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.

'If you’re connected to Judaism, you’ll be connected to Israel'

Arutz Sheva speaks with Dr. Irwin Leibowitz, the co-chair of the Am Echad organization.

Herzog visits Western Wall, calls for unity among Israelis

President-elect who will officially take office on Wednesday: I hope to do everything to make a significant contribution to our unity.

Students who experienced anti-Semitism visit Western Wall

44 students from Mercaz girls high school in Brooklyn receive their diplomas overlooking the Western Wall.

Rabbis lead mass prayer against Bennett government

Hundreds gather at Western Wall to pray against formation of national unity government.

Fights break out at Western Wall

Women of the Wall arrive to hold monthly prayer session, are entangled in disagreements.

Haredi leaders: Don't go to Western Wall

Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky and Rabbi Gershon Edelstein tell followers not to 'provoke' Arabs by going to Western Wall on Shavuot.

300 rabbis mark Day of Salvation and Liberation at the Kotel

Chief Rabbis of Israel and Europe mark day to celebrate liberation of Nazi prisoners with prayers at the Western Wall.

Hodu LaHashem ki tov - yes, His mercy endures forever

At the Kotel after the flag march was cancelled: Images that became metaphors, powerful statements of faith and resolve.

J'lem flag dance to be reduced in size following Meron disaster

Organizers say crowd at Western Wall to be limited to 8,000-15,000 on Jerusalem Day after Meron disaster.

Watch: Heartfelt prayers at Western Wall in wake of disaster

Saturday night prayer gathering is followed by heartfelt singing, after Meron disaster kills 45.

Giving thanks at the Kotel

Should there be a mass thanksgiving prayer of all those who survived corona?

'We're asking our traditions to be respected'

A Reform rabbi smuggled in a Torah scroll to the Western Wall complex to be used by WOW organization.

'No' to Reform movement's presence at Western Wall

MK Maoz's first proposed piece of legislature would put an end to Supreme Court meddling in provocations surrounding the Western Wall.

'Am Israel chai': The new paratroopers at the Western Wall

Watch: Galei Zahal journalist publishes video clip showing how the new IDF paratroopers celebrated the end of their basic training.

Former US ambassador: 'Grateful to be at the Western Wall'

David Friedman, former US ambassador to Israel, attends Priestly Blessing ceremony at Western Wall, expressing gratitude & holiday wishes.

Watch: Priestly Blessing at the Western Wall

For the second day in a row, the traditional Priestly Blessing ceremony is held at the Western Wall, allowing more people to attend.

First time in 1.5 years: Rabbi Kanievsky visits the Western Wall

Leading haredi rabbi arrives at the Western Wall - for the first time since the start of the coronavirus outbreak.

Netanyahu: I thank God for coming out of coronavirus safely

Read the full texts of the notes left in the Western Wall by Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and his wife, Sara Netanyahu.

Prime Minister leaves notes at Western Wall

Prime Minister Netanyahu made a trip to the Western Wall as part of his preparations for election day.

Western Wall receives traditional cleaning ahead of Passover

Western Wall rabbi oversees removal of notes placed in Wall - including over 71,000 sent over the internet from around the world.

Conservation work for Western Wall - using syringes

Western Wall stones get pre-holiday injections to prevent damage and 'peeling' from weathering.

US Ambassador visits Western Wall to mark end of term

Watch: U.S.Ambassador to Israel pays a visit to the Western Wall in Jerusalem as he ends his term under the Trump administration

PA, Jordan accuse Israel of 'Judaizing' Western Wall

PA, Jordanian Waqf demand UN Security Council stop all Israeli renovation at Western Wall Plaza as an "assault on all Muslims."

Women Of The Wall sue Western Wall Rabbi

Two representatives of the organization filed suit on account of a body search last Kislev.

Safeguard the heart of our nation - do not desecrate the Kotel!

Please, do not deepen the rift, do not encourage confusion, do not be part of the desecration! Do not share in the destruction!

UAE pro-Israel activist on 1st visit: 'Felt like celebrities'

Emirati social media activist Majid Al Sarrah on his 1st Israel visit, trip to Kotel: 'I thank God for being there.'

Holding on to our holy aspirations

We come to the Wall, embrace the ancient stones, the remnant of the Temple, and cry for Redemption.Then a group of women comes and mocks us.

Watch: Arabs from Gulf states light Hanukkah candles at Kotel

Western Wall rabbi to healthcare workers and doctors: You teach us every day what heroism is.

Netanyahu: The light of peace has never shone brighter

PM Netanyahu, Ambassador Friedman attend lighting of Hanukkah candles at Western Wall. 'We bring the light of vaccines and peace.'

'Little Western Wall' thoroughly cleaned for first time

Jerusalem and Heritage Minister Rabbi Rafi Peretz orders cleaning of the Kotel Ha-Katan after years of neglect at prayer site.

How does one say goodbye to the Wall?

They have been to the Land, been to Zion, been to Jerusalem, the Holy City, and been to see it. And then they leave to go "home."

Watch: Selichot prayers at Kotel

Watch as Selichot prayers usher in Yom Kippur eve at Western Wall.

Watch: Slichot at the Kotel amid coronavirus

Pre-Rosh Hashanah Slichot prayers held at Western Wall using "capsules" layout.

Watch: Jared Kushner prays at the Western Wall

President Donald Trump's son-in-law and senior adviser Jared Kushner prays at the Western Wall in Jerusalem ahead of historic flight to UAE.

30 capsules, 2,000 people

This is what the traditional Selichot prayers at the Western Wall look like during the coronavirus pandemic.

Watch: Disorder at the entrance to the Western Wall plaza

Young haredim try to break through blockades placed at entrance to the Western Wall in order to limit the number of people entering.

Tonight: Tisha B’Av prayers, live from the Western Wall

“Social distancing and crisis obligate us to increase 'ahavat chinam' (baseless love)" says Rabbi of Western Wall & holy sites.

'Western Wall is doing just fine without monthly provocations'

Peaceful prayer sessions held as Women of the Wall left outside Western Wall plaza due to coronavirus restrictions.

The prayers of the Daughters of Israel

PINCHAS Numbers 25:10–30:1 The modest and powerful place of prayer must be open and inviting to those women who truly understand prayer.

'I suggest Jordan not pull the rope too tightly'

Likud MK Kallner warns: 'Best for Jordan to worry about ensuring sovereignty in its own land.'

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Jordan demands Israel stop work at Western Wall

Jordanian Foreign Ministry claims only Waqf has authority to renovate, maintain 'Al Aqsa Mosque,' including the Western Wall.

Agreement to build elevator from Jewish Quarter to Western Wall

Elevator to be built at cost of NIS 55 million will bring worshipers from Jewish Quarter to Western Wall plaza and provide disabled access.

Fall near Western Wall leaves woman moderately injured

Woman in her 20s moderately injured after falling into a shaft near the Western Wall.