The Western Wall, also known as the Kotel, is located in the Old City of Jerusalem. It is a portion of the ancient limestone wall that formed part of the larger retaining wall of what is known in Judaism as the Temple Mount, where the 2nd Temple, also called Herod’s Temple, stood.
It is considered today to be the holiest place where Jewish people are permitted to pray. Its holiness comes from its proximity to the location where the ancient Temple stood.
The Second Temple was destroyed by the Romans in 70 CE. So today the Western Wall is the closest that Jewish people can be to the original Temple Mount.
Imagine what it would be like to visit this holy place for the very first time. This is what 29 college students from Sydney Australia got to experience 9 years ago.
