Western Wall

Paraguayan President visits the Western Wall

With the opening of his country's embassy in Jerusalem, Paraguayan President Santiago Peña visited the Western Wall on Thursday morning to tour the site and offer up a silent prayer.

JPPI AI Study:

Balanced coverage in Saudi press on normalization with Israel

Is the Saudi government preparing public opinion for normalization of relations with Israel?

Ben Shapiro at the Kotel

'It's so important that you come and visit Israel right now'

American Jewish political commentator at 'the most important place in the world' during visit to Israel calls for people to come to Israel to show their support and experience the spirituality of Jerusalem.

At the Western Wall:

'Hatikva' sung during the Nahal Brigade's swearing-in ceremony

IDF soldiers from the Nahal Brigade attend swearing-in ceremony at the Western Wall. Watch.

National Day of Mourning:

Flag lowered to half-mast at the Western Wall

Today, at the Western Wall plaza, the National Day of Mourning for the fallen of the Swords of Iron war began with the lowering of the flag to half-mast.

Watch:

Final day of Sukkot at the Western Wall

Thousands came to the holy site to throughout the night and for the dawn prayer service.

Watch:

Thousands attend Priestly Blessing at the Western Wall

The traditional priestly blessing ceremony is expected to draw thousands including the families of hostages held in Gaza.

Watch:

Selichot prayers at the Western Wall

Thousands taking part in Selichot prayers at the Western Wall, hours before Yom Kippur.

October 7th anniversary

Watch: Moving Selichot ceremony at the Western Wall

To close the first anniversary of the massacre in southern Israel, thousands gathered at the Western Wall to recite the Selichot prayers and partake in the dedication of a Torah scroll.

Torah written by families of Oct. 7 victims placed at Kotel

Torah scroll written by the families of victims of the October 7 massacre and families of fallen soldiers of the Swords of Iron War placed in the Holy Ark of the Western Wall.

Watch:

Iranian missiles over the Western Wall

Ballistic missiles fired at Israel by Iran seen over Jerusalem's ancient holy sites.

Due to Home Front Command guidelines:

Selichot event at the Western Wall has been canceled

The central Selichot event will take place in a limited format in the Western Wall tunnels and in accordance with Home Front Command guidelines.

Letters sent to God reach their destination

David Laron, CEO of Israel Post, hands collection of letters addressed to God, which had been sent from around the world and collected by Israel Post over the past year, to Rabbi Shmuel Rabinowitz, the rabbi of the Western Wall and holy sites.

Minister Porush:

Accessible elevator at the Western Wall within a year and a half

Minister of Jerusalem Meir Porush toured the Western Wall elevator construction site that will make the Western Wall accessible to those with disabilities from the Jewish Quarter.

After years of excavations:

Work begins on accessibility elevator for Western Wall

The excavation of the tunnel for the Western Wall elevator has begun. Herzl Ben-Ari, CEO of the Company for the Development and Renovation of the Jewish Quarter: “We are not just building an elevator, but also bridging two thousand years of history.”

Watch: Tens of thousands attend Selichot prayers at Western Wall

Despite tensions in northern Israel: Tens of thousands of Jews arrive at Western Wall to recite Selichot prayers, praying for the return of the hostages and protection for Israel's soldiers.

'Israel must be erased' written in prayer books at Western Wall

Unknown vandals repeatedly deface and rip out pages from siddurim at the Western Wall, write calls for the destruction of Israel on the prayer books.

Watch:

Thousands participate in Selichot prayers at the Western Wall

Thousands prayed at the Western Wall for the return of the hostages as well as the recovery of those wounded in the war and peace and unity among the people of Israel.

Watch:

Thousands at Western Wall for first Selichot prayers of the year

Thousands attend Wednesday night Selichot prayers at the Western Wall, praying for the welfare of Israel's soldiers, healing for the injured, and the return of the hostages held captive in Gaza.

Watch:

Arab arrested after damaging Jewish cars at Western Wall

Arab filmed during Tisha B'Av damaging tires of Jewish-owned vehicles parked near the Western Wall.

Special Western Wall service for anniversary of massacre

Preparations are being made for the traditional Slichot prayers ahead of the High Holidays at the Western Wall, including a special service to be held on October 7th.

Watch:

Special Tisha B'av prayers at the Western Wall

Special prayer and call for unity held to mark the end of Tisha B'av begin at the Western Wall, with thousands in attendance and broadcast live to viewers in Israel and around the world. Watch.

Unique footage:

Tisha B'av at the Western Wall

Photographer Dov Ber Hechtman captures the Tisha B'av atmosphere as thousands arrive to mark the saddest day of the year at the Western Wall and read Lamentations.

Unusual incident:

Stone falls into Western Wall prayer plaza, no one hurt

A stone fell into the Western Wall prayer plaza from the 700-year-old Mahkame building due to a leak in its roof.

Hundreds pray for injured soldier at the Western Wall

Hundreds of people arrive at the Western Wall to pray for injured IDf soldier Ro'i Sasson, who was severely injured while fighting in Gaza. Watch.

Watch:

Hesder yeshivas hold festive prayer at the Western Wall

After a night of Torah study at the Western Wall, yeshiva students hold festive Jerusalem Day prayers, before returning to Torah learning.

Historic event:

Children pray for hostages' release

At the opening ceremony marking the Day of Liberation and Rescue of the Jews of Europe that took place at the Western Wall, children gave a touching performance as they recited poetry excerpts and chanted psalms for the release of the hostages.

Touching:

Holocaust survivor and evacuee from north at the Western Wall

Simon Hayat was evacuated with his family from the town of Shlomi and dreamed of praying at the Western Wall, where he hadn't been since the Second Lebanon War - and finally saw his dream come true.

Watch: Hundreds celebrate Lag Ba'omer at the Western Wall

Hundreds are currently participating in the traditional Lag B'Omer bonfire at the Western Wall Plaza, in the presence of the rabbi of the Western Wall and holy sites, Rabbi Shmuel Rabinowitz, in honor of the holy Tanna Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai.

Watch:

Memorial Day commemorations begin at the Western Wall

Israel begins commemorating its Memorial Day for fallen soldiers and victims of hostilities, the first since the October 7 massacre.

Watch:

Tens of thousands at Priestly Blessing ceremony at Western Wall

'For the return of the hostages and the peace of the State of Israel': Over 30,000 worshipers participate in Priestly Blessing ceremony at the Western Wall.

Birkat Kohanim at Western Wall

Changes to traffic arrangements and increased light rail lines

Thousands are due to participate in the traditional Birkat Kohanim prayer tomorrow at the Western Wall. Expected changes to traffic arrangements in Jerusalem.

Western Wall notes:

1000s of notes placed at Western Wall transferred to genizah

Since Oct. 7th, many notes were sent via the website from Israel and around the world by IDF soldiers, the wounded, families of hostages, and more.

Global hour of Jewish Unity:

Special prayer for hostages held at Kotel tomorrow

The Hostages and Missing Families Forum will host a global hour of Jewish unity and prayer at the Western Wall, that will be live broadcast worldwide tomorrow (Thursday), from 4:30 p.m. until 5:30 p.m, ending with the Shema prayer.

From Nova Festival to Western Wall:

Heroes from Nova massacre recited 'Hagomel' blessing

Rami Davidian, who saved dozens from 10/7 massacre: 'For us, this marks the closure to thank the Almighty here for the miracle of being here and for the privilege of saving many youths.'

After leaving Gaza:

Soldiers say thanksgiving blessing at Western Wall

After leaving the battlefields of the Gaza Strip, soldiers from the Givati Brigade visited the Western Wall in Jerusalem and recited the Hagomel blessing to thank G-d for their preservation in battle.

Argentinian Pres. lights candle at Kotel for victims

Newly-elected Argentinian President Javier Milei visits Western Wall in first stop during visit to Israel, says he will move embassy to Jerusalem.

100 days since the war began:

100,000 memorial candles lit at the Western Wall.

Memorial ceremony at the Western Wall commemorates the victims who fell between October 7 and the present day.

Live:

Thousands pray at Western Wall for hostages' return

The Chief Rabbinate and other organizations, including the Families Forum, are holding a prayer rally for the release of the hostages held by Hamas and the safe return of IDF soldiers.

Watch:

Freed hostages in prayer of thanksgiving at the Western Wall

Sapir Cohen, Yelena Trupanob and Irena Tati visit Western Wall, recite prayers of thanksgiving.

Moving event:

Torah scrolls at Western Wall dedicated to the fallen

Two Torah scrolls dedicated to Western Wall, writing begins of scrolls for synagogues in the Gaza Envelope communities and at IDF bases.

Pres. Herzog prays at Western Wall for IDF soldiers and captives

President of Israel, Isaac Herzog, prayed this evening at Western Wall Plaza for well-being of IDF soldiers and swift return of captives.

New US Ambassador Lew lights candle at Western Wall for fallen

Upon assuming his role and amidst the ongoing war, Jack Lew makes first visit to Western Wall as ambassador.

Live:

Prayer for the hostages at the Western Wall

Mother of hostage kidnapped from music rave by Hamas to light torch at Western Wall Plaza.

Watch:

Special Ceremony at Western Wall marks 30 days since massacre

1,400 memorial candles will be lit in memory of the victims at the Western Wall at 6 pm.

Prayer gathering for the safe return of the hostages

Unifying gathering to be held at the Western Wall, with prayers for the safe return of the hostages and the success of the IDF.

NY Gov. visits Western Wall: 'We must not allow evil to prevail'

Kathy Hochul, Gov. of New York, visits the Western Wall, praying for welfare of captives and abductees.

Watch:

Prayers and outcry at the Western Wall

Surprise attack on Israel: prayers and outcry at the Western Wall

Live: Hoshana Rabba prayers at the Western Wall

Tens of thousands visit Western Wall plaza on Thursday night, with thousands attending prayers at the site.

Live: Priestly Blessing ceremony takes place at the Western Wall

Monday's Priestly Blessing ceremony was attended by 50,000 people, and a similar number is expected at Wednesday's ceremony.

Sukkot in Jerusalem:

Over 50,000 participate in Priestly Blessing at Western Wall

During the first days of Sukkot, around 200,000 people visited the Western Wall.

Watch:

Priestly Blessing at the Western Wall

Thousands have gathered to recite the Sukkot prayers and experience the Birkat Kohanim (Priestly Blessing) service at the Western Wall.

At the Western Wall:

Preparations begin for festive Priestly Blessing ceremonies

Western Wall Heritage Foundation prepares to hold two separate 'Birkat Kohanim' ceremonies; tens of thousands expected to attend.

Watch: End of Yom Kippur Fast at the Western Wall

Thousands mark end of holiest day of the Jewish calendar with singing at Jerusalem holy site.

Watch live: Selichot at the Western Wall

Watch the special Selichot prayers taking place at the Western Wall, on the eve of Yom Kippur 2023.

Watch:

Over 70,000 attend Selichot prayers at the Western Wall

Last Selichot prayer event for this year will be held Saturday night and followed by 'hatarat nedarim.'

For the first time:

Selichot prayers at Western Wall translated into sign language

In first, Selichot prayers at the Western Wall Plaza are translated into sign language; groups for hearing-impaired take part in prayers.

Watch:

Over 50,000 attend Rosh Hashanah eve selichot at Western Wall

Tens of thousands attend central selichot services, annulment of vows ceremony at Western Wall.

Western Wall prepared for High Holiday services

Tens of thousands of worshipers expected at the Western Wall during Rosh Hashanah and the 10 Days of Repentance.

50,000 attend Selichot prayers at Western Wall

Crowd of 50,000 attend Selichot prayers at Western Wall, praying for peace in Israel and reciting the 'Shema Yisrael' prayer.