The Wailing Wall In The Holy Land




Margaret Bolte

 
© Copyright 2025 by Margaret Bolte



 The Wailing Wall. Photo courtesy of the author.
The Wailing Wall.  Photo courtesy of the author.

During my trip to Israel in June 2023, our church tour group visited Jerusalem and experienced standing on the sacred site of the Western Wall, also known as the Wailing Wall. Upon entering the site, a quiet, hushed atmosphere prevails. Several individuals stood and placed their hands against the wall. This is the sacred area where both Jews and Christians pray.

This wall is a remnant of King Jerod’s grand temple and is the holiest site for the Jews. The Romans destroyed the grand temple, and this wall was the huge foundation that was rebuilt and allowed to remain, enabling worshippers to assemble at the site. This was placed to divide the Muslim Christians from the Palestinian Christians thousands of years ago. Above the wall and along the outside of the wall, the Rock Dome of the Shrine can be seen. The Western Wall, constructed of limestone, measures sixty-two feet in height and extends to 1,601 feet in length. It is a massive wall.

The Western Wall is commonly referred to as the “Wailing Wall” due to the Jewish practice of praying and lamenting there over the destruction of the Second Temple. Upon walking to the wall, soft chanting, a sorrowful humming is in the air. This is a place of pilgrimage for Christians and Muslins. Standing on this hallowed ground made me humble. So, honored to be physically present at a biblical historic site. This is the place where the temple existed, where Jesus went for Passover in the Gospels. Although the Romans destroyed the temple after King Herod was overthrown, a 1600-foot section of the retaining wall still stands today.
Praying at the holy stone wall, the words of the Lord’s Prayer softly came from my mouth. I felt saved by my Lord. All that happened in my life before, and all that will happen after today, is in my Father’s control. Words came, praying for courage and strength, for myself and my family. This is the place where faith began two thousand years ago, and now today, and for all my tomorrows, my faith is in Him.
As our tour group returned to our bus, we walked through Old Town Jerusalem and returned to our hotel. This day will never be forgotten.

A few months after we returned home from our trip of a lifetime to Israel, the October 7th attack occurred in Israel. My heart is full of sorrow for all the citizens of Israel and the people who live in Jerusalem. I was blessed to visit and experience the Holy Land. I encounter many people of Israel, and as I prayed at the Wailing Wall, I continue to pray for all, everyone, to seek strength and find peace. Pray for all humanity. Pray for peace.


I am a new writer since retiring from U.S. Public Health Service as a Commissioned Corps Officer serving as a Safety Health Officer for twenty years. I participate as an active member of the Belle Fourche Writers group located where I reside in Belle Fourche, South Dakota.

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