Western Wall
The Western Wall, also known as the Wailing Wall, is a significant religious site in Jerusalem and the last remaining structure of the Second Temple, which held immense importance in Jewish history. Originally built during the reign of King Solomon, this temple was a central place for Jewish worship and rituals until its destruction by the Romans in 70 CE. The Western Wall has become a focal point for Jewish prayer and pilgrimage, symbolizing hope for the restoration of the temple and the Jewish people's connection to their heritage.
Today, the wall is situated near the Dome of the Rock, a revered site for Muslims, which has led to ongoing political and religious tensions regarding control of the area. Since the Six-Day War in 1967, the Western Wall has been under Israeli administration, a move that has sparked debates among both Jewish and Palestinian communities about sovereignty and access to this sacred space. Visitors often place written prayers into the crevices of the wall, a common practice that reflects the deep emotional and spiritual connection many feel towards this historic site. The Western Wall continues to attract not only worshippers but also archaeologists examining its ancient significance and the remnants of the civilizations that once thrived in Jerusalem.
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Western Wall
The Western Wall is the last remaining part of the Second Temple of the Mount. The Temple of the Mount and its successors were the two most significant religious sites in Jewish History. They were the only places where Jewish people were allowed to carry out many of their religious rituals. After the temples were destroyed, these rituals could no longer be practiced.
The Western Wall remains an extremely holy site to modern Jews. Many Jews travel from all over the world to pray at the wall, which is currently controlled by the nation of Israel. Israel's rule over the site has been controversial because of the site's close proximity to the Dome of the Rock, a Muslim holy site. The Western Wall has been under Israel's control since the end of the Six Day War in 1967.
Background
The Temple Mount, the site of the Western Wall, is believed to be the site of two historic Jewish temples. In ancient Israel, before the construction of the first temple on the mount, the Jewish people ferried the Ark of the Covenant, a sacred artifact, between several temples throughout the year.
When King David conquered Israel and unified the Jewish people, he ordered the construction of a new temple. He chose Mount Moriah, an existing place of religious significance to the Jews, as the location for his new place of worship. According to writings from the time, David died before the temple could be constructed. However, the task was finished by his son, King Solomon.
Solomon's Temple became a central point of the Jewish religion for hundreds of years. During the reign of King Josiah, it was declared that sacrifices could only be carried out at the Temple on the Mount. It was also the permanent home of the Ark of the Covenant. This meant that many of ancient Judaism's most important religious ceremonies could only be carried out at Solomon's Temple.
Israel was conquered by the Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar II in 604 BCE. The king stripped the temple of its treasures and then destroyed the structure. He then forcibly moved many Jews to Babylonia in an attempt to weaken the people. Decades later, another king allowed the Jews to return to their homeland and rebuild their temple. The remnants of this second temple are found today at the Western Wall.
Overview
While early records of the second temple's design and layout are scarce, sources describe it as a more modest structure than the first. Unfortunately, the treasure and relics taken by the Babylonians could not be recovered. Most importantly, the second temple lacked the Ark of the Covenant, which was never recovered.
The second temple fared better than its predecessor and was respected by foreign rulers for several centuries. However, in 169 BCE, Seleucid invaders damaged the temple. In 34 BCE, Roman conquerors sacked the temple, looting its treasury and desecrating its sacred rooms. After these events, Herod the Great, King of Judea, decided to repair, rebuild, and fortify the Second Temple.
Herod was not content to restore the temple to its former glory. Instead, he decided to double the area occupied by the temple. First, Herod built a large set of walls around the Temple Mount, and then filled those walls with dirt and rocks. This greatly expanded the level area around the temple. On top of that square, Herod built a large market plaza, which helped Jerusalem accommodate the thousands of immigrants and tourists who flocked to the city during Jewish festivals. The renovations took almost fifty years to complete.
As decades passed, the Jewish people became dissatisfied with their Roman rulers. They wanted to return to independent governance. For this reason, they rebelled against Rome. In response, Rome marched armies to Jerusalem to crush the rebellion. In the ensuing battles, Roman soldiers decided to raze the Temple on the Mount. They pillaged the structure of any valuables and then reduced the plaza and temple itself to rubble. Only a single structure remained: the temple's Western Wall.
Since then, the Western Wall has become a site of worship for Jewish people. It is the last remnant of their most important temple, and many Jewish people make pilgrimages to its location. They pray for the restoration of the Jewish temple, the end of the persecution of Jews, the success of the modern nation of Israel, and many other concerns. Because of the constant stream of emotional worshipers, the Western Wall was nicknamed the Wailing Wall. Many Jewish people write their prayers onto pieces of paper, and then press the papers between the stones in the wall.
The Western Wall, along with Jerusalem itself, has become a controversial political topic. It is in close proximity to the Dome of the Rock, a holy site sacred to Muslims. Political control of the location has shifted throughout history, with both Jews and Muslims protesting the other's claim over their holy site. The most recent change in authority came at the end of the Six Days War in 1967. During the Six Days War, Israel went to war with many of its neighboring countries.
At the end of the war, Israel seized control of the Old City section of Jerusalem and the Western Wall. Israel argues that the Jewish people's historic ties to both Jerusalem and the Western Wall give them the right to rule those areas. Jews argue that their holy site has been repeatedly mistreated while under the rule of foreign powers and it must be protected in order to be preserved for future generations. They also argue that Israeli control is necessary to safeguard the passage of Jewish pilgrims. Many Palestinians refute these claims, arguing that Israel should relinquish control of Jerusalem to Palestine and the surrounding population.
Archaeologists, both religious and secular, often study the Western Wall and its surrounding area. They have confirmed that the wall belonged to a Jewish religious temple and have verified that the temple underwent major renovations during the rule of Herod the Great. Because of the huge amount of ancient foot traffic that surrounded the temple, ancient shards of glass, pottery, and coins can commonly be found near the temple. Archaeologists use these remnants of civilization to study the movements of people throughout the ancient world. For example, archaeologists can use recovered Roman coins to precisely date periods of Roman occupation of Jerusalem.
Bibliography
"Is Jerusalem's Western Wall Falling Down?" Times of Israel, 2014, http://www.timesofisrael.com/is-jerusalems-western-wall-falling-down/. Accessed 5 June, 2017.
"Israel to Allow Non-Orthodox Jewish Prayer at the Western Wall." Aljazeera America, 2016, http://america.aljazeera.com/articles/2016/1/31/israel-to-allow-non-orthodox-jewish-prayer-at-the-western-wall.html. Accessed 5 June, 2017.
"Israel to Expand Who Can Pray at Holy Western Wall." CNN, 2016, http://www.cnn.com/2016/01/31/middleeast/western-wall-israel-women/index.html. Accessed 5 June, 2017.
"Israelis Have Mixed Feelings About the 50th Anniversary of the Six Day War." NPR, 2017, http://www.npr.org/2017/06/04/531485469/israelis-have-mixed-feelings-about-the-50th-anniversary-of-the-six-day-war. Accessed 5 June, 2017.
"The Jewish Temples: The Second Temple." Jewish Virtual Library, 2016, http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/the-second-temple. Accessed 5 June, 2017.
"The Western Wall: History & Overview." Jewish Virtual Library, 2016, http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/history-and-overivew-of-the-western-wall. Accessed 5 June, 2017.
"'The Western Wall Is Not Occupied,' Netanyahu Says of UN Resolution. 'We Were Here Much Earlier.'" CNS News, 2016, http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/patrick-goodenough/western-wall-not-occupied-netanyahu-says-un-resolution-we-were-here. Accessed 5 June, 2017.
"What Is Beneath the Temple Mount?" Smithsonian, 2011, http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/what-is-beneath-the-temple-mount-920764/. Accessed 5 June, 2017.