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Jan 08, 2020 Asara B'Tevet The fast days meant for mourning the destruction of the Temple will be cancelled in the days of the Messiah and become days of celebration and joy. "So said the Lord of Hosts: The fast of the fourth (month), the fast of the fifth (month), the fast of the seventh (month, and the fast of the tenth (month) shall be for the house of Judah for joy and happiness and for happy holidays - but love truth and peace" (Zechariah 8) Further details
Dec 31, 2019 About 500,00 people visited the Western Wall during Hanukkah. Tens of thousands of people came to the Western Wall everyday during Hanukkah, and especially during the daily main events of lighting the Menorah. Further details
Dec 29, 2019 Chanukah Candle-Lighting 5780 Like in previous years, Chanukah candles will be lit every night at the Western Wall Plaza, the site closest to where the Chanukah miracle took place. The candles will be lit in a magnificent menorah generously.The bronze menorah is over 2 meters high and two meters wide, weighs one ton, and took about seven months to create.The Chanukah candles will be lit with olive oil using special weather-proof utensils allowing the menorah to remain lit throughout the night. The menorah will be placed on a new and lit stage.Chanukah candle-lighting will take place every evening of Chanukah at 4:00pm on Rabbi Getz Sinagogue, at 4:30 pm on Beit Shtraus Roof and at 4:40pm on The Western Wall Plaza. On Saturday night at 7:00 pm, and on Friday at 3:30 pm. DateFirst night, Sunday 24 Kislev (22/12/2019)Second night, Monday 25 Kislev (23/12/2019)Third night, Tuesday 26 Kislev (24/12/2019)Fourth night, Wednesday 27 Kislev (25/12/2019)Fifth night, Thursday, 28 Kislev (26/12/2019)Sixth night, Friday, 29 Kislev (27/12/2019)Seventh night, Saturday night 30 Kislev (28/12/2019)Eighth night, Sunday 1 Tevet (29/12/2019) Read More
Dec 17, 2019 Putting up the menorah in the Western Wall Plaza This morning (Tuesday), the traditional, large menorah was set up in the Western Wall Plaza in preparation for the upcoming Chanukah festival. The menorah is made of bronze, reaches over 2 meters high and is about 2 meters wide. It weighs about one ton and took 7 months to make.During all of Chanukah – beginning on Sunday, 24 Kislev, 5780 (December 22, 2019) through Monday, 2 Tevet, 5780 (December 30, 2019) – there will be a public Chanukah candle-lighting ceremony at the Western Wall Plaza in the presence of dignitaries and rabbis. Chanukah is a wonderful time for taking part in any of the unique and exciting events that take place at the Western Wall, where you can be part of the festive atmosphere that sheds light everywhere. The candle-lighting ceremonies can be viewed through the Kotel webcams at www.thekotel.org or on our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/WesternWallEnglish/Chanukah, the festival that celebrates the victory of light over darkness, is when we should all remember the power of just a small amount of light to dispel deep darkness, and to ignite this light in our souls. Further details
Dec 11, 2019 Fifty years of marriage and one dream to reach the Kotel. With the help of Ezer Mizion and the Western Wall Heritage Foundation, the dream became a reality, despite the long trip from the north and their complicated health. Together with them, we shed more than a few tears of excitement. Further details
Dec 08, 2019 Elected President of Guatemala visits the Western Wall The president-elect of Guatemala, Mr. Alejandro Giammettei, arrived at the Western Wall this morning (Sunday) prior to taking office as president of Guatemala.He was greeted by the rabbi of the Western Wall and holy sites, Rabbi Shmuel Rabinowitz, and by the director of the Western Wall Heritage Foundation, Mr. Mordechai (Suli) Eliav.Rabbi Rabinowitz recited chapter 121 of Psalms with the President-elect and blessed him with the prayer of King Solomon that all his prayers and those of his country be fulfilled.Mr. Giammettei was very moved by the visit and placed a note between the stones of the Western Wall. He requested to watch the worshippers and see how the Jews pray at the Western Wall. The Director of the Foundation told him about Jewish heritage and history and about Jewish yearning for Jerusalem throughout the generations.The President-elect said that “Whoever loves Israel, G-d loves him”, and that he hopes the embassy will remain in Jerusalem. He completed the visit by stating that he “asks G-d for blessings for Israel and Guatemala so that together, we can live in peace, justice, and development”.Enclosed photos, credit: The Western Wall Heritage Foundation Further details
Dec 03, 2019 One hundred paratroopers and their families in a reunion of soldiers One hundred paratroopers and their families in a reunion of soldiers who liberated the Western Wall and waved the Israeli flag in the Six Day War. Further details
Dec 02, 2019 A moving bar mitzvah at the Western Wall Plaza this morning Eleven years after losing his parents in the tragic terror attack on Chabad House in Mumbai, Moishie Holzberg celebrated his bar mitzvah. He came with his grandfather and other family members to put on tefillin at the Western Wall. The excitement was huge as memories, joy, and sadness were mixed at this moving event. Mazal tov!! Further details
Nov 27, 2019 Today is the festival of Sigd on which the Ethiopian community comes for a special prayer service at the Western Wall in Jerusalem. Here are several facts you might not know about Sigd: The festival.of Sigd takes place every year on the 29th of Cheshvan, exactly 50 days after Yom Kippur. The source of the holiday is a custom established by Ezra and Nehemiah during the days of the Return to Zion. Sigd focuses on community, yearning for Jerusalem, and renewal of the covenant with G-d. It is customary on Sigd to make peace, and break down walls or separations between people. In Ethiopia, the holiday was marked by a mass ascension to a high mountain from which they looked in the direction of Jerusalem. In Israel, many members of the community gather in Armon Hanatziv in Jerusalem. Further details