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The Western Wall
At the heart of the Old City of Jerusalem lays the Western Wall or the Kotel (also known as the "Wailing Wall" in memory of the Orthodox Jews who frequent the wall, rocking their bodies in prayer in a movement that resembles a cry) - a sight most sacred to the Jewish people and one not to be missed when on a tour to Israel.
It is widely believed that the Western Wall was not technically part of the Temple Mount but merely a fraction of the surrounding barrier which was intended to keep King Solomon's temple safe. Despite this technicality, the Western Wall remains the closest point to the holiest room of the old temple, a fact which earned it its sacred repute in the hearts and minds of Jews worldwide.
For thousands of centuries, Jews have come to pray at the Western Wall, believing that God's spirit still loomed large over the place where the great temple once stood. Today as much as ever, Jews from around the world make the pilgrimage to the Old City of Jerusalem and to the Kotel in an effort to unite with their God.
No Bar Mitzvah tour, Bat Mitzvah tour or Jewish Heritage tour will be complete without a visit to the Western Wall.
Family Tours to Israel - Insert Notes into the Western Wall
While you may certainly request to visit the Kotel when on a private tour to Israel, many of our (non-private) tours to Israel are also sure to focus on the Old City of Jerusalem and the Western Wall at its heart.
When on a family tour to Israel, we recommend setting some time aside to visit the Western Wall. Apart from its rich history, the large plaza facing The Wall is a sight of constant activity which will draw children to its many goings-on and will instill in them a flavor of the Old City of Jerusalem.
The old custom of inserting pieces of paper with wishes and prayers written on them into the crevasses of The Wall is one children and adults alike will enjoy. As many visitors to the Western Wall have commented, you don't have to be religious to feel the mystical powers of The Wall and be deeply moved by it.
Israel 60th Tours- Savor the History of the Western Wall
To this day the image of Israeli soldiers crying tears of joy as they make their way to the Western Wall after the infamous Six Day War (1967) is a vivid representation of Israel's history. When touring Israel in celebration of its 60 year anniversary, a visit to the Western Wall becomes part and parcel of one's conception of Israel as a free state.
However, let us not forget that alongside the Western Wall's symbolic value in Israel's national (secular) history, it also doubles as a grand outdoor synagogue. Visiting the premises on a Friday night as well as on all Jewish holidays will guarantee you a fascinating peak at Orthodox Jewish life and practices.
What better way to inaugurate your son into the Jewish heritage than to celebrate his thirteenth birthday at this holiest of landmarks?
Bar Mitzvahs are held in and around the Western Wall year round, and are always a festive yet awe-inspiring occasion.
When having your son's Bar Mitzvah at the Kotel, you may expect more guests than you invited, as men and women who come to pray at the kotel often join the celebrations; congratulating and blessing the family. Passers by likewise tend to get caught up in the tradition and often stop to pay their respects to the birthday entourage.
The result is a unique birthday celebration, unlike any a child will experience elsewhere and one which's memories will last your child and your family a lifetime.
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