up to 19 people during prayer in an open area, the worshipers that have so yearned to visit the sacred stones and pray in front of them, can return to the Western Wall while keeping to the Health Ministry restrictions. The Western Wall prayer plazas will be divided into as many prayer areas as possible in the given area and in accordance with the regulations. For the next few days, up to 300 worshippers will be allowed to come to the Western Wall plaza simultaneously, contingent on them wearing masks. Should the prayer areas all get full, worshippers will be requested to wait outside the entrances to the Western Wall, with the required distances between them, until space becomes available. Likewise, bar/bat mitzvah families can return to celebrate at the Western Wall in accordance with regulations. Families will have to coordinate their arrival in advance through the Western Wall website or hotline (*5958) to ensure that the prayer area will be available at the time of their arrival. The sites of Western Wall Tunnels remain closed until further notice. Rabbi Shmuel Rabinowitz, rabbi of the Western Wall and holy sites, congratulated the government on its decision. Further details
Notices from the Western Wall The Western Wall from Home Bringing the Western Wall Home A variety of activities and films for the whole family so you can sense the Western Wall from home. Further details Wilson's Arch Riddle Solved The scientific analysis of a handful of charred seeds leads scientists to the date of the ancient arch. Who built Wilson’s Arch? It wasn’t Charles Wilson, a British ordinance surveyor in and around Jerusalem toward the end of the 19th century. The arch, partially visible to all visitors to the Western Wall, has been a prominent fixture in Jerusalem’s landscape for centuries. Some have thought it was originally constructed around the turn of the common era by the Roman king Herod – one of the great builders of history – but others had assigned it a later date, believing it was erected in the Early Islamic Period, some 600 years later. This research was published earlier this week on science magazine. Prof. Elisabetta Boaretto and Dr. Johanna Regev of the Weizmann Institute of Science’s Scientific Archaeology Unit spearheaded the chronological research of a recent archaeological excavation conducted with the expressed aim of solving the Wilson’s Arch riddle. The excavation, located in the Western Wall Tunnels, was led by archaeologist Dr. Joe Uziel, Tehillah Liebermann and Dr. Avi Solomon, on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority and undertaken by the Western Wall Heritage Foundation as part of the tourist development of the site. The Weizmann Institute researchers have been perfecting methods of “micro-archaeology” to characterize the layered deposits and to then determine the connection between any sample that is dated and the archaeological event to be dated, in great detail. “For this project we had to develop a very specific strategy, starting by being in the excavation itself,” explains Boaretto. Prof. Boaretto explains that conducting archaeological research on urban structures like Wilson’s Arch, and in particular determining its age, is much more complicated than in almost any other archaeological setting. In an urban center that is still occupied over 2,000 years later, the structures might be used for centuries, components may have been reused, parts of the structure torn down and rebuilt, and the stones themselves keep their secrets close. Absolute dating of architectural structures, as opposed to relative dating based on pottery and coins, is particularly important to correlate with existing texts and with historical figures. It is little wonder, then, that the history of Wilson’s Arch has remained elusive. One of the key materials the group sought in Wilson’s Arch was remains of the mortar or cement used between the stones. This material was produced at high temperatures and aggregates were added to acquire desired properties; thus, charred seeds can sometimes be found embedded in the plaster. So, the first challenge was to determine whether the charred material was indeed a constituent of the original plaster, and the next challenge was to determine if this plaster was part of the original construction or a later repair. Any seeds found under the bases of the large structures could also be dated and the dates of the seeds are assumed to be older than the construction. Every date obtained was thus the result of a mini-research project. Back in the D-REAMS (Dangoor Research Accelerator Mass Spectrometer) lab in the Weizmann Institute of Science, Boaretto and her team analyzed the plaster and the charred materials they removed from the dig site to study their composition and crystallinity and from there, to determine their age. Seeds found between the large boulders of the arch returned dates prior to the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 CE, during the period when Jerusalem was governed directly by the Roman Procurators, the most famous of whom is Pontius Pilate. According to Dr. Uziel of the Israel Antiquities Authority, "This comprehensive dating of the micro-remains provided an unequivocal solution to a lengthy archaeological riddle – the riddle of the date of Wilson's Arch.” The arch was part of a bridge which led worshippers to the Temple Mount and was built as part of the Western Wall of the compound some 2,000 years ago. Through this joint research project, we were able to determine that the arch, which supported one of the main pathways to the Second Temple, was built in two distinct stages. In its early days, during the rule of King Herod the Great or slightly afterwards, the bridge was 7.5 meters wide. Just a short time later, in the first century CE, the width of the bridge was doubled, reaching a width of 15 meters. “The size and workmanship of the arch attest to the importance of the Temple Mount during the days of the Second Temple, when thousands of people would have taken part in the ceremonies, particularly during holidays,” he adds. The archaeological team also worked on dating another piece of Jerusalem’s history -- a small theater-like structure constructed beneath Wilson's Arch. The radiocarbon dating indicates that the theater's construction was most likely initiated just before a historically significant date -- the outbreak of the Second Jewish Revolt in 132 CE, often known as the Bar Kochva revolt – and not later than Hadrian's death. Ultimately, the group dated 33 samples from many different locations, covering a period of over 1000 years. “The Wilson’s Arch riddle could not have been solved without the use of micro-archaeology,” says Boaretto. “We showed that the extreme accuracy of our lab results, even for the tiniest of samples, can resolve these issues with a high degree of certainty, and we think they might help solve other archaeological puzzles for which radiocarbon dating had not previously been considered to be sufficiently precise.” “From an arch built by Herod, to a theater complex abandoned before it was completed as a consequence of the Bar Kochba revolt, you can take a fresh look at the city's history and place this monumental building in its proper historical setting. That certainly helps solve this riddle,” she says. Further details Getting Organized for the Upcoming Shabbat at the Western Wall We are happy to report that this week, many worshippers returned to pray at the Western Wall, in accordance with the Israeli government’s decision and the cancellation of the restriction of praying only 500 meters from one’s place of residence. The Western Wall Heritage Foundation is organizing the Western Wall Plaza in preparation for the arrival of worshippers this coming Shabbat. Last night, prayer areas were added to the upper plaza in addition to the prayer areas that had already been set up in the prayer plaza this week. As of this Shabbat and the upcoming days – the updated allowance is for up to 500 worshippers at the Western Wall simultaneously. If the prayer areas that have been cordoned off will all become full, worshippers will be requested to wait outside of the entrances to the Western Wall until space becomes available. Entrance to the Western Wall on weekdays is contingent on wearing a mask and having temperature taken prior to entering. Further details Arrival at the Western Wall in light of the new guidelines Returning to the Western Wall The Western Wall Heritage Foundation announces that, due to the government’s decision to cancel the restriction of prayer only at a distance of up to 500 meters from one’s place of residence while maintaining the restriction of up to 19 people during prayer in an open area, the worshipers that have so yearned to visit the sacred stones and pray in front of them, can return to the Western Wall while keeping to the Health Ministry restrictions. The Western Wall prayer plazas will be divided into as many prayer areas as possible in the given area and in accordance with the regulations. For the next few days, up to 300 worshippers will be allowed to come to the Western Wall plaza simultaneously, contingent on them wearing masks. Should the prayer areas all get full, worshippers will be requested to wait outside the entrances to the Western Wall, with the required distances between them, until space becomes available. Likewise, bar/bat mitzvah families can return to celebrate at the Western Wall in accordance with regulations. Families will have to coordinate their arrival in advance through the Western Wall website or hotline (*5958) to ensure that the prayer area will be available at the time of their arrival. The sites of Western Wall Tunnels remain closed until further notice. Rabbi Shmuel Rabinowitz, rabbi of the Western Wall and holy sites, congratulated the government on its decision. Further details Prayer at the Western Wall Plaza The government made an exception last night in the case of the Western Wall and has allowed there to be three prayers a day at the Western Wall Plaza, in accordance with regulations of the Health Ministry. These prayer services will be broadcast live for the benefit of the public.Rabbi Shmuel Rabinowitz, rabbi of the Western Wall and holy sites, expressed his appreciation to Interior Minister Aryeh Deri for his involvement in allowing these prayers to continue. The prayers will be broadcast live, on a daily basis, at the following times: Due to the drop in covid-19 cases in Israel and the subsequent lifting of some Health Ministry restrictions regarding prayer quorums in open areas, we will be having our final broadcasting of mincha afternoon prayers and maariv evening prayers today, Tuesday, 25th of Iyar, May 19th. We will thus be ending our series of prayer broadcasts from the Western Wall. With wishes for good health and good news No live broadcasts of service will be taking place during Shabbat and Holiday's The prayer will be broadcast via phone (# 02-3011133) as well as on digital platforms:Kotel webcams: www.thekotel.orgYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/thekotel1Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WesternWall kaddish will be recited with a minyan at every prayer service for those saying kaddish for a family member and cannot pray with a minyan due to the situation. Names of deceased for whom kaddish should be recited can be sent via the Kotel website at the following address: https://www.thekotel.org/kotel/general_info/?itemid=%7B0C724B4E-6708-44C2-B50D-BCB4CECCD4D4%7D or by WhatsApp message to https://wa.me/972523077788 Further details
The Western Wall We all know that the Western Wall, the Kotel, is the most significant site in the world for the Jewish people. We know that it is the last remnant of our Temple. We also know that Jews from around the world gather here to pray. People write notes to G-d and place them between the ancient stones of the Wall. Read more
Bar Mitzvah at the Kotel The Western Wall Heritage Foundation invites you to celebrate a Bar Mitzvah at the Kotel, in a unique atmosphere of unity and holiness, and at no charge. Read more Registration Form
Western Wall Sites The Western Wall Plaza is home to some of the most interesting historical tourist sites in the world, which offer a unique perspective on the genealogy of the Jewish people and the history of Jerusalem. We invite you to visit the sites and enjoy an empowering and unforgettable experience.
The Journey to JerusalemAbout The Journey to Jerusalem A Look into the PastAbout A Look into the Past Behind the ScenesAbout Behind the Scenes The Western Wall TunnelsAbout The Western Wall Tunnels The Chain of Generations CenterAbout The Chain of Generations Center The Journey to JerusalemAbout The Journey to Jerusalem A Look into the PastAbout A Look into the Past The Core ExcavationsAbout The Core Excavations The Western Wall TunnelsAbout The Western Wall Tunnels The Chain of Generations CenterAbout The Chain of Generations Center The Ohel Yitzchak SynagogueAbout The Ohel Yitzchak Synagogue
Interesting Facts The Western Wall Plaza hosts approximately 60,000 people. It symbolizes the Jewish link to Jerusalem and serves as the synagogue closest to the remains of both Holy Temples. The Western Wall's visible stones tell of its history from the time of the Holy Temples' ruin. The original Herodian stones are distinct from the others in size and in their unique borders. The building style of "grading" used when layering the Western Wall's stones, teaches us that the Temple Mount's walls were not perpendicular but marginally sloping.
TodaySunday 15 Sivan 5780, 6.7.2020Dawn4:33Mid day:11:38Sunset18:48Torah weekly sectionSh'lachTimes are according to Standard Time
The Western Wall Heritage Foundation is a non-profit organization that works to preserve the heritage of the Western Wall in the capital of Israel, and supports a courteous response to every traveler and visitor. We bring you up-to-date information such as events, tours and celebrations related to the Western Wall in Jerusalem and many activities for children, Bar / Bat Mitzvah celebrations and more useful services to assist you to convey an empowering and sacred experience.