The Western Wall

1. Introduction

The Western Wall, also known as the Wailing Wall, is one of the most significant and venerated sites in Judaism today. Although it is not part of the Temple building itself, the Wall is a surviving remnant of the extensive retaining structures constructed by King Herod the Great during his renovation of the Second Temple complex. Its enduring presence serves as a tangible link to the ancient Temple and a focal point for Jewish prayer and longing throughout centuries of diaspora and hardship.

2. Historical and Political Context

The Western Wall was built as part of King Herod’s grand expansion project of the Second Temple Mount, undertaken circa 20 BCE to 10 BCE. This project transformed the modest post-exilic Temple into an architectural marvel designed to impress both local inhabitants and foreign visitors alike (Josephus, Antiquities 15.11). While the Temple itself was destroyed by the Romans in 70 CE, the Western Wall remained intact due to its structural function and has since become the closest accessible place for Jewish worship related to the Temple.

3. Who Built It

  • The Wall was constructed under the supervision of King Herod the Great as part of his extensive efforts to enlarge and beautify the Temple Mount platform (Josephus, Antiquities 15.11).
  • The construction involved skilled masons and engineers using massive limestone blocks, some weighing over 100 tons.

4. When

  • Construction occurred during Herod’s reign, approximately between 20 BCE and 10 BCE.
  • The Wall has survived nearly 2,000 years, despite the destruction of the Temple and numerous subsequent conflicts.

5. Where

  • Located on the western side of the Temple Mount in Jerusalem’s Old City.
  • It functioned as a retaining wall, supporting the elevated platform on which the Temple complex stood.
  • The Wall measures approximately 488 metres in length, though only about 57 metres are visible above ground today.

6. Why

  • The Wall was built to retain the earth and support the massively expanded Temple Mount platform, which Herod enlarged from the smaller platform of the original Second Temple.
  • Its construction allowed the Temple complex to accommodate a vastly increased number of worshippers and pilgrims, enhancing its grandeur and accessibility.

7. How: Construction and Architecture

  • The Wall is composed of enormous ashlar stones laid without mortar, carefully fitted together with remarkable precision.
  • The lower courses are ancient Herodian stones, characterised by their distinctive margins and raised bosses (dressed central part of the stone).
  • Subsequent courses above the Herodian base include additions from later periods, such as the Ottoman and Umayyad periods.
  • Archaeological excavations have revealed subterranean tunnels and chambers along the Wall’s length, indicating the complexity of the retaining structure.

8. Usage and Religious Significance

  • While not part of the Temple building itself, the Western Wall has become the holiest accessible site for Jewish prayer since the destruction of the Second Temple (70 CE).
  • Jewish tradition holds that the Divine Presence (Shekhinah) has never departed from the Wall, rendering it a sacred site (Mishna, Middot 3:4).
  • For centuries, Jews have gathered at the Wall to mourn the Temple’s destruction, to pray, and to insert written prayers into the crevices of the stones.
  • The Wall is central to Jewish pilgrimage festivals and national ceremonies, symbolising resilience and hope for restoration.
  • Various Jewish groups, including Orthodox, Conservative, and Reform communities, regard the Wall as a unifying symbol despite denominational differences.
  • The Western Wall has also been a site of political and religious tension, particularly in the context of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

9. Theological and Symbolic Importance

  • The Wall functions as a symbol of Jewish continuity and identity, embodying the historical connection to the Temple and the covenantal relationship with God.
  • It represents the tangible proximity to the Holy of Holies, the innermost sanctum of the Temple where God’s presence was believed to dwell (Exodus 25:22; Leviticus 16).
  • Jewish liturgy and liturgical poetry frequently reference the Wall as an emblem of spiritual yearning and redemption (e.g., Psalm 137:1–6).

10. Modern Historical Developments

  • The Wall was under Ottoman control until World War I, after which it became part of the British Mandate of Palestine.
  • Following the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, access to the Wall was restricted under Jordanian control until 1967.
  • After the Six-Day War in 1967, Israel regained control of East Jerusalem, including the Western Wall, and established it as a national and religious site accessible to all Jews.
  • Today, it is administered by the Western Wall Heritage Foundation, which manages prayer services and archaeological preservation.

11. Key Biblical and Historical References

  • Herod’s construction: Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews 15.11
  • Temple Mount and divine presence: Exodus 25:8–22; Leviticus 16
  • Jewish mourning and prayer: Psalm 137:1–6; Mishna, Middot 3:4
  • Temple destruction and diaspora: 2 Kings 25; Josephus, The Jewish War 6.5

12. Academic References

  • Avi-Yonah, M. (1962). The Holy Places of Jerusalem. Jerusalem: Israel Exploration Society.
  • Berlin, A. (2002). The Archaeology of Jerusalem: From the Origins to the Ottomans. London: Equinox.
  • Levine, L. I. (2002). Jerusalem: Portrait of the City in the Second Temple Period (538 BCE – 70 CE). Philadelphia: Jewish Publication Society.
  • Schiffman, L. H. (1991). From Text to Tradition: A History of Second Temple and Rabbinic Judaism. Hoboken, NJ: Ktav Publishing House.
  • The Holy Bible, English Standard Version.
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