Western Wall, Western Tunnels Overview Tour: Kotel, Jerusalem, Holiest Site in Judaism, Wailing Wall

See a complete overview of the Western Wall, Western Wall Tunnels, Kotel (Hebrew name), Western Wall Tour, Temple Mount Platform, Southern Stairs, Wailing Wall, and more in Jerusalem. A very biblical, in-depth look at the holiest site in Judaism.
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Location
1. The Western Wall, also known as the Wailing Wall (because the Jews weep here during their prayers) is located on the western side of the Temple Mount.
2. The Western Wall Tunnel is accessed on the northern side of the Western Wall Plaza and runs north to the end of the Temple Mount Platform.
Historical Background
1. When the Romans destroyed the temple in 70 AD, part of the western side of the Temple Mount Platform survived. For hundreds of years prior to 1967, people prayed in the small area of the wall that could be seen at that time. However, in 1967, following the Six-Day War, Israelis excavated below the ground level of the wall and found two more stone rows. They then cleared the area around the wall to create the Western Wall Plaza that visitors see today.
2. The Western Wall is part of the retaining wall, or support wall, that Herod the Great built in 19 BC when he enlarged the Temple Mount complex in order to accommodate a larger temple and Temple Mount area. It was a massive undertaking that required exceptional and sophisticated engineering.
3. Unlike many think, the Western Wall was not part of the wall of the temple King Herod Built.
Places of Interest
1. In the Western Wall Plaza area, a walkway bridge can be seen that tourist use to access the Temple Mount.
2. The Western Wall Plaza is divided into two sections: a men’s and a women’s section.
3. The area close to the wall is considered a synagogue, so men must wear a head covering when entering the men’s section.
4. Most Jews do not enter on the Temple Mount for fear of unknowingly walking in the place where the Holy of Holies might have been. Plus, Muslims do not want them entering there as well.
5. The Western Wall Plaza is the closest large public area to the temple and Holy of Holies for the Jews. Therefore, it is their most holy site.
6. On the northern side of the Western Wall is Wilson’s Arch, which is the modern name for a stone arch whose top is still visible today. It once supported a bridge that provided access to a gate that was level with the surface of the Temple Mount during the time of Jesus. Under this arch is a synagogue where Jews pray and read the Scriptures.
7. The Western Wall Plaza is only 10% of the entire western wall of the Temple Mount Platform. The majority of the wall is accessed by entering what is called “The Western Wall Tunnels.” We will see that part shortly.
8. The entire length of the Western Wall is 1,575 ft. long (480 m.), almost a third of a mile (.53 km.).
9. South of the Western Wall are stones that the Romans cast down when they destroyed the city in 70 AD. under the leadership of the Roman General, Titus.
10. The broken pavement of the street that the massive stones crushed when they fell is sobering to see.
11. Burn marks remain on some of the stones as a result of fire from the Roman conquest of the city in 70 AD.
12. There are remains of shops that were part of a large shopping plaza at the southern part of the Western Wall.
13. This is the same wall that Jesus and His disciples would have seen.
14. On the Southern Stair entrance to the temple is where Jesus would have taught His disciples and entered the Temple Mount area.
15. At the southernmost end of the Western Wall is a significant stone which stood upon the uttermost southwestern corner of the Temple Mount.
• It has words written in Hebrew that mean “The Trumpeter’s House.”
• A priest would stand at this corner announcing with a loud trumpet the beginning of the Sabbath, and other festival days the Jews celebrated.

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