Western Wall

Ukrainian refugees join orphans' Bar Mitzva at Western Wall

Weeks after fleeing Ukraine, a group of 13 year old boys participated in an emotional Bar Mitzva celebration at the Western Wall on Monday.

Bnei Menashe:

550 new immigrants from India visit Western Wall for first time

Chief Rabbi of Israel David Lau joins hundreds of Bnei Menashe immigrants for their first visit to the Western Wall.

Mike Pence at the Western Wall: 'Israel must be strong'

During visit to Israel, former VP decried Biden administration's willingness to negotiate with Russia over Iran nuclear deal.

Haredi MK says Reform colleague should have been arrested

Shas MK Malkieli slams MK Kariv's 'disgraceful' conduct at Western Wall. 'He came in a despicable manner, abused his immunity.'

Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky:

Thousands of women must protest Reform presence at Western Wall

Thousands of haredi young women will gather at Western Wall for prayers, in protest of Reform movement's agenda.

Organization leader:

'State of Israel is bluntly distancing Diaspora Jews'

Minister Ayelet Shaked tells delegation: No changes in Western Wall status quo unless accepted by all.

Will controversial Western Wall plan be dug up again?

Israeli PM Bennett scheduled to meet next week with Reform 'rabbis' from US to discuss Western Wall compromise.

This week:

Human chain from Knesset to Western Wall

Right-wing activists to create human chain in Jerusalem. demonstrating in support of Samaria town.

Israel to give Western Wall infrastructure upgrade

Cabinet votes to back Bennett's plan to invest 110 million shekels in upgrading infrastructure and transportation for Western Wall Plaza.

Women of the Wall group disrupts Kotel prayers

Organization managing Western Wall slams 'Women of the Wall' for violating gender separation rules at holy site, disrupting prayers.

A stern rejoinder

MK Elazar Stern's remakrs on the Kotel partition are riddled with misstatements, platitudes, faulty reasoning and sophistries. Op-ed.

Chabad joins battle against Western Wall compromise

'No compromise is relevant' when it comes to Western Wall plan, leading Chabad-Lubavitch rabbi writes.

Senior Gov. officials: Western Wall compromise frozen

Officials tell Israel National News Yamina MKs divided on Western Wall compromise, coalition doesn't want issue to benefit opposition.

Report: Bennett government freezes Western Wall reform plan

Under pressure from the Right, Bennett's government reportedly halts plan to create larger, permanent egalitarian prayer space at Kotel.

US Amb. lights Hanukkah candles at the Western Wall

New US Amb. Tom Nides lights seventh Hanukkah candle at the Western Wall, together with son Max.

Women of the Wall gearing up for their next provocation

Feminist group intends to hold monthly service next Sunday. Haredi MKs on the alert to protect status quo at holy site.

Jewish group: Partitioning Western Wall threatens Jewish unity

Am Echad, dedicated to strengthening relationship between Israel and Diaspora, says new Western Wall plan would be a 'critical mistake.'

Watch live: Lighting the Hanukkah candles at the Western Wall

During the Hanukkah holiday a national candle-lighting ceremony is held each night at the Western Wall, attended by rabbis & public figures.

Hanukkah candles lit at Western Wall in memory of Eli Kay

Family of man killed in Hamas attack at Western Wall participates in Hanukkah candle-lighting ceremony at holy site.

Minister Kahana: No miracle will help us if we are not united

Religious Affairs Minister Matan Kahana participates in candle lighting ceremony for the 2nd night of Hanukkah at the Western Wall.

PM Bennett lights Hanukkah candles at Western Wall

Israeli Premier lights first candle of Hanukkah at the Western Wall.

Gantz lights candle at Western Wall: May we have peace

Defense Minister participates in candle-lighting ceremony on first night of Hanukkah at the Western Wall.

PM to Supreme Court: Western Wall cable car will go ahead

Transportation Minister's objections "have no legal significance" as project is already approved, writes Cabinet secretary.

Arab party condemns terror attack - but only in Hebrew

Likud party demands 'unconditional, unambiguous' condemnation of terror attack. United Arab List: 'We oppose harm to both sides' civilians.'

Murdered Before Wedding:

Jerusalem terror attack victim identified as new immigrant

South African immigrant Eliyahu David Kay killed ahead of his wedding in terrorist shooting near Western Wall.

One dead, three wounded in attack at entrance to Western Wall

Terrorist shoots Jews near Western Wall. Terrorist neutralized.

WW Heritage Foundation share in the loss of Eliyahu Kay

The Western Wall Heritage Foundation offer condolences to the bereaved family of former South African employee Eliyahu Kay.

Religious Affairs Min.: Minority shouldn't control Western Wall

'The Orthodox are the majority, there's no need to allow other sectors to run the Western Wall,' Religious Affairs Minister Kahana says.

Most Israelis don't want Knesset to decide on Kotel Compromise

Survey also found that 47% of Jewish Israelis support Compromise Plan - but 59% of Israelis don't know what the Plan is...

Minister: Western Wall won't be run by religious groups

Jerusalem Affairs Minister pushing to prevent Western Wall from being controlled by Orthodox, Reform, and Conservative denomination leaders.

PM Bennett: 'Western Wall being used for political campaign'

Responding to recent clashes, PM Naftali Bennett criticizes 'divisive campaign,' says it will cause 'great damage' if it takes hold.

Clashes during Women of the Wall prayer at Western Wall

Reform Movement, Women of the Wall activists arrive at Western Wall Plaza, sparking backlash from Orthodox worshippers.

In order to prevent violence:

Labor MK cancels attendance at Western Wall prayers

Following request of President Isaac Herzog, MKs Gilad Kariv and Alon Tal agree to cancel Western Wall visit in order to prevent violence.

Clashes expected at Western Wall tomorrow

Western Wall Heritage Foundation says it is not responsible for maintaining public order in letter to police ahead of expected clashes.

Netanyahu joins call to protest Reform, Women of the Wall

Shas head MK Deri is organizing tomorrow's prayer protest against efforts of Reform to flout Torah tradition at Judaism's holiest site.

MK accuses government of planning 'partitioning' of Western Wall

Noam party chairman accuses current government of seeking to divide the land of Israel, starting with the 'beating heart,' the Western Wall.

Less than 10% of Israel's holy sites are disabled-friendly

Among the sites that are not accessible: Western Wall, Tomb of the Patriarchs, Cave of the Prophet Elijah.

Request to Att.-General: Criminal investigation into MK Kariv

Liba Center highlights criminal offenses involved in Reform MK's actions last week at the Western Wall.

Prayers at Western Wall for recovery of Ron DeSantis' wife

Mayor of Bal Harbour Gabriel Groisman organizes prayers on behalf of Florida Governor's wife at Western Wall with Rabbi of the Western Wall.

The Democrats' new assault on Jerusalem's Western Wall

Democrat bill reverses Trump policy and Oslo, calling Jerusalem's Jewish Quarter and Western Wall "Occupied Palestinian Territories." Op-ed.

Second day of Priestly Blessing event at Western Wall

Traditional Priestly Blessing event was split into two days to accommodate coronavirus restrictions. Watch live.

Police prepare for Priestly Blessing at Western Wall

Hundreds of officers to be deployed to secure mass prayer event in Jerusalem on Sukkot,

Netanyahu attends Ne'ilah Yom Kippur service at Western Wall

Opposition leader concludes Yom Kippur fast by joining the closing prayers of the day at the Western Wall.

The Kotel and the Jews

Not everything every Jew says or does becomes “Jewish” by definition. No Jew or group of Jews can excise parts of Torah or halakhah.Op-ed.

Thousands participate in selichot service at Western Wall

Worshipers participate in traditional service at Western Wall plaza, which was divided into 15 'capsules.'

Gilad Kariv to PM: It's time to implement the Kotel plaza reform

MK calls to implement plan to expand the non-Orthodox prayer space at the Western Wall, which has been shelved since Netanyahu government.

Bennett approves: Up to 8,000 at Western Wall during Selichot

PM Naftali Bennett approves plan to limit number of visitors at Western Wall to 8,000 during Selichot prayers.

Reform MK joins Women of the Wall for prayers

Kariv, a Reform clergyman, praised the police for their respectful behavior.

Boycotting the Western Wall

Ben & Jerry’s argument is not over a handful of wild-eyed “settlers” on remote hilltops. This is a fight over the Western Wall.Op-ed.

The Reform Jews prayer in "Ezrat Yisrael" at the Western Wall

Specifically in the vicinity of the Temple Mount, the place that unites all of Israel, more care must be taken to keep the peace.

Rabbi Melamed: 'Let Reform have mixed services at Western Wall'

Rabbi Eliezer Melamed, chief rabbi of Har Bracha and dean of local yeshiva, says Reform services at Western Wall should be accommodated.

Discontent at the Kotel

Mutual respect calls for the newcomers to desist from defiling the sanctity of the Kotel and worship there as did their ancestors. Op-ed.

Heartfelt song unifying Jews after Tisha B'av fast ends

At the Western Wall, dozens of Jews of all stripes sing 'Acheinu kol beis Yisrael' following end of Tisha B'av fast.

MK Kariv blames Chief Rabbinate for clashes at Western Wall

Reform MK accuses Chief Rabbi of "trying to prevent egalitarian prayer."

Gantz: I am against Orthodox exclusivity at Western Wall

Defense Minister says Western Wall is long enough to accommodate different streams of Judaism.

Tisha B'Av: Thousands at Western Wall, hundreds at Temple Mount

Jews from around the country flock to Jerusalem on the anniversary of the destruction of the Temples. Arabs riot on Temple Mount.

Orthodox prayer in egalitarian section of Western Wall plaza

Activists erected a partition between the genders in the egalitarian section of the Western Wall plaza during Tisha B'av prayers.

Mourning the Temple: Tisha B'av at the Western Wall

Watch live: Jews from all sectors mourn the Holy Temples at the Western Wall, with prayers and lamentations.

Orthodox prayer at the 'Reform' section of the Kotel

New initiative to pray and learn Torah at the Ezrat Yisrael plaza, complete with a partition.

Tragedy ahead? Mughrabi Bridge to Temple Mt. an imminent danger

Built as a temporary solution in '07, the bridge, connecting the Western Wall to the Temple Mt, is in imminent danger of collapse.