The Kotel HaKatan, The Small Wailing Wall In Jerusalem

We are now in a period on the Jewish calander called “The Three Weeks” which is the 3 weeks leading up to the holiday called Tisha B’Av, The 9th of Av. The 9th of Av is a mandatory fast day (except for those under 12/13, elderly, ill or possibly just after birth) and is the saddest day of the year, the day in which we mourn the loss of our Holy Temple in Jerusalem. For the next 2 weeks I’ll be sharing with you many interesting photographs from our stray in the Old City of Jerusalem, which helps put this history dating back to 2,000 years ago in perspective.

One of the amazing sights that we visited this past Passover in Old City Jerusalem for the first time was the Kotel HaKatan, The Small Wailing Wall. I’m embarrassed to admit I didn’t even know about it, though grateful that I do now, due to a whole week plus in the Old City of Jerusalem, which enabled us to see so many new things! The Kotel HaKatan, is, like THE Kotel, part of the Western Wall surrounding the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, and no less holy as far as I know, just not so accessible, and certainly not able to accomodate crowds. Ah yes, and if you are Jewish it may take a bit of bravery to get there. My teenage daughter declined stepping into the Muslim quarter and waited for us on the other side of the security gate, which I can totally understand. And please don’t take my word for it that visiting the Kotel HaKatan is totally safe, do your research and certainly do not go at night. If you don’t look obviously Jewish (as we do) or are not Jewish then I’d say the risk is minimal, as there is a guard and a police station within the vicinity. Interested? Lets take a closer look!
After going through the security gate leading into the Muslim quarter (at the end of the Kotel) walk straight through the souk and when you see the sign The Small Kotel, or The Small Kotel Police Station, turn right, walk a bit, partly through a tunnel, and you will see this, the entrance to the temple mount! Wow. Skip going onto the Temple Mount if you are Jewish (Jewish law forbids it) rather take a left through the little arch next to the guy in the burgandy t-shirt.

Within the little arch you will see this sign. Almost there!

And here we are The Small Wailing Wall, by some small miracle the adjoining house needed a courtyard, and this portion was left exposed! Other buildings quite simply used the wall as a wall of their homes, imagine that. Pause, reflect, and do whatever you might do at the Kotel.

Truly special.

As you can see, despite hundreds of thousands of people streaming through the kotel during the holiday week of Passover, we were the only ones here.

Do include a visit to the Kotel HaKatan in your next visit to Jerusalem, and while one does not need armed accompaniment, maybe you can strike up a conversation with an Israeli soldier and get them to escort you there! Again, please don’t take my word for it that one should visit this special spot, ask the police scattered around the area and do your research. We felt that the risk was minimal and worth it. Many Jews pass through the Muslim quarter everyday, and there are also Jewish families living within the Muslim quarter in homes that once belonged to Jews.