Praying at the Western Wall: a guide for Christians

The Western Wall (Kotel) is the last remaining retaining wall of the Temple Mount — the platform Herod the Great built to support the Second Temple. For Jewish people, it is the closest point to the Holy of Holies and the most sacred place of prayer. For Christians, it connects us to the Temple Jesus knew, taught in, and cleansed.

Approach with respect: men to the left section, women to the right. Cover your head (kippot are available at the entrance). You may touch the wall, lean against it, and pray. Many people write prayers on small pieces of paper and tuck them into the ancient cracks — a tradition dating back centuries.

As a Christian, you might pray the words Jesus quoted when he cleansed the Temple: "My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations" (Isaiah 56:7). Stand with your hands on the warm stones and remember that your faith has Jewish roots that run as deep as these foundations — 2,000 years deep and still standing.