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Western Wall

The Western Wall is a retaining wall in the Old City of Jerusalem and a major Jewish place of prayer and pilgrimage.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

The Western Wall is a retaining wall in the Old City of Jerusalem and a major Jewish place of prayer and pilgrimage. It is the most prominent surviving structure associated with the Second Temple complex and is regarded by many Jews as the holiest accessible site for prayer.

History

The Western Wall is generally identified as part of the retaining wall built for the Temple Mount expansion in the Herodian period. The Second Temple was later destroyed, leaving the wall as the most visible surviving remnant.

Religious significance

For Jews, the wall is a place of prayer and pilgrimage and is closely associated with the Temple that once stood nearby. Sources differ on when it became especially sacred, but all describe its central role in modern Jewish devotion.

Location and setting

The wall stands in the Old City of Jerusalem beside the Temple Mount complex. It is adjacent to major religious landmarks and is accessed through a secured plaza area.

Names and terminology

The site is commonly called the Western Wall or the Kotel. Other names, including Wailing Wall and Al-Buraq Wall, appear in different historical and religious contexts.

Key facts

  • The Western Wall is the surviving section of a retaining wall that enclosed the Temple Mount.
  • It is located in the Old City of Jerusalem and is central to Jewish prayer and pilgrimage.
  • The wall is associated with the Second Temple period and is commonly linked to construction under Herod the Great.
  • It is widely described as Judaism’s holiest accessible prayer site.
  • A common practice is placing written prayers into the wall’s cracks.
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Canadian context

The Western Wall is significant to many Canadian Jewish pilgrims and tourists visiting Jerusalem, and it is widely covered in Canadian religious and travel education about Judaism and the Holy Land.

Frequently asked questions

What is the Western Wall?
It is a surviving retaining wall of the Temple Mount in Jerusalem and a major Jewish prayer site.
Why is it important in Judaism?
It is closely associated with the Second Temple and is regarded as Judaism’s holiest accessible site for prayer.
Where is the Western Wall located?
It is in the Old City of Jerusalem, at the western side of the Temple Mount.
Why is it called the Kotel?
Kotel is the Hebrew word for “wall” and is the common Jewish name for the site.
Do people put notes in the wall?
Yes. Visitors commonly place written prayers in the wall’s cracks.

References

  1. Encyclopaedia Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/topic/Western-Wall
    Supports: Location, Jewish significance, and description as a place of prayer and pilgrimage.
  2. The Western Wall Heritage Foundation — https://thekotel.org/en/143442/
    Supports: Identity as a remnant of the Second Temple complex and modern pilgrimage significance.
  3. Chabad.org — https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/588219/jewish/Western-Wall-Kotel.htm
    Supports: Basic description, location, and Hebrew name Kotel.
  4. International Fellowship of Christians and Jews — https://www.ifcj.org/learn/resource-library/what-is-the-western-wall
    Supports: Herodian retaining-wall explanation and proximity to the Holy of Holies.
  5. My Jewish Learning — https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/what-is-the-western-wall/
    Supports: Definition, holiest accessible site framing, and historical context.
  6. Jewish Virtual Library — https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/history-and-overivew-of-the-western-wall
    Supports: Discussion of the development of reverence for the site and historical tradition.