Thank You, Dear Conor, for your Picture of the Western Wall (Kotel) today, that you posted with your Prayer for the Peace of Jerusalem!
For The Prayer Warriors who don't know the whole story behind the Kotel, Here it is:
When Herod renovated Nehemiah's Second Temple, he went all out! He used massive stones to build a huge retaining wall around the Temple Mount with the characteristic beveled edges that one can still see today on the Kotel. The Romans Utterly destroyed Herod's Temple in 70AD, leaving not one stone upon the other, just as Jesus of Nazareth predicted. However, the retaining wall remained. In the 8th Century, the Dome of the Rock was erected on the site of the Temple and Jews were banned from the Temple Mount. At that point in History, the Retaining Wall on the Western Side was the closest that Jews could get to THEIR Holy Place. Jews would go to the Wall and Weep because of the tragedy, so it got to be known as the "Wailing Wall."Then, When Jerusalem was divided in 1948, the Jordanians would not allow Jews to even go THERE!
In 1967, the Wall was liberated by Israeli Paratroopers.
It is no longer referred to as "The Wailing Wall", but as "The Kotel", or as the "Western Wall" in English.
But Christians and Jews are STILL barred from Praying on the Temple Mount by the WAQF (Muslim Authorities in Charge).
Even the swaying of the head (dovening) or the silent movement of the lips is forbidden.
24 posted on 06/19/2010 1:17:14 PM PDT by left that other site
(Your Mi'KMaq Paddy Whacky Bass Playing Biker Buddy)
Lamh Foistenach Abu! 