Aug 11, 2020 An ancient jug found in excavations of the Western Wall Tunnels In excavations of the Western Wall Tunnels, we find many remnants that offer us a glimpse into the lives of local people in ancient times. The utensil in this photograph was found whole in an archaeological excavation under the pavement of the Western Wall plaza, conducted in conjunction with the Israel Antiquities Authority Educational centers. The excavation is focused now on the later layers from the 18th - 20th centuries CE - the Ottoman and British Mandate periods and during the Jordanian rule of the Old City. This jag is of the "Grey-Black Gaza Ware" created along the southern coastal plain. It was used for drinking or pouring water or milk. Further details
Jul 20, 2020 Minister of Religious Affairs, Rabbi Yaakov Avitan, praying at the Western Wall Minister of Religious Affairs, Rabbi Yaakov Avitan, praying at the Western Wall and touring the new excavations in the Western Wall Tunnels Further details
Jul 20, 2020 Erev Rosh Chodesh Av prayers for the end of the pandemic and for everyone's livelihood Tomorrow, Tuesday, Erev Rosh Chodesh (eve of the new month of) Av, on July 21, 2020, Yom Kippur Katan, there will be a special prayer service and recital of slichot (penitential prayers) for the end of pandemic and for livelihood for all of the Jewish people in Israel and around the world, as per the request of leading rabbis.Due to Health Ministry regulations, the prayer service will take place in the presence of only a minyan (quorum) and will be broadcast to communities around Israel and around the world. The event will take place in the presence of the Chief Rabbis of Israel, the Rabbi of the Western Wall, leading rabbis, and the Minister of Religious Affairs.We call upon the public to take part in the prayer service from home via the Western Wall cameras. The service can be watched on the Western Wall website or directly using the following link: https://youtu.be/Dvp8kgCuI-g Further details
Jun 24, 2020 Jordanian Ammunition Stash from the Six Day War Discovered Today near the Western Wall A Jordanian ammunition stash (known as a “slick”) was discovered today during Israel Antiquities Authority excavations under the lobby of the Western Wall Tunnels site. The ammunition was hidden in the bottom of a British Mandate period water cistern. The excavations are being conducted in cooperation with the Western Wall Heritage Foundation in preparation for a new and fascinating tour in addition to the classic Western Wall Tunnels tour. Israeli police bomb-disposal experts came to the site to examine the findings. According to Dr. Barak Monnickendam-Givon and Tehila Sadiel, directors of the excavation on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority: “While excavating the water cistern, a surprise awaited us: about ten full magazines of Bern light machinegun , full clip chargers, and two bayonets of a British Lee Enfield rifle. Usually, in excavations, we find ancient findings from one or two thousand years ago, but this time, we got a glimpse of the events that occurred 53 years ago, frozen in time in this water cistern. Apparently, this is an ammunition dump that was purposely hidden by soldiers of the Royal Jordanian Army during the Six Day War, perhaps when the IDF liberated the Old City. The water cistern we excavated served the residential structures of the Moghrabi neighborhood that was built in the area of what is today the Western Wall Plaza”, added Dr. Monnickendam-Givon and Sadiel. Assaf Peretz of the Israel Antiquities Authority, who identified the ammunition: “This is ammunition that was produced in Britain in the Greenwood and Batley Ltd factories in Leeds, Yorkshire. Based on theheadstamp on the rim, the ammunition was produced in 1956 and reached the Royal Jordanian Army.” “The discovery of the ammunition stash for Bern light machine gunsguns match two other Bren guns that were found about a year and a half ago in a different water cistern in the Western Wall Plaza, in an excavation of Dr. Shlomit Weksler-Bdolah of the Israel Antiquities Authority”, added Peretz. The Western Wall Heritage Foundation said: “Along with other glorious discoveries of our nation's past from the Second Temple period, we are also happy about discovering findings from the war of this past generation to return the Jewish nation’s heart and be able to cling to the stones of the Western Wall. This discovery is a privilege for us – to be able to acknowledge the miracles of the Creator of the Universe at this site.” About a month ago, the Israel Antiquities Authority and the Western Wall Heritage Foundation publicized that an interesting subterranean network hewn into bedrock from the Second Temple period was uncovered in an archaeological excavation at the foot of an impressive 1400-year-old public structure. Further details
Notices from the Western Wall An ancient jug found in excavations of the Western Wall Tunnels In excavations of the Western Wall Tunnels, we find many remnants that offer us a glimpse into the lives of local people in ancient times. The utensil in this photograph was found whole in an archaeological excavation under the pavement of the Western Wall plaza, conducted in conjunction with the Israel Antiquities Authority Educational centers. The excavation is focused now on the later layers from the 18th - 20th centuries CE - the Ottoman and British Mandate periods and during the Jordanian rule of the Old City. This jag is of the "Grey-Black Gaza Ware" created along the southern coastal plain. It was used for drinking or pouring water or milk. Further details Minister of Religious Affairs, Rabbi Yaakov Avitan, praying at the Western Wall Minister of Religious Affairs, Rabbi Yaakov Avitan, praying at the Western Wall and touring the new excavations in the Western Wall Tunnels Further details Erev Rosh Chodesh Av prayers for the end of the pandemic and for everyone's livelihood Tomorrow, Tuesday, Erev Rosh Chodesh (eve of the new month of) Av, on July 21, 2020, Yom Kippur Katan, there will be a special prayer service and recital of slichot (penitential prayers) for the end of pandemic and for livelihood for all of the Jewish people in Israel and around the world, as per the request of leading rabbis.Due to Health Ministry regulations, the prayer service will take place in the presence of only a minyan (quorum) and will be broadcast to communities around Israel and around the world. The event will take place in the presence of the Chief Rabbis of Israel, the Rabbi of the Western Wall, leading rabbis, and the Minister of Religious Affairs.We call upon the public to take part in the prayer service from home via the Western Wall cameras. The service can be watched on the Western Wall website or directly using the following link: https://youtu.be/Dvp8kgCuI-g Further details Jordanian Ammunition Stash from the Six Day War Discovered Today near the Western Wall A Jordanian ammunition stash (known as a “slick”) was discovered today during Israel Antiquities Authority excavations under the lobby of the Western Wall Tunnels site. The ammunition was hidden in the bottom of a British Mandate period water cistern. The excavations are being conducted in cooperation with the Western Wall Heritage Foundation in preparation for a new and fascinating tour in addition to the classic Western Wall Tunnels tour. Israeli police bomb-disposal experts came to the site to examine the findings. According to Dr. Barak Monnickendam-Givon and Tehila Sadiel, directors of the excavation on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority: “While excavating the water cistern, a surprise awaited us: about ten full magazines of Bern light machinegun , full clip chargers, and two bayonets of a British Lee Enfield rifle. Usually, in excavations, we find ancient findings from one or two thousand years ago, but this time, we got a glimpse of the events that occurred 53 years ago, frozen in time in this water cistern. Apparently, this is an ammunition dump that was purposely hidden by soldiers of the Royal Jordanian Army during the Six Day War, perhaps when the IDF liberated the Old City. The water cistern we excavated served the residential structures of the Moghrabi neighborhood that was built in the area of what is today the Western Wall Plaza”, added Dr. Monnickendam-Givon and Sadiel. Assaf Peretz of the Israel Antiquities Authority, who identified the ammunition: “This is ammunition that was produced in Britain in the Greenwood and Batley Ltd factories in Leeds, Yorkshire. Based on theheadstamp on the rim, the ammunition was produced in 1956 and reached the Royal Jordanian Army.” “The discovery of the ammunition stash for Bern light machine gunsguns match two other Bren guns that were found about a year and a half ago in a different water cistern in the Western Wall Plaza, in an excavation of Dr. Shlomit Weksler-Bdolah of the Israel Antiquities Authority”, added Peretz. The Western Wall Heritage Foundation said: “Along with other glorious discoveries of our nation's past from the Second Temple period, we are also happy about discovering findings from the war of this past generation to return the Jewish nation’s heart and be able to cling to the stones of the Western Wall. This discovery is a privilege for us – to be able to acknowledge the miracles of the Creator of the Universe at this site.” About a month ago, the Israel Antiquities Authority and the Western Wall Heritage Foundation publicized that an interesting subterranean network hewn into bedrock from the Second Temple period was uncovered in an archaeological excavation at the foot of an impressive 1400-year-old public structure. Further details First official visit to the Western Wall during the corona pandemic As part of the visit of the Prime Minister of Greece to Israel, his wife, Mrs. Maria Grabowski and his son, Mr. Konstantinos Mitsotakis came for a personal visit and to pray at the Western Wall. This is the first official visit since the coronavirus outbreak 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.
TodayWednesday 22 Av 5780, 8.12.2020Dawn5:02Mid day:11:44Sunset18:30Torah weekly sectionRe'ehTimes 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.