Western Wall
The Western Wall, Wailing Wall, or Kotel HaMa’arvi in Hebrew, is one of the central attractions in the Old City of Jerusalem, sitting along the Temple Mount. It is the only remnant of the outer wall which surrounded the Second Temple. It once served as the southwest section of the outer, courtyard wall during the time of King Herod. During 1948 - 1967 the Old City was under Jordanian rule.
Since the reunification of Jerusalem in 1967, after the Six Day War, the Western Wall has once again become the site of Jewish pilgrimage and prayer. It is considered to be one of the holiest sites in to the Jewish religion, due to its history. Today, a large section along the wall is used as a synagogue, with separate areas for men and women to pray. There is also a modern tradition of leaving written notes of hope and prayer in the wall’s crevices.
Many Israeli national and religious ceremonies take place in the courtyard facing the Western Wall, including the swearing-in ceremony for new soldiers in the Israel Defense Forces. The large plaza, built after the wall’s 1967 capture, can hold up to 400,000 people. In the past, the Western Wall has also been a site of conflict due to its proximity to the Temple Mount, the holiest of Muslim religious sites.