The Kotel

Sometimes called the Western Wall, the Wailing Wall, or the Kotel HaMaariv, it is part of the remains of the second Temple in Jerusalem.

Over generations, Jews came to pray there, as it was the closest they could come to the Holy of Holies on the Temple Mount.

On Jewish holidays, thousands come to pray at the Wall. They stream in from all directions, their eyes shining, fixed on the weathered stones.

They press messages and prayers into the cracks that time has worn between the stones.

Much less well known than the Kotel is the Southern Wall. This was where the actual entrance for pilgrims to the Temple was.

It is one of the ironies of history that the Southern Wall is so little known.

As always, click on any of the small images to see the whole photograph.