There is a little bit of chaos and a whole lot of spirituality that encompasses the Western Wall (Wailing Wall). As the only remaining wall that is still erect from the Jewish Temple, the Jews of Israel have made the Western Wall a place of worship and infused it with holiness.
Although I like to go to the Church of Holy Sepulcher once in a while, I find that it is virtually to impossible to just sit there at the grave of Jesus and lose yourself in prayer. The Western Wall is a short walk from the Church of the Holy Sepulcher and I find that it is a better place for me to sit and connect with God. One can walk right up to the wall and pray to God. Nobody bothers me for hours. If the sun is too much to bear, there are some tunnels that follow along the wall where one can pray in peace and solitude as well.
I try to avoid going on vacation times and holidays as I find the crowds too much to bear. The whole reason I go to the Wall is to lose myself in prayer and meditation and that is just impossible when the crowds are too great.
You may notice that some people like to put notes into the wall. At first, I thought it was a silly thing to do. Here you are with an opportunity to pray directly to God and you choose to write something on a little note that gets shoved in a crack? It wasn't until an old rabbi explained to me that the note acts as your messenger to God. Your prayers may have been heartfelt, but once you leave the wall, the prayers have gone with you. However, a simple note in the wall, can act as a 'reminder' to God of your sincere prayers and keep your issues on His plate front and center. Since then, I have always made it a point to write a little note to God and slip it into the cracks upon my departure.
God bless,
Sol
www.holylandprayers.com
Although I like to go to the Church of Holy Sepulcher once in a while, I find that it is virtually to impossible to just sit there at the grave of Jesus and lose yourself in prayer. The Western Wall is a short walk from the Church of the Holy Sepulcher and I find that it is a better place for me to sit and connect with God. One can walk right up to the wall and pray to God. Nobody bothers me for hours. If the sun is too much to bear, there are some tunnels that follow along the wall where one can pray in peace and solitude as well.
I try to avoid going on vacation times and holidays as I find the crowds too much to bear. The whole reason I go to the Wall is to lose myself in prayer and meditation and that is just impossible when the crowds are too great.
You may notice that some people like to put notes into the wall. At first, I thought it was a silly thing to do. Here you are with an opportunity to pray directly to God and you choose to write something on a little note that gets shoved in a crack? It wasn't until an old rabbi explained to me that the note acts as your messenger to God. Your prayers may have been heartfelt, but once you leave the wall, the prayers have gone with you. However, a simple note in the wall, can act as a 'reminder' to God of your sincere prayers and keep your issues on His plate front and center. Since then, I have always made it a point to write a little note to God and slip it into the cracks upon my departure.
God bless,
Sol
www.holylandprayers.com
